State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces Small
Sonoma County School District Wins
Prestigious National Environmental Certification
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today congratulated Harmony Union School District in the Sonoma County town of Occidental for earning the nation's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification for a school district from the United States Green Building Council.
"Harmony Union School District has implemented numerous green tech innovations that have measurable positive effects on students," said O'Connell. "Students are learning in well-equipped state-of-the-art green facilities surrounded by four distinct habitats on campus. They also dine on produce from the school garden that's so good, it helped boost participation in the district's school lunch program. Congratulations to Harmony Union School District for earning the prestigious LEED Platinum certification."
"This award publicly recognizes our commitment to inspiring our students and community to become responsible stewards of the environment, not just through education, but through the built environment," said District Superintendent and Principal Dave Miller. "We have a beautiful 50-acre campus with wetlands, a redwood forest, and Salmon Creek. We encourage our teachers and students to use this great place as a platform for teaching."Harmony Union School District consists of Harmony Elementary and Salmon Creek, a charter school, with a total enrollment of 235 students. The District's facilities include a Macintosh-equipped computer lab, an 8,000-volume library collection with a strong emphasis on environmentally related materials tied to curricular studies at all grade levels, and a gymnasium. The newly constructed, LEED-Platinum certified environmental center adds a state-of-the-art cafeteria, business office, conference room, and assembly hall.
Four distinct habitats coexist on campus, including a year-round creek with waterfall and observation deck, a redwood forest, perennial wetlands, and grasslands. The school recently placed cows in paddocks to begin restoration of the native grasses.
Students share tasks in a three-quarter acre working garden that includes a straw bale greenhouse, worm bins for composting kitchen waste, and an outdoor classroom that pupils helped construct. The organic produce from the garden and from local donations have resulted in increased participation in the district's school lunch program. Two years ago, the district served average of 80-100 students a day. Now it's between 150-180 students a day. Enrollment in the National School Lunch Program for socioeconomically disadvantaged students also grew from 26 percent to 30 percent in the same time period.
O'Connell has long supported school garden programs because they teach students standards-based science, mathematics, social science, and English-language arts. Pupils also learn more about garden-enhanced nutrition, health, agriculture, visual art, healthy food choices and lifestyles, and sustaining the environment.
The California Department of Education (CDE) building also has the distinction of being the first-ever state-owned office building to earn a LEED Platinum certification. The CDE building features more than 100 different sustainable "green" design solutions that improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and use of resources.
For more information on Harmony Union School District, please visit HARMONY UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT : Home(Outside Source). For CDE's A Garden in Every School program: A Garden in Every School - Healthy Eating & Nutrition Education. For the LEED program: USGBC: LEED (Outside Source).
Editor's Note: Pictures of the school district are available at Year 2010 - Multimedia.
State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces Appointments of Deputy Superintendent, Four Division Directors
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced the appointments of a new Deputy Superintendent to head a key branch of the California Department of Education, as well as new directors for the Special Education, Charter Schools, Legislative Affairs, and the Statewide Assessment divisions.
"I am pleased to announce the appointments of these talented and dedicated individuals who already have played significant roles in supporting California's educational goals," O'Connell said. "They understand the important role we play in strengthening our commitment to public education, in closing the achievement gap, and in giving each child every opportunity to succeed. I look forward to continuing to work with them in their new positions."
Cindy Cunningham was appointed Deputy Superintendent of the P-16 Policy and Information Branch, which is responsible for developing policy and practices to close the state's achievement gaps and for identifying best practices and developing strategies to better use data and share solutions. In addition, the Branch also oversees internal and external communications.
Ms. Cunningham previously served as Manager for the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and as Special Advisor to the Superintendent. She earned a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science from George Washington University. She replaces Rick Miller, who recently joined the private sector as an education consultant.
Fred Balcom, Ph.D., was appointed Director of the Special Education Division, which provides information and resources to serve the unique needs of individuals with disabilities so that each person will meet or exceed high standards of achievement in academic and non-academic skills.
Dr. Balcom most recently served as Director of the CDE District and School Improvement Division, where he provided statewide leadership for the implementation of all aspects of federal Title I programs, homeless education, and categorical program monitoring. Previously at CDE, he was an Administrator in the High Priority Schools Office.
He has more than 20 years of experience in education, including special education as a former director of special education in the early 1990s for the Idaho State Department of Education. He also previously served as the Executive Director of the Yolo County First 5 Commission, the Assistant Superintendent of the Yolo County Office of Education, and Superintendent for the Challis School District #181 in Idaho.
Dr. Balcom earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at San Diego State University, a Master of Arts Degree in psychology at California State University, Chico, and a doctorate in education from the University of Idaho.
He replaces Mary Hudler, who retires in June.
Cathy McBride was appointed Director of the Legislative Affairs Division, where she has been serving as Acting Director. She is responsible for advocating with the State Legislature to establish or change legislative policy and funding regarding California's K-12 education system, as well as developing and enhancing the legislative priorities of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, and the CDE.
Before she accepted the position of Acting Director, Ms. McBride was a CDE Legislative Representative for nearly seven years. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in journalism from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.
Ms. McBride replaces Lupita Cortez Alcalá, who last year was appointed Deputy Superintendent for the CDE Government Affairs and Charter Development Branch.
Beth Hunkapiller was appointed Director of the Charter Schools Division, which supports, promotes, and authorizes high-quality charter schools that improve student achievement and choice.
Ms. Hunkapiller is chair of the Board of Directors of the Aspire Public Schools and is also chair of the State Board of Education Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS). As a result of the CDE appointment, she will relinquish her position on the Aspire Board, and will step down as president of ACCS, but will continue to be an ACCS member acting as the CDE staff representative.
Ms. Hunkapiller is a 17-year member of the Board of Education of the San Carlos Elementary School District in San Carlos. She is a founder of the San Carlos Charter Learning Center, the first school to receive a charter in California.
A former middle school reading and English teacher and administrator in the Mountain View School District in El Monte, she earned a bachelor's degree at Oklahoma Baptist University and a master's degree at the University of Southern California.
She replaces Carol Barkley, who recently retired.
Rachel Perry, who has been Director of the Academic Accountability and Awards Division since 2008, is expanding her duties due to the merger of the CDE Statewide Assessment Division with her division. As director of the newly combined division, now called Assessment, Accountability, and Awards, she is responsible for overseeing the development and administration of all statewide assessments, and the state and federal accountability systems. The Division also provides oversight for the various state and federal awards programs that recognize outstanding teachers and schools that are working to narrow the achievement gap.
Ms. Perry has been with CDE for 10 years, serving first as a consultant and later an administrator before she was appointed a director. Prior to joining CDE, she worked at Pasadena City College as a Research Analyst. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a Master of Arts Degree in applied social psychology from the Claremont Graduate School.
The Statewide Assessment Division's previous director, J.T. Lawrence, a visiting educator, has returned to his position at the San Diego County Office of Education.
