Make the Grade 2016

R U O Y L A C LO E D I U G FOR A UL F S S E C C U S EAR Y L O O H C S

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MAKE THE GRADE

LETTER FROM THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT

The secret to the best education It happens when parents, families, teachers, and schools work together

By James Mousalimas San Joaquin County superintendent of schools

T

here is nothing quite like the anticipation and excitement of the start of a new school year. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils and sight of colorful backpacks exhilarate our children as they venture into new beginnings and embark on new experiences.

Children wonder who will be in their class, what they will wear that first day, what lunch period they will have, and to which teacher they were assigned.

Parents wonder if their children will make new friends and if they will be educationally challenged as well as socially and emotionally guided. T eachers prepare their classroom and lessons, making

JAMES MOUSALIMAS

them visually appealing and academically effective.

Principals organize schedules and assignments in preparation of leading their staff and students into a successful year of education.

Nothing beats the mark of a new academic beginning.

I have worked in education for more than 30 years and I still feel the excitement and enthusiasm as the beginning of a new school year approaches.

Each year brings with it new opportunities, challenges, successes and experiences for our students.

From our youngest children entering kindergarten to our 17-year-old seniors who are completing high school and preparing for college and a career, the first day of school is filled with promises, adventure and excitement.

As your child begins the school year, I encourage you to get involved in his/her education. If you have time this year, volunteer at your child’s school, in the classroom or the library — ask the school how you can help.

When your child sees you at school, you send a powerful message that you value his/ her education. Also, by volunteering at school, you will develop a closer relationship with your child’s teacher and will know firsthand how your child is doing in class.

If you have any questions or concerns, you will be able to speak directly with your child’s teacher and work together to best meet your child’s individual needs.

Every child is unique and special. One approach or methodology will not meet the needs of all children.

That is why it is so important that parents remain involved in their child’s school and education.

Parents know their children best and can share their insights with the teacher. An elementary teacher has 20, 30 or even 35 students to educate, nurture and develop.

Each of these children has unique talents, abilities and learning styles. While teachers use a variety of instructional techniques and strategies to try to meet the needs of all children, their efforts are best accomplished when parents are actively involved in their child’s school and education.

Each child deserves the very best education possible; this outcome is best achieved when the family, teachers and school are all working together.

An exciting opportunity in our 21st-century technological society involves STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education.

STEM education is more important than ever. In computer science alone by 2020, there will be 1 million more jobs available than there are qualified computer science graduates.

In California, STEM jobs have grown by almost 20 percent since 2008. This focus on STEM industries and jobs is only going to increase in the coming years.

These statistics show why it is so important that our public education system in San Joaquin County provides our children with effective, rigorous STEM education from elementary through high school.

At the San Joaquin County Office of Education, we have made improving STEM Education in our county a priority.

We are developing our 240-acre Durham Ferry site into an Outdoor STEM Education Center where many fourth-grade students will experience STEM activities in an outdoor setting beginning this school year.

This past summer, we offered biotechnology, coding and robotics camps for students in Grades 2 through 12. We have created an Engineering and Design Center on our Stockton campus, where we will provide STEM education training for teachers and host regional robotics events.

Our Teachers College of San Joaquin offers a master’s degree in STEM education and a STEM certificate for teachers and administrators to improve their knowledge and skills in mathematics, science and technology instruction.

The SJCOE also provides mathematics and science training for teachers throughout our county, helping to improve instruction in the classroom for all of our children.

We have partnered with the Reach for the Stars Foundation to provide fifth-grade students with full-day science activities. Science Olympiads and math tournaments are sponsored by the SJCOE and offer students an opportunity to compete against their peers in countywide competitions.

There are also outstanding STEM programs at school districts and charter schools throughout our county.

West High School’s Space and Engineering Academy in the Tracy Unified School District; McCandless STEM Charter School in Lincoln Unified School District; River Islands Technology Academy; Manteca Unified’s districtwide technology initiatives; “Project Lead the Way” in the Stockton Unified School District; and Lodi Unified School District’s Magnitude.io are just a few examples.

Contact your child’s school to find out what STEM programs and opportunities they offer.

So, as school gets underway and as your children sharpen their pencils and choose their early-days-ofschool outfits, as you peek into schools and see the rooms prepared by teachers, as you read information sent from your principal, I know that we all feel that same excitement.

Together, upon committing ourselves to providing the best possible education and opportunities for all of our children in San Joaquin County, we can foster the growth of our future.

Let us embark on this year’s adventure together — parents, students, teachers, staff and administrators — to meet the needs of every child and to keep that same enthusiasm we all feel on the first day of school consistent and lasting throughout the year.

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MAKE THE GRADE

LITERACY

Before improvement comes discussion Pacific’s ‘Beyond Our Gates’ program brings issue to the forefront

By Nicholas Filipas Record Staff Writer

STOCKTON — When University of the Pacific’s Beyond Our Gates initiative first began operating several years ago, communications director Jennifer Torres Siders knew literacy problems in Stockton and San Joaquin County weren’t going to be an easy fix.

In 2015, only 27 percent of third-grade students in San Joaquin County had reached grade-level proficiency, a drop from 34 percent the previous year, according to the Pacific’s annual San Joaquin Literacy Report Card.

The lower literacy rate was expected at the time because of the implementation of a new standardized test to track students’ progress. But the low score was, nonetheless, cause for serious concern.

According to that report, Stockton Unified School District had the lowest third-grade literacy rate in the county at 16 percent. Lincoln Unified had a 35 percent rate, followed by Lodi Unified (31 percent), Escalon Unified (29 percent), Manteca Unified (29 percent) and Tracy Unified (25 percent). Ripon Unified had the highest at 43 percent, beating even the statewide benchmark of 38 percent.

As work continues to improve those numbers, Torres Siders said

San Joaquin County Office of Education Superintendent James Mousalimas reads a book at a Beyond Our Gates summer literacy program at Conway Homes in Stockton in June. CLIFFORD OTO/RECORD FILE 2016

one assessment she’s proud of is the growing civic conversation.

“More organizations are coming up with projects that support early literacy; RTD does the ‘Books on Buses’ program; CalWorks has storytime training. It’s been very encouraging to see more groups and businesses who want to help address the issue of early literacy,” she said.

