TROY A. BROWN, Ed.D. San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools
TERRELL MARTINEZ
Deputy Superintendent Business Services
JANINE KAESLIN
Deputy Superintendent Student Programs and Services
JANE CHAMBERLAIN
Deputy Superintendent Professional Learning and Support
ANNIE CUNIAL
Assistant Superintendent Educational Services
MELANIE GREENE
Assistant Superintendent County Operated Schools and Programs
PETER FOGGIATO
Assistant Superintendent Business Services
CHRISTINA TORRES-PETERS Chief Human Resources Officer
The San Joaquin County Office of Education is a regional agency that provides educational leadership, resources, and customized services to assist school districts. The SJCOE promotes student achievement and accountability, serves San Joaquin County’s most vulnerable students, and strives to create an environment in which every student, regardless of circumstances, has an opportunity for a quality education.
MRS. DELANEY’S LEGACY
Oak View Elementary School dedicates mural in memory of beloved librarian
Terry Delaney was a dedicated staff member of the Oak View Union Elementary school for over 25 years. She served the school district as a teacher’s aide, bus driver, and — most notably — as the librarian at the school. Her love for bright colors and vibrant storytime with students helped foster the love of reading for so many young students who have attended the elementary school district.
She unexpectedly passed away in November 2023. In honor of her, the Oak View staff commissioned a mural, designed by Lodi artist Tony Segale, on the front of the library. The mural — with notes of Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, as well as yellow roses — embodies what Mrs. Delaney is fondly remembered for.
“She’s missed every day,” said Superintendent and Principal Beverly Boone. But now, students and staff can reflect on her memory fondly at the entrance of Mrs. Delaney’s favorite space on campus — the library.
MOUNTAIN HOUSE STUDENT AWARDED WITH $40,000 SCHOLARSHIP
College Board BigFuture named Daniela Anaya Anzora as the recipient
Mountain House High School (Lammersville Unified School District) senior Daniela Anaya Anzora arrived at the auditorium with her entire senior class expecting a brief presentation on how to apply for scholarships to college. The assembly, called by BigFuture College Board representatives to share their product with students, was a guise to sneak Daniela’s family into the room before the announcement.
Thanks to her active participation on the BigFuture platform, Daniela was the first Central Valley student to be awarded such a scholarship from this board in over a decade.
The gym erupted in cheers as she walked down to receive the life-changing news with her family and local leaders — County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Troy Brown, Lammersville Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Kirk Nicholas, LUSD board members, and Congressman Josh Harder — on hand to celebrate her achievement.
BigFuture College Board is an online service available to high school students to help guide their academic journey. Resources include a career quiz to match passions and interests with possible jobs, research on available colleges, and scholarship matching. Learn more at BigFuture.CollegeBoard.org.
At Manteca Unified School District (MUSD), we believe that every student can achieve. The transition to standards-based report cards during the 2024-25 school year marks a significant step in ensuring equity across all classrooms.
“Our purpose is to educate students with the skills they need to be college and career-ready,” shared Superintendent Dr. Clark Burke. “Standards-based reporting is a more authentic and aligned way to assess student learning.”
“This is just the next step in our mission,” expressed Sherrie Jamero, Director of Student Programs. Standards-based practices provide an unbiased way to measure student progress toward mastering key grade-level standards. No matter what class they’re in or what school they attend, students are being graded fairly.
This is one of the many tools we are using at Manteca Unified to help pave the way for long-term student success.
FROM LETTERS TO LEARNING
The shift from traditional to standards-based report cards represents a meaningful departure from past practices. Traditionally, teachers assign an overall letter grade for a subject, averaging student understanding with extras such as participation, homework, and extra credit. Compounding student understanding with bonus points obscures whether a child actually understands key grade-level concepts. Standards-based grading provides a clear picture of what students know and where they need additional support.
For example, on a traditional report card, a third-grade student might receive an “A” in math, but whether they have mastered essential standards such as “fluently adding and subtracting within 1,000 using strategies and algorithms” is unclear. Reporting based on standards offers a more precise and actionable understanding of student learning.
“They are actually learning, not working toward a letter grade. This is the most fun I’ve ever seen students have with math,” explained Lathrop Elementary teacher Ms. Justus Navarro.
In traditional reporting, teachers commonly use homework as a tool to gauge student understanding; however, we know that work
completed at home can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances. Now, teachers are collecting multiple pieces of evidence from activities completed in the classroom.
“This new way of grading levels the playing field for our students with varying needs and challenges and students who may not have somebody that can really assist at home,” explained Jenni Andrews, Executive Director of Elementary Education.
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL
“I can sit with her at home and practice a specific learning standard with her,” shared MUSD parent Ms. Deborah Ho, who appreciates the transparency of the new report cards.
