Educator Excellence Task Force
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has appointed an Educator Excellence Task Force to focus on the Educator Quality element of the Blueprint for Great Schools (released in August 2011) and designed to strengthen California’s teacher corps.
The task force will be a joint effort between the California Department of Education and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. It will be co-chaired by two nationally recognized education leaders: Stanford University's Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, and Superintendent Chris Steinhauser of Long Beach Unified School District, the third largest district in California.
The task force members include:
- Co-Chair: Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University, Co-Director of Redesign Network, Stanford University School of Education
- Co-Chair: Chris Steinhauser, Superintendent, Long Beach Unified School District
- Matthew Alexander, Principal, June Jordan School For Equity, Unified School District
- Mark Archon, Director, Madera County Office of Education
- Donna Artukovic, Parent, PTA Member
- Debbie Ashmore, Principal, Musick Elementary School, Newark Unified School District
- Rafael Balderas, Principal, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Constance Blackburn, CTC Commissioner & Teacher
Assemblymember Susan Bonilla, California State Assembly - Maureen Burness, Retired Administrator, Special Education, Folsom Cordova Unified School District
- Rebecca Cheung, Academic Coordinator, University of California, Berkeley
- Carole Cobb, Curriculum Designer, Program Developer, Teacher, Compton Unified School District
- Paula Cordeiro, Dean of the School of Leadership and Education, University of San Diego
- Larry Ferlazzo, Teacher, Burbank High School, Sacramento City Unified School District
- Roberta Furger, Associate Director, PICO
- Ken Futernick, Director, WestEd
- Cindy Gappa, Induction Regional Director, Tehama County Office of Education
- Jeff Gilbert, Lead Principal, Marrakech House at Hillsdale High School
- Victoria Graf, Professor, Director of Special Education Program, Loyola Marymount University
- Cynthia Grutzik, Associate Dean, School of Education, CSU Dominguez Hills
- Carol Hansen, Assistant Superintendent, ABC Unified School District
- Martha Infante, Teacher, LA Academy Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District
- Holly Jacobson, Director, Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning at WestEd
- Daly Jordan-Koch, Teacher, Vallejo City School District
- Tara Kini, Staff Attorney, Public Advocates
- Kelly Kovacic, Teacher, Preuss School at University of California, San Diego
- Debbra Lindo, Superintendent, Emery School District
- Senator Alan Lowenthal, California State Senate
- Meera Mani, Director, Packard Foundation
- Kim Mecum, Assistant Superintendent, Fresno Unified School District
- Ellen Moir, Executive Director, New Teacher Center
- Doreen Osumi, Assistant Supt. Ed Services, Yuba City Unified School District
- David Rattray, Senior Vice President of Education & Workforce Development, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
- Gary Ravani, President, EC/K-12 Council, California Federation of Teachers
- Sue Rich, Assistant Superintendent, Stanislaus County Office of Education
- Francisco Rodriguez, President, Mira Costa College
- Maria Santos, Deputy Superintendent, Oakland Unified School District
- Ilene Strauss, Member, State Board of Education
- Page Tompkins, Executive Director, Reach Institute
- Merrill Vargo, Executive Director, Pivot Learning Partners
- Roxanna Villasenor, Vice Principal, Valley High School
- Dean Vogel, President, California Teachers Association
- Sue Westbrook, Retired Teacher, Ocean View School District
- Angelo Williams, Assistant Executive Director, Policy and Programs, California School Boards Association
- Beverly Young, Vice Chancellor, California State University
News Release
- January 20, 2012: Torlakson Launches Effort to Boost Educator Excellence