There’s an extensive “Talk.

Read. Sing” campaign from First 5 California, a fully integrated statewide public information and outreach campaign aimed at reaching millions of Californians with the message and tools to take action. Earlier this year, it launched a children’s activity center express exhibit that will

be found at county fairs.

Beyond Our Gates has also launched an Early Literacy Mini-Grant Project to community-based organizations and public and private agencies in San Joaquin County. With funding from the Irvine Foundation, the initiative is going to award $5,000 and $10,000 grants to local organizations that want to pilot or enhance literacy programs.

The grant will distribute up to $60,000 this year and another $60,000 the following year.

Torres Siders said while there is more open discussion about early literacy than ever, she wants to have more accountable data that is easier to track, especially for children enrolled

in summer programs.

There’s plenty of research, she points out, showing that if kids don’t have experience reading or any other academics during the summer months, they can often fall behind.

By the time children are 3, 80 percent of their brains have been developed. In many homes, students by age 3 may hear fewer than 3 million words, and that disconnect can set them up to be behind from the first day of kindergarten. Many of these students will drop out of high school, if not before, and most will be at risk of using drugs or joining gangs. “(Kids) can lose two months of learning (during the summer), and when they get back to school in the fall, they’re starting already behind,” Torres Siders said.

While many parents and caregivers may argue summer should be old-fashioned free time, those two months can differ from student to student.

“It’s different when you’re a working parent who is making medium wage in San Joaquin County. There’s … trips to take like the beach, museums, ice skating … (your child) is still having the experience of not only building vocabulary, but also thinking skills."

“Options are then limited if a child comes from a low-income household. They’re home in notso-safe neighborhoods, they are

watching TV and are not able to have the same opportunity.”

To help stabilize learning during the dog days of summer, Pacific teamed up with the San Joaquin County Office of Education and The Record to create bilingual summer learning guides for children in kindergarten through third grade.

Available to download on the Beyond Our Gates website, guides are filled with numerous activities, recommended books, and lists of free educational websites and local attractions.

The initiative holds summer enrichment programs with college students as tutors for children at community centers of low-income housing communities in Stockton, such as Sierra Vista and Conway Homes.

Last month in a classroom at Conway Homes in south Stockton, San Joaquin County Office of Education Superintendent James Mousalimas read to children ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade.

“Kids are like sponges, they really are,” he said. “We need to make sure we’re supporting them and providing them opportunities like this throughout the year.”

— Contact reporter Nicholas Filipas at (209) 546-8257 or nfilipas@recordnet.com.

Follow him on recordnet.com/ filipasblog or on Twitter @ nicholasfilipas.

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EDUCATION

Parental involvement begins at home

By Almendra Carpizo Record Staff Writer

STOCKTON — A child’s academic success is determined by many factors, but the No. 1 predictor continues to be parent involvement.

As a result, schools, teachers and community organizations are finding ways to get the message out and make it easy for parents to participate.

Nowadays, parents and guardians in Stockton have options and outlets to connect with their child’s school: from parent-teacher meetings, social media, to advisory committees and even a downloadable phone and computer application. But involvement can be as simple as reading and playing at home.

Kennetha Stevens, parent/ community empowerment department coordinator for Stockton Unified School District, said studies have shown that children — no matter the economic background — perform better if a parent is engaged.

She recalled a student who three years ago was underperforming but made a turnaround when the mother became involved.

Realizing the importance of preparing students for college, University of the Pacific established an initiative called Tomorrow Project, which includes summer academies focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). One of the aspects of the free program is inviting parents and teaching them the lessons their children learn at the university.

Having parents attend the academies builds trust between them and the school, said Nancy Shaw, Tomorrow Project administrator.

The parents who take the time to participate in the program also learn to engage their children at home, she said. They can discuss what their child is learning and understand it, but it also creates a sense of expectation in the kids to continue higher education.

“When children see their parents value their education, they will value it, too,” Shaw said.

Advocates say parent involvement helps establish

Jaden Susbilla, left, and Andrew Greenmyer, both of Stockton work on a parachute device for an egg drop activity in a Tomorrow Project summer camp class at University of the Pacific in Stockton. CLIFFORD OTO/RECORD FILE 2015

expectations for students and makes them aware of challenges their child may be facing.

Many parents will send their children to school and not get involved, said 55-year-old Jesus Garcia, a member of Stockton Unified's parent advisory committee. Then they believe their child isn’t getting attention, but it’s because the communication between the parent and school is broken.

Garcia, the legal guardian of his 9-year-old grandson, has been participating in the boy’s education since he was 2 years old.

He said when his grandson was a toddler he heard programs stressing the need for parent involvement, so he decided to attend various classes to learn the best practices.

Reading to children before they even enter kindergarten is powerful and can do much to prepare children for school.

A lot of organizations in San Joaquin County have been promoting the message that parents are their children’s first and most important teacher, said Jennifer

Torres Siders, community relations director for Pacific’s Beyond Our Gates initiative.

Parents should know they don’t need special training or equipment to train strong readers, she said. All they need to do is sing, play, talk, write and read with their children.

For parents who don’t have time, there are other methods to promote reading, said Torres Siders, who has 3- and 6-yearold daughters. They can read signs while running errands, play an alphabet scavenger hunt when at the grocery store, or sing songs.

Children who are better prepared for kindergarten are more likely to meet the third-grade reading proficiency, which indicates they’re more likely to graduate high school, she said.

Students then maybe can pursue higher education or better paying jobs.

“We’re playing the long game here,” she said. “We want parents to be involved throughout their education ... to create habit and expectations.”

Torres said she and her husband, David Siders, read a lot with their daughters. They also visit the library and talk, but then encourage dress-up and makebelieve, which is a fun way to expand their vocabularies.

Garcia said watching his grandson, who attends Primary Years Academy, grow into an intelligent young man has been a reward. The work pays off because he can see improvements in the way he speaks and behaves.

It’s important to understand school is a small teaching component and education must continue at home, Garcia said.

There may be parents who are hesitant to get involved because they don’t have a relationship with their child’s school, Stevens said, but they can start by volunteering in the classroom in order to get to know the teachers.

There also are PTAs, advisory committees, school site councils, workshops and conferences they can join and attend.