Families now have a roadmap to support their children in mastering essential skills. This change has created more effective conversations during “Goal Setting Conferences,” a proactive take on traditional parent-teacher conferences that occurs before report cards are sent home.
During conferences, parents and teachers discuss the exact standards their child needs to know, how they’ll know once their child is proficient, what they can do if their child is struggling, and what to do when their child reaches mastery. Together, they collaborate to track learning throughout the year, ensuring students are on track to meeting their grade level standards.
Ultimately, parents are one of our greatest assets in accomplishing our mission. They are the experts in their child, and by partnering with them and empowering them to participate in their child’s education, students are better positioned to achieve.
By aligning assessment practices with student success through tactics like standards-based report cards, we at Manteca Unified are building a better path to proficiency.
Submitted by:
YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD RECYCLERS
GVCC takes on new role operating Ripon Recycling Center
A driver pulled into the Ripon Recycling Center on a chilly December morning, popped open the hatchback, and began unloading his car
He was quickly joined by Alex Torres, a member of the Greater Valley Conservation Corps (GVCC), who picked up boxes of cardboard and paper while the car's driver began dropping assorted glass and plastic recyclables in a row of labeled bins.
In a few minutes, the job was done. Torres shook the driver's hand and got ready to serve the next customer.
The GVCC is now the chief operator of the recycling facility through a partnership with the city of Ripon. The partnership allows the city to extend its operating hours and save costs, according to a staff report by the city.
Part of the San Joaquin County Office of Education, the GVCC hires young adults ages 18 to 26 to earn a paycheck while also having access to training, education, and other support services. It serves a five-county area, contracting with municipalities and other organizations to provide a wide range of services, from recycling services to landscaping to habitat restoration and more.
Corpsmembers learn specific job skills to get their work done, but they also have opportunities to develop those all-important soft skills, too, said Rory Storrs, GVCC project manager.
This is especially true at the Recycling Center, where corpsmembers are the first point of contact with customers. They were there to
explain the changes at the center to help the public learn how to recycle properly.
Building these hard and soft skills builds confidence, too, he said. "The confidence that they build in themselves and that self-esteem they take with them into their personal lives, too."
Katana Hernandez describes herself as a very quiet person when she started as a corpsmember about three years ago. GVCC helped her develop people skills and learn how to be a leader, too, said Katana, who is now a corps leader working at the Recycling Center. "It's really helped me grow."
She's held other roles at the GVCC, such as working on a crew that removed illegally dumped trash from neighborhoods in Stockton.
She sees similarities in the two assignments. "It definitely feels good knowing that we are benefiting the community and helping the environment, too."
BUILDING CONNECTIONS, Empowering Families
Family Café offers resources to families of students with disabilities
The Family Café, a quarterly event hosted by the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) Early Education and Support department, has become a beacon of connection and empowerment for families of students with disabilities. With free childcare, bilingual support, and engaging presentations, the Family Café creates a welcoming space for families to share, connect, and learn how to advocate for their children’s needs. This year’s event series embraced the theme of inclusivity through joyful interactions, offering families tools and inspiration to navigate their unique journeys.
“We wanted to offer families time to recharge, recognizing the unique challenges that come with raising a child with disabilities, “ said Katy Downs-Stroh, coordinator in the SJCOE Early Childhood Education department and organizer of the Family Cafés. “Navigating public spaces and social interactions can often be difficult, so [our planning committee] aimed to provide practical strategies to help families engage more successfully in the community.”
During Family Cafés, families can connect directly with community partners who offer them valuable resources. Each event features different community partners, such as San Joaquin Behavioral Health and the Family Resource Network, and even the San Joaquin County Public Library’s Bookmobile, a traveling branch library that provides free story time and books.
As a parent, Lupita Barajas has found the Family Café to be a valuable resource. During her first-ever event, she was connected with
vendors to receive behavioral support for her son, as well as practical tips for creating meals tailored to his unique needs. She also had opportunity to build a supportive network of parents she could connect with outside of the event – an invaluable result of attendance.
“I love encouraging other parents who have children that are disabled to come and build their network,” said Brittany Watts, another parent attendee.
In November, 18 families attended the event to also hear a special presentation by Emily King and Larkin O’Leary, co-founder and
executive director of the Common Ground Society. Both shared their personal journeys of having children with disabilities. “We had to channel our passion and love for our child into concrete, tangible asks to create change,” King said when recounting the moment she learned her daughter Megan had both Down syndrome and autism.
The duo also introduced families to universal design for learning (UDL), an inclusive teaching method that aims to remove barriers to learning for all students, before sharing with families how they can advocate for their children in school.