If work prevents someone from being able to step onto

school grounds, they can ensure their children do their homework, read for at least 20 minutes at home, eat breakfast and get to school on time, she said. Families also can download the district’s ParentVue application to their phone or computer to check attendance and grades and to contact teachers.

If money is an issue, Torres Siders suggests people look into organizations and programs such as Read to me, Stockton!, First 5 San Joaquin and Reach Out & Read San Joaquin.

Said Torres Siders: “I sincerely believe that all parents want their children thrive and succeed at school.”

For more information on how to get involved with Stockton Unified School District, visit http://stocktonusd.net/ Page/376. For other school districts, go to their web pages, which are listed on Pages 13-14.

— Contact reporter Almendra Carpizo at (209) 546-8264 or acarpizo@recordnet. com. Follow her on twitter @ AlmendraCarpizo.

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MAKE THE GRADE

STOCKTON UNIFIED

‘He has a love for humanity’ New superintendent comes to Stockton with rave reviews

By Nicholas Filipas Record Staff Writer

STOCKTON — When Stockton Unified School District trustees introduced Dr. Eliseo Davalos as its new Superintendent in mid-June, he walked to the opposite end of the dais and directly addressed the packed room of students, parents and educators.

“I look forward to meeting as many children as I can, engaging with as many parents and community members as I can, because we all want our children to be successful,” he said.

The third child of seven, born in Stockton from Latino parents who knew the value of hard work, Davalos, 61, has said many times he has dedicated his life to see every child, regardless of background or economic status, use education to succeed and live a fulfilling life.

July 1 marked Davalos’ first day as Superintendent of San Joaquin County’s largest school district with 44 K-8 schools and four high schools.

In addition, there are career academies, preschools, K-12 magnet schools, charter schools, alternative education schools and an adult school.

He replaces Julie Penn, who

New Stockton Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. Eliseo Davalos, with outgoing Supt. Julie Penn, visiting the Chavez Summer Arts and Music Institute. CALIXTRO ROMIAS/THE RECORD

steadily held the ship for two years as interim Superintendent after she took over from former Superintendent Steve Lowder, who retired halfway through a three-year contract extension he had received in January 2013.

Davalos has worked in public education since 1979. Most recently, he served as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction and accountability for San Bernardino City Schools, a Southern California district serving 52,000 students, according to district

officials.

Cindy Tamimi, administrative assistant of educational services, worked with Davalos for two and a half years and had nothing but respect and admiration.

“He really wants what’s best for kids and their families,” she said. “He has a love for humanity.”

During a yearlong search, board Vice President Gloria Allen told The Record she saw Davalos’ passion during interviews with the board.

“He was near tears when he

was talking about education,” she said.

Raised in south Stockton in poverty, Davalos said his foundation as a man and educator was built by attending SUSD schools.

He attended Taft Elementary and spent his freshman year at Edison High School.

He can remember the name of every teacher he had since kindergarten.

Coming back to lead SUSD will give him the opportunity to provide leadership to enable students in the district to reach their full potential, both as people and in an academic setting.

“My goal is to get to know as many of the people, parents and children as I can, because they’re who we come to work for every day,” he said while touring a summer music program at Chavez High.

“I want to get to know as much as I can about what’s going on in the district with instruction and all the different programs we offer … so we can continue to support (programs) they’re involved in for their future success.”

Davalos wants to start his term by looking at district data — especially student achievement — so he and the district

can look at what resources can best help teachers, administrators and students to be the most effective.

He pictures students being at an educational buffet, allowed to select as many different programs and services available.

“I want to also see the underbelly, so we’re able to see places where we need to more support in,” said Davalos.

“We’re expecting our students to hit the ground running on the first day of school, and we need to make sure we’re able to meet the first day with the most effective instructional programs we can provide; the safest schools we can provide; the most up-to-date materials we can provide; the most exciting lessons, and teachers who want to embrace them every day. That’s my dream.”

It’s who he is as a person.

As he sees the promise of every single child, he also sees himself.

“I’m in it to win it,” Davalos said.

— Contact reporter Nicholas Filipas at (209) 546-8257 or nfilipas@recordnet.com.

Follow him on recordnet.com/ filipasblog or on Twitter @ nicholasfilipas.

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CURRICULUM

COMMON CORE: Still the standard despite questions

By Nicholas Filipas Record Staff Writer

MANTECA — Common Core standards were put in place to ensure that students nationwide have the skill set and knowledge by the end of each grade level. The end result: to be college- and career-ready by the end of high school.

And a second benefit would help students moving from school to school: the standards would not vary much.

While it has its fair share of critics, especially in mathematics, some schools, particularly in the East and Midwest, are allowing parents to opt their children out of taking tests and causing debates over whether parents should actually keep their children from Common Core altogether.

In California, it’s widely accepted.

First adopted in 2010, 46 out of 50 states joined in bringing Common Core into millions of districts. But as criticism increased, some states suddenly backtracked.

Indiana, Oklahoma and South Carolina repealed the standards in 2014 and replaced them.

The Manteca Unified School District is an example of many California school districts where Common Core is not so

controversial. MUSD serves 23,000 students on 26 campuses. The implementation plan, in place since 2014, is to provide structures to deliver coherent, relevant and rigorous learning from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Deputy Superintendent Roger Goatcher said the main issues with the standards seem to be that parents and school administration feel they don’t want the federal government dictating to school districts what they want kids to learn.

Goatcher said having one national standard from state to state is beneficial, especially if students change schools.

“Especially here in the Central Valley, we do get quite a bit of turnover, and if (a student comes in from) Oregon, Arizona and Nevada and (one of those states) does not have algebra as a main standard in eighth grade like we did, but ... may have been doing that in high school, (a) kid transfers (into MUSD) and they’re a year behind in math,” Goatcher said. "I don’t think that’s good for kids.”

In May, Goatcher was appointed deputy superintendent for the district after serving as senior director of student services.

He has been with Manteca Unified since 2000 and said

while he hasn’t had any teachers or parents come to him to discuss opting out of Common Core standards, he understands some issues parents might have, such as children having to show how they got to a right answer.

“The real issue is so many kids are doing this memorization that they couldn’t think critically, they couldn’t think for themselves,” he said.

“We’re hearing from businesses, ‘The people that you’re sending us aren’t critical thinkers, they can’t resolve issues if it’s not an easy answer; they can’t deal with it,’ so that’s what Common Core is about.”

He explained the standard is about getting deep into problem solving rather than being satisfied with the final answer.

Even a correct answer, without that critical thinking, isn’t good enough. It won’t transfer into skills to find future correct

answers. Students should learn to be more in depth in understanding the concept, he said.

Having students do extra steps can build a foundation for topics such as algebra and geometry.

Dawn Vetica, assistant superintendent of secondary education at Lodi Unified, said that district also implemented Common Core in 2014 and is generally happy. Some parents and teachers have had questions about the standards, especially in math, but not enough to warrant a change, she said.

“Teachers enjoy the flexibility it gives them teaching students higher-level thinking skills and using technology in the classroom,” Vetica wrote in an email.

As Manteca Unified celebrated its 50th year, Goatcher said one of the other successful programs has been its Going Digital program.

The district has embraced

the idea of using technology as a learning tool, issuing more than 23,500 student devices throughout the district in just five weeks last year.

Manteca Unified also installed 40 miles of fiber-optic cables at all its campuses and placed wireless access points in every classroom.

Goatcher said Going Digital has been very successful, and parents have been very appreciative of the movement. “(Parents) are looking forward for what their kids are going to be expected to do in the workforce and how are we preparing them to do that,” he said. “They like that idea it’s education for their child’s sake to get them future ready.”

— Contact reporter Nicholas Filipas at (209) 546-8257 or nfilipas@recordnet.com. Follow him on recordnet.com/filipasblog or on Twitter @nicholasfilipas.

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MAKE THE GRADE

FACILITIES

School names ref lect those we honor

By Nicholas Filipas

PRESIDENTS

Record Staff Writer

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified and Lodi Unified The nation’s first president. As a commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and a Founding Father, Washington was admired for his leadership.

JOHN ADAMS ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified John Adams was the second president of the United States. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and became the nation’s first vice president under George Washington.

MADISON ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified James Madison is considered the Father of the Constitution.

MONROE ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified James Monroe was the fifth president of the United States. While president, he oversaw the acquisition of Florida from Spain and with the Treaty of 1818.

VAN BUREN ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified Martin Van Buren served as the eighth president of the United States and was constantly blamed for the economic challenges, among them the Panic of 1837 and the depression that followed.

HARRISON ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified William Henry Harrison served as the ninth president of the United States in 1841. On his 32nd day in office, he got a cold that developed into pneumonia and died, becoming the first president to die in office.

TYLER SKILLS ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified John Tyler served as the 10th president of the United States. Tyler is the first vice president to succeed the presidency after the death of his predecessor.

TAYLOR ELEMENTARY

W

hether it’s naming children, pets or cars, we spend a good amount of time to decide on just the perfect name. It is pretty official after all. In fact, we also name public areas, too, such as parks, roads, streets, lakes and bridges. Not to the mention the schools where our children are educated. Among San Joaquin County’s largest school districts, schools are named after 18 presidents, seven military heroes, two founding fathers, seven historical figures, three civil rights leaders, one scientist, two astronauts and one literary figure.

But by far, the largest groups are local leaders and educators.

Fillmore is the last president to not be affiliated with either the Democrat or Republican parties.

Wilson passed laws that prohibited child labor and brought eight-hour workdays to railroad workers.

for his work in electricity and even created the nation’s first fire department.

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY AND LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL

HOOVER ELEMENTARY

HISTORICAL FIGURES

Manteca Unified and Lincoln Unified Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, is best known for his leadership during the Civil War, preserving the Union, which was deeply divided over slavery and states’ rights.

CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States and was the first Democrat elected after the Civil War in 1885.

MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified William McKinley was the 25th president of the United States. During his time, McKinley led the nation to victory during the Spanish-American War, with Spain eventually ceding the colonies of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines to the United States. McKinley also saw Hawaii become a U.S. territory in 1898.

ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States, and was also an author, explorer and soldier and was seen as a “cowboy” for his masculine pursuits, such as hunting wild game in Africa.

Stockton Unified Zachary Taylor was the 12th president of the United States. Before becoming president, Taylor was an officer in the U.S. Army and rose to major general.

TAFT ELEMENTARY

FILLMORE ELEMENTARY

Stockton Unified Woodrow Wilson served as the 28th president of the United States and in his two terms as president,

Stockton Unified Millard Fillmore was the 13th president of the United States.

Stockton Unified William Taft was the nation’s 27th president. He is the only president to later serve on the Supreme Court.

WILSON ELEMENTARY

Stockton Unified Herbert Hoover was the 31st president of the United States. Although the policies that set in motion the stock market crash of 1929 and the following Great Depression were already in place by the time he was elected, Hoover was widely blamed for the economic crisis.

KENNEDY ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. Kennedy challenged the American people to land on the moon, dealt with civil rights legislation and averted nuclear war with the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

GEORGE W. BUSH ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified George W. Bush was the 43rd president of the United States, serving two terms, from 2001 to 2009. Eight months into his presidency, the nation was attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, starting the War on Terror and the eventual invasion of Iraq in 2003.

FOUNDING FATHERS HAMILTON ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified Best known as an American patriot, Alexander Hamilton was a chief staff member to President George Washington and founded our nation’s financial system and Coast Guard, among other things.

FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL Stockton Unified Benjamin Franklin was an author, printer, postmaster, scientist, inventor and politician, among other titles. Franklin is best known

MARSHALL ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified John Marshall was the nation’s fourth chief justice of the Supreme Court.

He is the longest-serving chief justice and the fourth-longest-serving justice in Supreme Court history.

MONTEZUMA ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified Also known as Moctezuma II, he was the ninth ruler of Tenochtitlan, an Aztec city-state located on the island of Lake Texcoco, which is now the site of Mexico City.

NIGHTINGALE ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified Florence Nightingale is the face of modern nursing. In 1860, she founded her own nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, which was the first of its kind in the world.

ANSEL ADAMS ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified Ansel Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist.

JULIA MORGAN ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified Julia Morgan was an American architect in California and designed more than 700 buildings.