CONSTRUCTION TRADES FAIR
Students explore careers in local construction and building trades apprenticeships
More than 900 juniors and seniors from San Joaquin County high schools learned about careers in construction and pathways to building trades apprenticeships at the 19th Annual Construction Trades Career Fair.
The fair showcased careers within 18 construction and apprenticeship programs serving the region. Representatives from the construction trades gave students an overview of their careers and information on how to enter an apprenticeship program.
Students also participated in exciting hands-on activities, allowing them to sample the skill sets of each trade. Some of the activities included masonry and brick-laying, soldering, welding, and building light switches. Students also learned how to operate small excavators, as they worked to pick up shapes and place them perfectly into their small holes.
“Apprenticeships are often referred to as the ‘other four-year degree’ because it offers a valuable alternative route to a well-paying job and secure future,” said Katie Wipfli, division director of STEM, Workforce Development, and Innovation at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). “This event is an excellent opportunity for students to discover the trade skill careers available to them right here in their own communities.”
The event was organized by the SJCOE's College and Career Readiness department in partnership with the San Joaquin Building Trades Council, bringing future builders and industry professionals together.
Go San Joaquin: New Career Resource Available in San Joaquin County
San Joaquin County offers abundant opportunities for students and adults to gain the skills they need for today’s workforce, and now navigating them is easier than ever with Go San Joaquin (GoSJ). Created for students, adults, and businesses alike, GoSJ serves as a vital link between education and industry, providing San Joaquin County residents with pathways for economic mobility and growth. The new online platform connects users to educational programs, skills training, and community resources, all accessible at www. GoSJ.org.
Launched last summer, GoSJ is a one-stop shop for career development. Sections on the website include “High School Career Technical Education (CTE)”, “Adult Education”, “Training Programs”, and “Employment and Industry Connections”. The website also features an Opportunity Locator Map to help visitors filter through the information and find programs nearest to them.
GoSJ was created in partnership with the SJCOE, San Joaquin Adult Education Consortium, San Joaquin Delta College, San Joaquin Partnership, and San Joaquin County WorkNet.
Discover opportunities available in the county at www.GoSJ.org and follow the @GoSanJoaquin on Facebook and Instagram.
A SEASON OF TRIUMPH
December graduation celebrations for SJCOE programs
Each December, the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) County Operated Schools and Programs division hosts graduation ceremonies that mark life-changing milestones for students reclaiming their educational journeys.
The first celebration took place on Dec. 14, honoring the graduates of Discovery ChalleNGe Academy (DCA). A total of 87 cadets proudly completed the rigorous 22-week residential program designed to help at-risk teens, ages 16-18, transform their lives. Among them, 21 cadets achieved an additional milestone — earning their high school diploma as they crossed the stage for a second time during the ceremony. Through DCA, students have the opportunity to earn up to 65 high school credits while developing the discipline, resilience, and skills needed for a successful future.
Just days later, on Dec. 17, a second graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of 150 graduates from the Come Back Kids (CBK) and Building Futures Academy programs. These graduates, ranging in age from 18 to 63, exemplify the power of perseverance and lifelong learning.
CBK is a free, flexible, and mostly online independent study program designed for adults 18 and older who want to earn their high school diploma. With personalized support and self-paced coursework, CBK empowers individuals to reach their academic goals while balancing work, family, and other commitments.
Each of these programs provides a second chance and a fresh start, proving that it’s never too late — or too early — to take charge of one’s future.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
SJCOE partners with End It Alliance to host Anti-Human Trafficking
Summit
January is nationally recognized as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month. Citizens are encouraged to wear blue in solidarity for survivors and victims, and to promote the education campaign nationwide.
Human trafficking — the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation — is a nearly $250 billion industry worldwide. And tragically, the impact of this explicit industry is even here in our community. We are not immune to those who prey on vulnerable populations — children, young men and women, those who identify as LGBTQIA+, youth experiencing homelessness or in the juvenile justice and foster care systems.
Without understanding the complexity of the crime, human trafficking will continue to go unchecked and unfettered. But in San
Joaquin County, there are leaders, officials, and elected officials who understand that this issue needs to be tackled head-on, and by all of us. No single agency will be able to eradicate this heinous crime on their own, and the cross-collaboration of public, private, and nonprofit agencies acts as the foundation to combat human trafficking.
These partnerships were on full display at the End It Summit on Jan. 9. The newly minted End It Alliance, a non-profit combating human trafficking with the support of law enforcement agencies, local government, and the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE), hosted this year’s summit at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton.
The theme of the summit was “It Takes a Village,” and the varied attendees, who engaged in the day-long summit, were just a sampling of the organizations who are fighting human trafficking here
locally. All attended with the goal to glean information from one another and create a network of experts who are also dedicated to ending this heinous crime.