JOHN MUIR ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified John Muir was a Scottish-American naturalist, author and lover of nature and the wilderness. His writings were enough to convince the U.S. government to preserve areas such as Yosemite Valley, the Grand Canyon and Sequoia as national parks.

JENNY LIND ELEMENTARY Calaveras Unified Johanna “Jenny” Lind was a famous

Swedish opera singer often known as the “Swedish Nightingale,” one of the most popular opera singers of the 19th century.

HUERTA ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta is a labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez.

King Elementary, Stockton Unified Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist who had an incredible impact on race relations.

CESAR CHAVEZ HIGH SCHOOL Stockton Unified Cesar Chavez was a well-known American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist, who co-founded the UFW with Dolores Huerta.

EDISON HIGH SCHOOL Stockton Unified Thomas Edison was an American inventor, who holds 2,332 patents around the globe, 1,093 of them in the United States. Among his inventions were the motion picture camera, the incandescent light bulb and sound recording.

CHRISTA MCAULIFFE MIDDLE SCHOOL Lodi Unified Christa McAuliffe was a teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, and was one of seven crew members aboard the space shuttle Challenger when it exploded on Jan. 28, 1986.

MCNAIR HIGH SCHOOL Lodi Unified Ronald Ervin McNair was a physicist and NASA astronaut, also one of seven crew members killed in the Challenger explosion in 1986, as the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after launch.

BRET HARTE UNION HIGH Bret Harte Unified Bret Harte was an American writer, poet and journalist, best known for his work detailing the California Gold Rush.

WEBER INSTITUTE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY Stockton Unified Capt. Charles M. Weber, a German immigrant, founded Stockton in 1849 when he purchased more than 49,000 acres of land through a Spanish land grant.

MAKE THE GRADE

MILITARY HEROES BROCK ELLIOTT ELEMENTARY Manteca Unified Brock Elliot was the first man from Manteca to be killed in action during the Vietnam War. He was a lance corporal with the Marines and had been serving his country for only 11 months when he was killed.

FREMONT ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified John Fremont, born in 1813, was a pioneer, leading four expeditions to California and the American West during the 1840s.

CLYDE W. NEEDHAM ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified Clyde Needham is the first man from Lodi to be killed in action in World War I. Needham died in France on July 27, 1917, after a German shell hit the top of a trench he was in.

PITTMAN ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified Master Sgt. Richard Pittman is a retired U.S. Marine who received the Medal of Honor in July 1966 for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War.

DUNCAN RUSSELL CONTINUATION SCHOOL Tracy Unified One school is named after two men.

Richard W. Duncan and Donnie H. Russell are the first two Tracy residents killed during the Vietnam War.

STOCKTON SKILLS SCHOOL Stockton Unified Robert Field Stockton was a U.S. Navy commodore and was considered a key figure in the capture of California during the Mexican-American War.

PROMINENT LOCAL CITIZENS BECKMAN ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified Named for the prominent Beckman family that once farmed the land, Henry and Christopher

Beckman settled in Lodi in 1859, and Henry bought a ranch south of where Kettleman Lane is today.

County’s first black attorney and judge, retiring from San Joaquin County Superior Court in 1996.

football. Stagg coached at thenCollege of the Pacific in Stockton from 1932 to 1946.

JOSHUA COWELL ELEMENTARY

PEYTON ELEMENTARY

JOHN VIERRA HIGH SCHOOL

Stockton Unified Valentine Peyton, a Stocktonian and council member in fall1852, started funding that would eventually lead to the creation of the Stockton Unified School District.

Bret Harte Unified John Vierra was a longtime area rancher, businessman and community volunteer.

Manteca Unified Named for the founder and first mayor of Manteca, Joshua Cowell.

DAVIS ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified Davis Elementary School was established in 1958 in the “Davis School District” that was merged into Lodi Unified in 1967.

KIMBALL HIGH SCHOOL Tracy Unified John C. Kimball was a doctor in Tracy who for decades had volunteered as the Tracy High School team physician.

GEORGE KOMURE ELEMENTARY Manteca Unified George Y. Komure was a longtime French Camp-area farmer who also served as a public servant in several capacities.

MERLO INSTITUTE Stockton Unified Edward C. Merlo was an architect and is best known for saving the Bob Hope Theatre from closing its doors in 1973 due to poor attendance.

LAWRENCE ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified The first school in the Salem District was built in 1858 on the land of Ezekiel Lawrence. The doors, windows, sash and furniture for the schoolhouse were made by Lawrence, who was a carpenter. The Lawrence family was prominent in Lodi history.

GEORGE LINCOLN MOSHER ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified George Lincoln Mosher once owned land where the school which takes after his name was built.

ONE.JOHN F. CRUIKSHANK COURT SCHOOL San Joaquin County Office of Education John Cruikshank was San Joaquin

DON RIGGIO ELEMENTARY Lincoln Unified Don Riggio, a Stockton attorney, served on the Lincoln school board for 24 years, the second-longest time in the district’s history.

JOE SERNA JR. CHARTER Lodi Unified Joe Serna Jr. was a civil rights activist and mayor of Sacramento from 1992 to 1999.

MANLIO SILVA ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified Named after pharmacist, violinist and conductor Manlio Silva, who founded the Stockton Symphony in 1926.

ALEX G. SPANOS ELEMENTARY Stockton Unified Born in Stockton in 1923, Spanos is an real estate developer and self-made billionaire who attended University of the Pacific and founded the A. G. Spanos Companies.

STAGG HIGH SCHOOL Stockton Unified Amos Alonzo Stagg is often considered the father of modern

WAGNER-HOLT ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified Benjamin Holt was an American inventor who patented and manufactured the first tractor and established the Holt Manufacturing Co. Jacob Wagner established the Pacific Tannery where today, the Pacific Storage Co. is still located.

WILLIAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL Tracy Unified Earle E. Williams was a California historian who wrote articles, pamphlets, essays and biographies focused on the region around southwest San Joaquin County and Tracy.

WALTER WOODWARD ELEMENTARY Manteca Unified Walter Woodward was Manteca’s first Realtor and an early advocate of irrigation.

LOCAL EDUCATORS MABLE BARRON ELEMENTARY Lincoln Unified Mable Barron joined the Lincoln School District in 1948 and became its first superintendent in 1951.