Keynote speaker, Dr. Sandie Morgan of the Global Center for Women and Justice through Vanguard University, applauded the connection San Joaquin County businesses and government agencies were seemingly building. “To fight human trafficking, you must build the capacity for collaboration,” she said, “And it is evident that you have already begun laying that groundwork here.” Her powerful lesson on prevention and resilience inspired attendees to continue forging partnerships. “It takes resources, expertise, and respect for said expertise to find the right partners.”
Alexis Wilbur, program manager for the San Joaquin County Family Justice Center, spoke on how support for victims and survivors was crucial, even if a police report was not filed. “It takes time to validate services with victims and survivors,” she said. “At the Family Justice Center, we believe in meeting victims and survivors where they are on their journey, offer a safe space for them to receive resources in one place, and provide comprehensive wrap-around services to ensure they are given the tools to heal, grow, and thrive.”
In July of 2024, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors authorized a specialized task force to combat human trafficking locally. The Anti-Sex and Labor Trafficking Task Force is housed at the San Joaquin County Family Justice Center and is a partnership between the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, San Joaquin County Probation, and the District Attorney’s Office. Task force members addressed the crowd at the End It Summit, offering a very distinct perspective into human trafficking: the stings, the busts, how dangerous it is to approach a victim, motives for offenders, control tactics, and much more. “I don’t like to use the term ‘rescue,’ when we talk about these operations,” said Sergeant Nathan Chunn, the Sheriff’s Office lead on the Task Force. “Our survivors rescue themselves. It is our job to give them the support they need to leave a situation and then enforce the law to the fullest extent of our abilities.”
The end of the summit featured a session from high school student leaders who participate in the SJCOE’s Youth Mental Health Development Academy. These students work to destigmatize mental health illness and bring awareness to key issues in schools and communities. Jenn DeAngelo, in her dual role as a coordinator for the SJCOE’s Comprehensive Health department and the sitting board president for the End It Alliance, extended her profound appreciation for all in attendance, for the students who presented, and to the partners in law enforcement for their vigilance.
“Human trafficking — labor or sex trafficking — are nuanced and dangerous crimes. We know partnerships are needed to be successful in bringing those who commit these crimes to justice,” said DeAngelo. “It does, indeed, take a village to unite and fight for our community against human trafficking. And I am proud to be part of this village.”
THE POWER WITHIN
Women Together International hosts annual conference
“What does resilience mean to you?” Deputy Superintendent of Professional Learning and Support Jane Chamberlain asked the over 300 attendees during the Women Together International’s (WTI) annual conference.
Is resilience finding the inner strength to overcome an obstacle? Is it, according to keynote Tyler Merritt, “A math problem composed of equal parts suffering and hope?” Or is resilience defined by taking ownership and action, even if no one else is coming?
The conference offered attendees an opportunity for reflection and connection. Speakers included a working mother who aided California Governor Gavin Newsom with COVID-19 relief efforts statewide, an author who wrote about their grief journey in losing a parent while becoming a mother herself, a domestic violence survivor who now dedicates her life to supporting victims, a mother who persevered through infertility only to experience a tragic infant loss, and a child-prodigy who overcame immense scrutiny as she finished her doctorate at seventeen. Each speaker’s story highlighted the importance of vulnerability, kinship, and appreciation.
“The Power Within” marked the fifth annual WTI conference since the group’s inception. WTI was founded in the midst of the pandemic when isolation and fear was rampant. During a time when individuals yearned for connection, especially between women colleagues and leaders, the event committee found a way to foster the empowerment of women. Over the last five years, WTI has invested in the wellbeing and development of women leaders in San Joaquin County and beyond.
The conference was a powerful reminder that while we all have our own unique experiences and roles, commonalities like finding worklife balance, peace, and fortitude in the face of adversity ring true with most of us.
“Be resilient, they told her … but if she’s being resilient, is she allowed to ask for help?” posed Jane Chamberlain during her summation of the day. After sessions where strength, courage, and tenacity were so vividly displayed, the men and women conference goers were able to shed their reservations and offer a resounding agreement as the power within is fueled by the support systems they are vulnerable enough to create, foster, and nurture.
Women Together International aims to share the diverse stories of women to enlighten and empower our community, as well as share the transformative power of connection and compassion.
STUDENT READING MENTORS IN ACTION
Latinos in Action high school students tutor elementary students learning how to read
A story unfolded as second grader Danielle moved her finger from word to word as she read aloud from her book, Too Tall Houses.
She stopped her finger on the word "twilight," then looked up to Destiny, the high school student sitting next to her on a couch in a classroom at Venture Academy Family of Schools.