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BOHN ELEMENTARY Tracy Unified Louis Bohn wore many hats, including teacher, principal, educational adviser, director of instruction, assistant superintendent for instruction, acting superintendent and assistant superintendent for personnel during a five-decade career.

LOIS E. BORCHARDT ELEMENTARY Lodi Unified Lois Borchardt was a teacher at the district for more than 30 years.

She also was one of the founders of the Lodi Women's Center.

STELLA BROCKMAN ELEMENTARY Manteca Unified Stella Brockman was a fifth-grade teacher and eventual principal at Yosemite School.

JANE FREDERICK CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL Stockton Unified Jane Frederick served as a teacher of Japanese-American students who were interned in a camp in Arizona.

FREILER ELEMENTARY Tracy Unified Art Freiler was a former teacher at Clover Middle School and Central School. He retired in 1985 after teaching 23 years in Tracy Unified.

Want to read about other local school names? Find more at Recordnet.com/makethegrade.

GRUNKSY ELEMENTARY

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BACK TO

Throwback to school 1

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1. Kindergarten teacher Judy Hawthorne shares her knowledge of seeds and gardening with students.

RECORD FILE 1992

2. Tully C. Knoles students stand in front of a handmade flag. RECORD FILE 1991 3. Teacher Marilyn Penko helps a student at a computer at Brock Elliot Elementary School in Manteca.

CALIXTRO ROMIAS/RECORD FILE 1992

4. Montezuma third-graders listen intently during class. RECORD FILE 1991 5. Clairmont Elementary School cook Janet Lunsford aids a young cafeteria helper prepare the day’s lunch. CLIFFORD OTO/RECORD FILE 1989

3

6. Lincoln Elementary students blow bubbles during the school’s Bubble Festival setup by Berkeley’s Lawrence School of Science and the Lincoln Elementary Science Docents program. Students at the school participated in blowing soap bubbles of many shapes and sizes over two days in the school’s cafeteria. CLIFFORD OTO/RECORD FILE 1991

O SCHOOL

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FREEPIK.COM

CHANGES

MORE ADVICE Here are some more tips: ■ Visit the school’s web-

site. Take a virtual tour and download a map of the school if possible. Check the school calendar and read the school rules and dress codes.

■ If possible, visit the school and talk to the teacher or an administrator before classes begin.

■ Practice your introductions. Have your child come up with a short conversation-starter: “Hi! My name is Mike. I just moved here from Baltimore and I play baseball.” That way they’ll be ready with something to say to new acquaintances.

■ Remind your child that it’s normal to feel anxious and let them know you’re there for them if they have questions.

KEEP IT

POSITIVE Help your child deal with school year changes

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

C

hange is hard for everyone.

Entering a new school is one of the biggest changes a child may encounter in his young life.

Parents can help smooth the transition and make it less traumatic.

“A lot of parents may feel anxiety about a change of school, but they should be careful not to project those feelings on their kids. Their child may not be feeling the same thing,” said parenting expert, blogger and author Richard Greenberg, who shares an analogy: “If you got in a taxi and said to the driver, ‘Take me to the airport’ and he said, ‘I

don’t know how to get there,’ you wouldn’t feel too good about it.

Kids are in the back of our cab. The key is to project confidence.”

Put yourself in their shoes and try and remember how it felt to be a kid in a new situation, he added.

“Let them know you’re part of the process. Project that this is going to be great. They’re going to have fun.

Change is a part of life. It’s a part of growing up. Tell them that you’re proud of them. Use the power of positive thinking,” Greenberg said.

Make a friend early “Friends play an enormous part of success in school,” said educational psychologist and parenting, bullying and character expert Dr. Michele Borba, author

of “Unselfie.” “Friends keep kids happy. They make a child want to go to school. They are a support system.”

If you can connect your child with one friendly face before school starts, it can ease the process of changing schools.

“Walking into a new school without knowing someone is stressful,” Borba said. “The goal is to make your child feel secure in dozens of ways.

Whatever you can learn and discuss ahead of time will reduce their anxiety.”

Look for opportunities for your child to meet neighbors and potential classmates over the summer. Check out library and park district programs and the local newspaper to see what’s happening in your area.

■ If your child is concerned about riding the bus, brief your child on safety rules and visit the bus stop in advance. Point out familiar landmarks and reassure your child that an adult will be on hand when they disembark at the school.

■ Parents can contact the school’s parent teacher organization, which can provide information about the new school. Volunteering is a great way to become a part of a new community and make new friends for both parent and child.

■ No matter how anxious you are when dropping off a child at a new school, don’t linger. Borba said.

That will only increase their anxiety.

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REACHING OUT

How to reach area schools, districts BANTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Albert Garibaldi (2 years) Web: bantaesd.sharpschool.net Number of students: 795 SCHOOLS ■ Banta Elementary: (209) 229-4650 ■ Next Generation STEAM Academy: (209) 229-4736

BRET HARTE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Michael Chimente (10 years) Web: bhuhsd-ca.schoolloop.com Number of students: 705 SCHOOLS ■ Bret Harte Union High: (209) 736-2507 ■ John Vierra High: (209) 736-8322 ■ Vallecito High: (209) 736-8340

CALAVERAS COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION Superintendent Kathy Northington (5 years) Web: ccoe.k12.ca.us Number of students: 1,500 SCHOOLS ■ Building Bridges State Preschool: (209) 785-8741 ■ Calaveras River Academy: (209) 754-1996 ■ Oakendell Community School: (209) 754-1961

CALAVERAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Mark Campbell (8 years) Web: calaveras.k12.ca.us Number of students: 2,949 SCHOOLS ■ Calaveras High: (209) 754-1811 ■ Gold Strike High: (209) 754-2123 ■ Jenny Lind Elementary: (209) 754-2168 ■ Mokelumne Hill Elementary: (209) 286-1462

■ Rail Road Flat Elementary: (209)

■ Lammersville Elementary: (209)

754-2275 ■ San Andreas Elementary: (209) 754-2365 ■ Sierra Hills Education Center: (209) 754-2328 ■ Toyon Middle: (209) 754-2137 ■ Valley Springs Elementary: (209) 754-2141