Destiny helped Danielle work through the sounds of the word until the younger student got it, herself, then moved onward through the rest of the book.
Destiny is one of several Venture Academy Family of Schools high school students who mentor young students in their Latinos in Action class.
Latinos in Action is a leadership and community service class, instructor Angelo Castillo said. "It provides high school kids with the opportunity to become role models, while at the same time providing elementary kids extra support."
Tutoring and mentorship has long been a mainstay of the class, but this year the students have received expanded training grounded in the science of reading to add phonemic-awareness exercises to their tutoring toolbox.
In training sessions provided by Venture Academy, the high school students have learned three phonemic-awareness activities to do with their students, said Anna Tafoya, Venture Academy early literacy coordinator. They've also been trained in behavior management as well as learned what to do before, during, and after reading with elementary students.
The mentors are just part of the afterschool reading intervention classes provided to elementary students to improve their reading skills, she said.
The elementary students working with the Latinos in Action students are not just learning how to read. They are also learning English as their second language.
It's something many of the Latinos in Action mentors understand.
"When I was younger, I did struggle with it, too," said Yoselyn, a senior mentor. She said that she wished she had this kind of support when she was learning to read and that she feels that she is making an impact.
The second grade student she is mentoring isn't just learning to read, she said. He has shown her that he loves learning, too.
"I see that joy. That makes me feel very nice," she said.
It provides high school kids with the opportunity to become role models, while at the same time providing elementary kids extra support.
Angelo Castillo
Venture Academy teacher
S-T-E-L Spellers
Top San Joaquin County spellers earn spots in state competitions
The air buzzed with excitement as the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) hosted the 27th Annual San Joaquin County Spelling Bee in December 2024. More than 90 of the county’s top young spellers from school districts, charter schools, and private schools competed for the title of champion and a chance to advance to the state competition.
The competition unfolded over two evenings, with students in grades four to six competing in the Elementary Division on Dec. 2. Sixth grade student Yuvan Santhosh of Wicklund Elementary School (Lammersville Unified School District) emerged as the Elementary Division champion by correctly spelling the word ‘gregarious.’ Runner-up honors went to Aneesh Shah, a sixth grader from Williams Middle School (Tracy Unified School District).
The spotlight shifted to students in grades seven to nine the following night, Dec. 3, for the Junior High Division. Praneet Kumaravel, eighth grade student at Jefferson Elementary School (Jefferson Elementary School District), claimed the championship by spelling the word ‘brucellosis’ correctly. Praneet is a returning Spelling Bee champion, having placed first in the 2021 Elementary Division, second in the 2022 Junior High Division, and second in the 2023 Junior High Division. Runner-up honors went to ninth grade student Rithika Thakur of Mountain House High School (Lammersville Unified School District).
Both division champions received trophies, while the runners-up earned a plaque. Winners also received a gift card. Gift cards were also awarded to the top participants. The top two students from each division will move on to represent San Joaquin County at the California State Elementary Spelling Bee Championship, scheduled for April 26, 2025, at the Great Wolf Lodge/Northern California.
The Spelling Bee championships are sponsored by the SJCOE Educational Foundation.
MEGAN GALLEGOS
Venture Academy Family of Schools, TK Teacher
Megan Gallegos celebrated 21 years of teaching this school year. But if you had asked her as a child what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have told you she was not interested in becoming a teacher. “Most of my summers and school breaks were spent helping my mom, a teacher, in her classroom,” Gallegos said. “I thought that was not what I wanted.”
She didn’t consider teaching as an option until she was at San Joaquin Delta College. She had been taking general education classes while working for a local branch of a regional bank when the idea of teaching – fostered by those years in her mom’s classroom and working at her church’s daycare – really clicked.
Gallegos graduated from California State University, Stanislaus, with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, then joined the IMPACT program at Teachers College of San Joaquin. She then participated in the two-year teaching internship program while she took classes for her teaching credential. Upon
completing her credential, Megan became a first grade teacher for Stockton Unified School District (SUSD).
“I love working with the younger students,” Gallegos said. “At the start of my career, I had a one-year-old at home, so I was able to relate to kindergarten and first graders. I knew how to reach them and how to make school fun through play-based learning.”
Gallegos spent a majority of her time at SUSD teaching first grade and kindergarten. One of her most rewarding experiences was helping roll out transitional kindergarten (TK) district-wide. In 2014, Gallegos joined Venture Academy Family of Schools at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE).
The last two years, Megan has taught TK, and she has no plan on changing grades anytime soon. “I love that I get to be my students’ first experience in the classroom. It is my job to get them to love learning, and I don’t take that privilege lightly,” she said. Examples of these “first experiences” include learning how
to line up, how to hang their backpacks, say “good morning” to fellow students, or how to recognize letters in their own name.