836-7220 ■ Mountain House High: (209) 836-7460 ■ Sebastian Questa Elementary: (209) 836-7230 ■ Wicklund Elementary: (209) 836-7200

ESCALON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Superintendent Tom Uslan (5 years) Web: www.lusd.net Number of students: 9,277 SCHOOLS ■ Brookside Elementary: (209) 953-8641 ■ Claudia Landeen Elementary: (209) 953-8660 ■ Colonial Heights Elementary: (209) 953-8783 ■ Don Riggio Elementary: (209) 953-8753 ■ Independent Learning Center: (209) 953-8432 ■ John R. Williams Elementary: (209) 953-8768 ■ Lincoln Elementary: (209) 953-8651 ■ Lincoln High: (209) 953-8920 ■ Mable Barron Elementary: (209) 953-8795 ■ Sierra Middle: (209) 953-8748 ■ John McCandless STEM Charter: (209) 888-0160

Superintendent Ron Costa (6 years) Web: escalonusd.org Number of students: 2,849 SCHOOLS ■ Collegeville Elementary: (209) 941-2007 ■ Dent Elementary: (209) 838-7031 ■ El Portal Middle: (209) 838-7095 ■ Escalon High: (209) 838-7073 ■ Farmington Elementary: (209) 886-5344 ■ Gateway Academy: (209) 838-7177 ■ Van Allen Elementary: (209) 838-2931

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent James Bridges (3 years) Web: jeffersonschooldistrict.com Number of students: 2,425 SCHOOLS ■ Anthony C. Traina Elementary: (209) 839-2379 ■ Jefferson School: (209) 835-3053 ■ Monticello Elementary: (209) 833-9300 ■ Tom Hawkins Elementary: (209) 839-2380

LAMMERSVILLE JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Kirk Nicholas (3 years) Web: lammersvilleschooldistrict.net Number of students: 3,433 SCHOOLS ■ Altamont Elementary: (209) 836-7240 ■ Bethany Elementary: (209) 836-7250

LINCOLN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

LINDEN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Rick Hall (Started July 1) Web: lindenusd.com Number of students: 2,278 SCHOOLS ■ Glenwood Elementary: (209) 931-3229 ■ Linden Elementary: (209) 887-2020 ■ Linden High: (209) 887-3073 ■ PRIDE Continuation High: (209) 942-2695 ■ Waterloo Middle: (209) 931-0818 ■ Waverly Elementary: (209) 931-0735

LODI UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Cathy Nichols-Washer (8 years) Web: lodiusd.net Number of students: 30,349 SCHOOLS ■ Ansel Adams Elementary: (209) 953-9601 ■ Bear Creek High: (209) 953-8234 ■ Beckman Elementary: (209) 331-7410 ■ Christa McAuliffe Middle: (209) 953-9431 ■ Clairmont Elementary: (209) 953-8267 ■ Creekside Elementary: (209) 953-8285 ■ Davis Elementary: (209) 953-8301

■ Delta Sierra Middle: (209) 953-8510 ■ Elkhorn Elementary: (209) 953-8312 ■ Ellerth Larson Elementary: (209)

331-8391 ■ George Lincoln Mosher Elementary: (209) 953-9298 ■ Henderson Community Day: (209) 331-7331 ■ Heritage Primary Elementary: (209) 331-7334 ■ Houston Elementary: (209) 331-7475 ■ Joe Serna Jr. Elementary: (209) 331-7809 ■ John Muir Elementary: (209) 953-8106 ■ Julia Morgan Elementary: (209) 953-8453 ■ Lakewood Elementary: (209) 331-7348 ■ Lawrence Elementary: (209) 331-7356 ■ Liberty High: (209) 331-7633 ■ Live Oak Elementary: (209) 331-7370 ■ Lockeford Elementary: (209) 331-7214 ■ Lodi Middle: (209) 331-7540 ■ Lodi High: (209) 331-7695 ■ Lois Borchardt Elementary: (209) 331-8212 ■ Manlio Silva Elementary: (209) 953-9302 ■ Millswood Middle: (209) 331-8332 ■ Middle College High: (209) 954-5790 ■ Morada Middle: (209) 953-8490 ■ Needham Elementary: (209) 331-7375 More On Page 14

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Continued From Page 13 ■ Nichols Elementary: (209) 331-7378 ■ Oakwood Elementary: (209)

953-8392 ■ Parklane Elementary: (209)

953-8410 ■ Plaza Robles High: (209) 953-8068 ■ Podesta Ranch Elementary: (209) 953-8543 ■ Reese Elementary: (209) 331-7424 ■ Ronald McNair High: (209) 953-9245 ■ Sutherland Elementary: (209) 953-8999 ■ Tokay High: (209) 331-7915 ■ Victor Elementary: (209) 331-7441 ■ Vinewood Elementary: (209) 331-7445 ■ Wagner Holt Elementary: (209) 953-8407 ■ Washington Elementary: (209) 331-7451 ■ Westwood Elementary: (209) 953-8333 ■ Woodbridge Elementary: (209) 331-8160

MANTECA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Jason Messer (8 years) Web: mantecausd.net Number of students: 23,188 SCHOOLS: ■ August Knodt Elementary: (209) 938-6200 ■ be.tech Academies: (209) 858-7460 ■ Brock Elliott Elementary: (209) 858-7260 ■ Calla High: (209) 858-7230 ■ East Union High: (209) 858-7270

MAKE THE GRADE ■ French Camp Elementary: (209)

938-6370 ■ George Komure Elementary: (209) 938-6320 ■ George McParland Elementary: (209) 858-7290 ■ Golden West Elementary: (209) 858-7300 ■ Great Valley Elementary: (209) 938-6300 ■ Joseph Widmer Jr. Elementary: (209) 938-6340 ■ Joshua Cowell Elementary: (209) 858-7310 ■ Lathrop Elementary: (209) 858-7250 ■ Lathrop High: (209) 938-6250 ■ Lincoln Elementary: (209) 858-7320 ■ Manteca Adult School: (209) 858-7330 ■ Manteca Community Day: (209) 858-7380 ■ Manteca High: (209) 858-7340 ■ Mossdale Elementary: (209) 938-6285 ■ Neil Hafley Elementary: (209) 858-7215 ■ New Haven Elementary: (209) 858-7360 ■ New Vision High: (209) 938-6225 ■ Nile Garden Elementary: (209) 858-7370 ■ Sequoia Elementary: (209) 858-7440 ■ Shasta Elementary: (209) 858-7400 ■ Sierra High: (209) 858-7410 ■ Stella Brockman Elementary: (209) 858-7200 ■ Veritas Elementary: (209) 858-7390 ■ Walter Woodward Elementary: (209) 858-7430 ■ Weston Ranch High: (209) 938-6245