Gallegos and her husband are Stockton natives and have four children. Her children — at one point or another — have all attended Venture. “Venture provides a wonderful environment for families, and for students,” she said. “I get the privilege of seeing my students year after year – growing, thriving, and learning.”
Gallegos’ methods and the care shown to her students are evident. And believing in students creates a lasting impact, recently encapsulated in a former student reaching out to her. “She was in my first TK-to-kinder classrooms. I had her both years!” The student – a recent high school graduate –sent her a message of gratitude for instilling the love of learning and reading.
“‘You made me love school.’”
Launching New Careers in Education at
Early college high school creating new fast track for teachers is set to graduate first class
After taking time to update their planners, the students in teacher Jamie Dearman's class pulled out their scissors and began cutting out squares and rectangles of laminated paper with fun illustrations from a range of winter holidays and lots and lots of numbers.
This wasn't an art project. It was part of the preparation work these high school students were doing to create activities to teach math to first graders.
When they put their scissors down, they went online to look up the California State Teaching Standards to match up each activity they were prepping to the correlating
standard laying out exactly what every first grader in the state should be learning in math.
As students at the Teacher Education and Early College High (TEACH!) Academy, these students are being taught to become teachers. TEACH!, which is one of 13 academies at Venture Academy Family of Schools, a charter school operated by the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). Founded in 2021, TEACH! will graduate its first class this spring.
Cutting shapes and doing research was just the first step of the math-activity assignment.
Next, the TEACH! students would try out the activities with each other. Then, they would bring their activities to a class of first graders at Ventureland Academy.
Echo, a junior, was already thinking about how she would run the activity for the young students.
At TEACH!, she had been learning how to make activities engaging and exciting. So, she thought about how she would project her voice. She also planned to add a little competition to keep the students' attention.
Her activity was to separate odd and even
numbers on different Christmas trees, so she knew she would be able to help students by having them look at the last digit of every number.
"I can imagine they'll catch onto the placevalue trick pretty quickly," she said.
TEACH! was launched to create a clear and affordable pathway for students to pursue a career in teaching while building a locally grown and diverse group of teachers. It was a response to the shortage of teachers nationally that is anticipated to worsen in the coming years.
"We wanted to be part of the solution to that shortage," said Joni Hellstrom, division director of Venture Academy. "It's really important to us because we believe that a stronger community is one that invests in itself. We want to invest by helping the students in TEACH! Academy to build their capacity so they can become teachers."
When TEACH! graduates come back to teach in their own communities, it will make a positive impact on the future of Stockton and San Joaquin County, she said.
The SJCOE developed TEACH! in partnership with the school districts in San Joaquin County, San Joaquin Delta College, Humphreys University, Teachers College of San Joaquin (TCSJ), and San Joaquin A+.
Students can earn an associate degree or an Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) Certificate of Achievement from San Joaquin Delta College by the time they graduate from Venture. They have the option to choose to complete their bachelor's degree at Humphreys University. At the SJCOE's TCSJ, they will be able to enter the IMPACT! program, which allows them to earn their credentials while working as a teacher of record in a local school.
It's a pathway designed to jumpstart teaching careers with little or no debt.
In addition to taking standard high school classes and their early college courses, the TEACH! students also take classes in education that are part of a CTE (career technical education) pathway, like Jamie Dearman's class where students were making holiday math activities for first graders.
We want to invest by helping the students in TEACH! Academy to build their capacity so they can become teachers.
Joni Hellstrom Division Director of Venture
Academy
"I really emphasize with them that you have to do the activity or the assignment first to be able to understand it and teach it. It just helps you figure out what might happen, what kids might have difficulty with so you can anticipate that," she said. "And also, it's fun."
All subjects taught at TEACH! are opportunities to help aspiring teachers learn their craft.
"TEACH! instructors are really careful in the way that they teach," Dearman said. "It's not just teaching the lesson of the day. It's explaining their approach to the lesson, why it's being taught the way it is, and then turning it over to the kids. If they were to teach, how would they teach and why?"
It's not just teaching them how to teach, it is also helping them master the subjects they are learning, she said.
TEACH! allows students to get their first experience running activities with younger students when they are freshman. They begin more intensive fieldwork as juniors and their support role for teachers in other classrooms is similar to an internship when they become seniors.
So, TEACH! students earn a wide range of experiences, from developing lesson plans to engaging with students in physical education activities to playing with transitional kindergarteners making pretend pies during recess.
TEACH! students learn a lot from these interactions. "Soft skills. Patience. Thinking on the fly and persistence. And then there's those hard academic skills of really knowing the subject and being able to teach that to the younger students," Dearman said.