NEW HOPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Janet Stemler (1 year) Web: nhesd-ca.schoolloop.com Number of students: 216 SCHOOL: ■ New Hope Elementary: (209) 794-2376

NEW JERUSALEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent David Thoming (10 years) Web: njesd.net Number of students: 4,536 SCHOOLS: ■ Delta Charter: (209) 830-6363 ■ New Jerusalem Elementary: (209) 835-2597

OAK VIEW UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Beverly Boone (7 years) Web: myoakview.com Number of students: 411 SCHOOL: ■ Oak View Elementary: (209) 368-0636

RIPON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Siegrid “Ziggy” Robeson (1 year) Web: riponusd.net Number of students: 3,680 SCHOOLS: ■ Colony Oak Elementary: (209) 599-7145 ■ Harvest High: (209) 599-5009

■ Park View Elementary: (209)

599-1882 ■ Ripona Elementary: (209) 599-4104 ■ Ripon Elementary: (209) 599-4225 ■ Ripon High: (209) 599-4287 ■ Weston Elementary: (209) 599-7113

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION Superintendent: James Mousalimas (2 years) Web: sjcoe.org Number of students: 3,520 SCHOOLS: ■ Career Academy of Cosmetology: (209) 953-3401 ■ one.Program: (209) 468-4847 ■ San Joaquin Building Futures Academy: (209) 468-8140 ■ Teachers College of San Joaquin: (209) 468-4926 ■ Venture Academy Family of Schools: (209) 468-5940 ■ YouthBuild San Joaquin: (209) 468-9246

STOCKTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Eliseo Davalos (Started July 1) Web: stocktonusd.net Number of students: 40,057 SCHOOLS: ■ John Adams Elementary: (209) 933-7155 ■ August Elementary: (209) 933-7160 ■ Bush Elementary: (209) 933-7350 ■ Cesar Chavez High: (209) 933-7480 ■ Cleveland Elementary: (209) 933-7165 ■ Commodore Stockton Skills Elementary: (209) 933-7170 ■ Edison High: (209) 933-7425 ■ El Dorado Elementary: (209) 933-7175 ■ Elmwood Elementary: (209) 933-7180 ■ Fillmore Elementary: (209) 933-7185 ■ Franklin High: (209) 933-7435 ■ Fremont/Lopez Elementary: (209) 933-7385 ■ Grunksy Elementary: (209) 933-7200 ■ Hamilton Elementary: (209) 933-7395 ■ Harrison Elementary: (209) 933-7205 ■ Hazelton Elementary: (209) 933-7210 ■ Health Careers Academy: (209) 933-7360 ■ Henry Elementary: (209) 933-7490 ■ Hong Kingston Elementary: (209) 933-7493 ■ Hoover Elementary: (209) 933-7215 ■ Huerta Elementary: (209) 933-7220 ■ Jane Frederick High: (209) 933-7340 ■ Kennedy Elementary: (209) 933-7225 ■ King Elementary: (209) 933-7230 ■ Kohl Open Elementary: (209) 933-7235 ■ Madison Elementary: (209) 933-7240 ■ Marshall Elementary: (209) 933-7405 ■ McKinley Elementary: (209) 933-7245 ■ Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology: (209) 933-7190 ■ Monroe Elementary: (209) 933-7250 ■ Montezuma Elementary: (209) 933-7255

■ Nightingale Charter: (209) 933-7260 ■ Pacific Law Academy: (209) 933-7445 ■ Peyton Elementary: (209) 933-7420 ■ Pittman Charter: (209) 933-7496 ■ Primary Years Academy: (209)

933-7355 ■ Pulliam Elementary: (209) 933-7265 ■ Rio Calaveras Elementary: (209)

933-7270 ■ Roosevelt Elementary: (209)

933-7275 ■ San Joaquin Elementary: (209)

933-7280 ■ Spanos Elementary: (209) 933-7335 ■ Stagg High: (209) 933-7445 ■ Stockton Early College Academy:

(209) 933-7370 ■ Stockton High: (209) 933-7365 ■ Stockton School for Adults: (209)

933-7455 ■ Taft Elementary: (209) 933-7285 ■ Taylor Elementary: (209) 933-7290 ■ Tyler Elementary: (209) 933-7295 ■ Van Buren Elementary: (209)

933-7305 ■ Victory Elementary: (209) 933-7310 ■ Walton Special Center: (209)

933-7315 ■ Washington Elementary: (209)

933-7320 ■ Weber Institute of Applied Sciences

and Technology: (209) 933-7330 ■ Wilson Elementary: (209) 933-7325

TRACY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Brian Stephens (2 years) Web: https://www.tracy.k12.ca.us Number of students: 16,935 SCHOOLS: ■ Art Freiler School: (209) 830-3309 ■ Central Elementary: (209) 830-3303 ■ Duncan-Russell Continuation High: (209) 830-3357 ■ Earle E. Williams Middle: (209) 830-3345 ■ George and Evelyn Stein High: (209) 830-3395 ■ George Kelly School: (209) 830-3390 ■ Gladys Poet-Christian School: (209) 830-3325 ■ John C. Kimball High: (209) 832-6600 ■ Louis A. Bohn Elementary: (209) 830-3300 ■ Louis J. Villalovoz Elementary: (209) 830-3331 ■ McKinley Elementary: (209) 830-3319 ■ Merrill F. West High: (209) 830-3370 ■ Melville S. Jacobson Elementary: (209) 830-3315 Monte Vista Middle: (209) 830-3340 North School: (209) 830-3350 South/West Park Elementary: (209) 830-3335 Tracy Adult School: (209) 830-3384 Tracy High: (209) 830-3360 Willow Community Day School: (209) 830-3357 Wanda Hirsch Elementary: (209) 830-3312

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