It helps them prepare for the unpredictability that is also a part of teaching. "You make a plan, it's a good plan, and then it just falls apart. So, part of that is being able to think on their feet and to just roll with whatever comes their way. And then being able to reflect back on what happened, what they could do better," she said.
Those CTE education classes are where the debriefing happens, and the TEACH! students talk about what happened and how they might do it differently next time, she said.
Students learn from each other, too. They describe a tight and friendly culture in the academy.
"We're basically just a family," said Russell, a sophomore. "Everybody knows who is who and who they are. We're just, you know, loving to each other."
First Graduating Class
The Class of 2025 will be the first graduating class from TEACH!
"We're really excited to celebrate and honor the work that we've done, the work the students have done, and to really look back and see the progress that we've made," said Hellstrom.
The program has improved and changed since it first opened its doors in 2021, and the students, themselves, have helped TEACH! become the academy it is today, she said. "Our students have been a big part of helping us design and continue to innovate new and better versions of what we want the TEACH! Academy to be."
Graduating seniors are proud to be the first. "It feels really amazing," said Archana, who has been there since the beginning. "It feels like an achievement. It's kind of weird to think about."
Archana was drawn to TEACH! for the opportunity to take college courses. A career in teaching is not her first choice, but it is on her list of options. If she does go into education, she said she would like to teach physical education. Her time at TEACH! helped her experience what that would be like.
And those experiences would prepare her for any career she chooses, she said. For example, when she put together a lesson plan for students, sometimes it didn't go as expected or the lesson took longer than she thought it would. "What I've learned is to adapt to change really quickly in a positive way, where students don't really notice that this wasn't a part of the plan and it just seems natural, like it was planned," she said. "I can apply that to situations outside the classroom. Even if you're not a teacher, you do have to adapt to change because not everything is going to go your way."
Other valuable skills she learned at TEACH! included planning, patience, communication skills, and more, she said.
Rudy, another graduating senior who opened the school, knows he will be a teacher.
It's a path he wants to follow because of the teachers who made an impact in his life. He remembers being a shy second grader who had a teacher who always made sure he was engaged and included. But it was his sixth grade history teacher who helped Rudy make his decision to want to be a history teacher, too.
He's planning on graduating with two associates degrees from San Joaquin Delta College, and he has been applying to multiple four-year schools. From there, he thinks he might pursue a master's degree or go straight into teaching.
"It definitely gave me a head start on my teaching career," he said, adding he chose the academy to get as much teaching experience as he could as quickly as he could. "So with those two years of my college being done, I could hopefully transfer to a four-year, get my bachelor's degree and my teaching credential, and start really teaching."
Can't Stop,Won't Stop LEARNING
Expanded learning programs provide education and student support outside of the school day
WHAT IS EXPANDED LEARNING?
Expanded learning is an important piece in the educational system across California. It refers to afterschool, summer, and other outof-school time programs that provide enrichment and learning opportunities to students beyond the regular school day.
These programs support students, helping them achieve academically, socially, and emotionally.
"It's a holistic approach," said Erin Harrison, expanded learning coordinator for the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). "It's just a one-stop shop."
Through these programs, children receive a wide range of services, including nutritious meals, health checkups, and mental health supports. It's also a place for students to have a lot of fun outside of school playing sports and games.
Along the way, they are learning, too — whether they know it or not. "There's a lot of disguised learning," Harrison said. Academically, the programs support what students are doing in school and can help close achievement gaps, too, she said.
Expanded learning also supports the family, too. "It's a great way for parents to be able to go to work and know that their kids are being taken care of," she said.
Expanded learning programs are provided through school districts, charter schools, nonprofit organizations, and other service providers. The SJCOE Comprehensive Health department provides technical assistance and other support to programs across San Joaquin County. The department coordinates the Getting Results in After School Programs; Innovatively and Tangibly (GRASP IT) consortium, which brings together many providers in a community of practice focused on these important programs.
EXPANDED LEARNING AT ABLE CHARTER SCHOOLS
After school on a recent Tuesday at ABLE Charter Schools in Stockton, a classroom full of third graders learned how to make some healthy tacos with steamed zucchini, black beans, and homemade guacamole.
While Hudson, a student, was focused on cutting his zucchini into small cubes for the tacos, he shared how he was learning more than just a new recipe to bring home and share with his family.
He said he knew that zucchini had vitamins and is a healthy food to eat. “It helps you grow bigger and makes you strong.”
Cooking lessons are offered every week during the daily afterschool program at the school. It’s free and open to students in grades TK-6. Students are grouped by grade level and engage in a variety of fun and educational activities.
While students in the cooking class waited for the zucchini to steam, outside there were shouts and laughter from a group of first graders playing a game under the supervision of the credentialed physical education teacher who teaches them during the regular school day.
The afterschool program, also called the expanded learning program, includes day camps during summer and spring breaks. The program is funded through the state’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) and all providers in San Joaquin County are eligible to receive support and technical assistance from the SJCOE.
At ABLE, the programs are a safe place for students to be when working family members are at their jobs. But they offer a lot more than that. Every day, the afterschool program is structured, deliberate, and includes intentional curriculum and activities that support the students and their education.
“What they are doing takes a lot of planning,” said Kim Mazza, ELO-P director and elementary assistant principal at ABLE. “Our mission here is that students belong and achieve, and we thread that from start to finish as they come.”
The learning that takes place doesn’t duplicate what happens during the school day; it enhances it, she said.
In another classroom, a student named Atiana is playing a game using an iPad and a supplemental device called Osmo to make the game more of a hands-on experience. She’s using cardboard cutouts to make pizzas ordered by the customers on the screen. Then she counts out change for her customer and gets to see what her profit is, less expenses. It’s one example of how ABLE integrates learning into fun activities after school.
On a schoolwide level, the afterschool program also helps build culture and improve attendance, ABLE Superintendent Dan Wright said.
“The more kids we can get into ELO-P the more engaged they are going to be here on a regular basis.”
About 150 educators and staff from expanded learning programs snapped their fingers, clapped their hands, stomped their feet, and made music together at the start of the Expanded Learning Fall Conference Kickoff, which was held at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) on Nov. 14.
The impromptu concert was part of the opening session conducted by the keynote speaker, Dr. Háppi Price, who brought a message of motivation and improvisation to inspire the professionals in the room to improve the lives of both themselves and their students.
He talked about the importance of countering negative self-talk, overcoming fear, and stepping out of the comfort zone.
"Once you get out of that fear zone, then you are in the learning and growth zones," he said to the conference attendees, who included managers and front-line staff from school districts, charter schools, and communitybased organizations providing expanded learning programs throughout San Joaquin County.
They spent the day meeting and learning from each other while rotating through breakout sessions with a broad focus, ranging from how to prepare for audits to honing leadership skills to reaching students with disabilities.
In one session, attendees learned how using fictional characters, like superheroes, can help support emotional learning.
"A child experiencing depression, anxiety, loneliness, fear, shame, self-doubt, the imposter syndrome -- may have a difficult time talking about that," said Chase Masterson, founder and CEO of the Heroic
Journey, who led the session. "But they can talk about Wonder Woman. They can talk about Batman. They can talk about Mirabel from Encanto."
The characters' narratives can help give these children tools that can help them, she said. "These stories of heroism teach us that no one is perfect, but there is hope for our lives, despite any number of challenges we may go through."
In other sessions, attendees were able to try out hands-on projects for their students. This included learning how to make a wildflower "seed burst" from the SJCOE's outdoor education team and using techniques taught by the SJCOE Student Engagement and the Arts department to make resin jewelry. These types of academic enrichment activities offer students hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that reinforce and extend their classroom knowledge.
The conference was organized by the SJCOE's Expanded Learning Program.
Oscar Munigia, expanded learning coordinator for the Manteca Unified School District, is passionate about the opportunities these programs bring to students. Events like the conference don't just provide useful information -- they're inspiring, he said. "It kind of reminds you why you do what you do," he said.
David Martin, Sr., operations manager for Elevo, a community-based organization that operates expanded learning programs in local schools agrees.
"It's been awesome. Very insightful for us all," he said. "It helps us throughout the year. it really rejuvenates you and reminds you of your sense of purpose."
Celebrating Black History! The SJCOE African American affinity group kicked off Black History Month with an event celebrating the rich heritage and contributions of the Black community. This event was a special way to honor history, build connections, and uplift voices.
Mock Trial Awards! Stockton Early College Academy took first place at the San Joaquin County Mock Trial Competition. They will now head to the state competition.
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Academic Decathlon Competition! Students from 13 high schools in San Joaquin County took part in the 44th Annual Academic
held at Lathrop High School on Feb. 1. The theme this year was Our Changing Climate.
Let’s Connect
Here’s a snapshot of what you’ve been missing if you’re not following the SJCOE on social media!
Every Student Succeeding! 13 students were recognized during the Every Student Succeeding awards breakfast on Feb. 7. Administrators, teachers, and families came to celebrate the students.
Scan to follow the SJCOE on Facebook!
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In
harmony! Talented student musicians took the stage at the 2025 San Joaquin County High School Honors Concert on Jan. 11.
Super Science Saturday! 120 administrators and teachers came together for Super Science Saturday, a K-12 educator conference sponsored by the California Science Project.
