2023 Annual Report

TROY BROWN

The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) plays many roles.

We work in collaboration with the school districts and charter schools serving our county’s more than 152,000 students by providing leadership, services, and support. We also provide direct services to students and families in our alterntative education, special education, and charter school programs. And in a changing world, we are able to adapt to make our community stronger by creating new programs and services for students and families of all ages.

At our core, we are a service organization, doing whatever we can to meet individuals and families where they are -- no matter their circumstances -- so they have an opportunity to grow, contribute, and live their best possible lives.

In this year’s annual report, we highlight new developments and continued progress while introducing you to some of the amazing students and educators in our county.

We care about student wellbeing. Our Comprehensive Health and Continuous Improvement & Support departments have ramped up mental health efforts, training adults, hosting a summit for high school students, and supporting initiatives in local schools with funds and expertise.

It is our goal at the SJCOE to make sure students are college- and career-ready. Programs in our Early Education and Support department start at infancy by supporting families. Students in high school find work experience in the Apprenticeships Reaching Career Horizons (ARCH) program or in the one. Program’s new Career Education Academy. At the SJCOE’s CodeStack Academy, adults learn to join the growing tech workforce as software engineers.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education continues to be a priority. Our SJCOE STEM Programs offer unique opportunities for student learning and teacher training from the high-tech maker space we call our FabLab to the natural wonders at our outdoor education centers.

I hope you enjoy reading about these programs and more in the following pages. I would also like to thank the inspiring and innovative staff, teachers, and administrators of the SJCOE who make all that we do possible.

Your partner in education,

THE SUPERINTENDENT’S

CABINET

The County Superintendent of Schools Cabinet is made up of executive staff from each division of the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). Cabinet members work to improve processes, address concerns, and assist with decision making and operational activities.

SCOTT ANDERSON

OUTGOING DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT Business Services

TERRELL MARTINEZ

INCOMING DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT Business Services

JANINE KAESLIN

ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT Student Programs & Services

BRANDIE BRUNNI

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT Special Education & SELPA

PETER FOGGIATO

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT Business Services

MELANIE GREENE

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT County Operated Schools & Programs

JANE STEINKAMP

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT Educational Services

CHRISTINA TORRES-PETERS

Troy A. Brown, Ed.D.

San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools

CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Administration

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

WE ARE THE

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

ABOUT US

California has a three-level public education system, including the California Department of Education, county offices of education, and local school districts.

Regulations, funding, and policy decisions are generally established at the state level. At the same time, the day-to-day delivery of instruction is the responsibility of approximately 1,000 school districts throughout the state.

The 58 county offices of education are the intermediate level of the public education system. County offices provide a support infrastructure for local schools and districts.

County offices of education also fulfill state mandates to approve school district budgets and Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs), register teacher credentials, complete employee background checks, certify school attendance records, and develop countywide programs to serve students with special needs.

We care for and educate our county’s youngest learners through early education programs, and provide direct instruction to students and adults through our charter schools, special education programs, and court and community schools. Plus, we coordinate and provide services to migrant, foster, and homeless children and youth.

We support San Joaquin County school districts by providing financial oversight, overseeing compliance with state and federal mandates, assisting with the development of Local Control and Accountability Plans, facilitating professional learning opportunities, credentialing, coordinating countywide student events and academic competitions, providing continuous improvement and support, processing payroll, developing technology, maintaining and supporting information technology infrastructure, and more!

We collaborate with community, industry, and education leaders to address countywide educational issues, and we advocate at the state level.

We go above and beyond the mandated role of a county office of education to meet the needs of our community by developing innovative programs and services that educate and inspire children, students, and adult learners.

AT THE SJCOE, WE: EDUCATE INNOVATE INSPIRE

From our Stockton campus to our outdoor education centers in San Joaquin County and the Tahoe National Forest to our school sites and classrooms throughout the county, we educate, we innovate, and we inspire

.

WE SERVE STUDENTS, CHILDREN, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, & SCHOOL DISTRICTS

18

WE ARE SJCOE

OUR DEPARTMENTS

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Administrative Services

CodeStack

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access

Grant Development Office

Human Resources

Public Information Office

Student Programs and Services

BUSINESS SERVICES

County Office Business Services

District Business Services

Information Technology

Joint Powers Authority

Operations and Support Services

Payroll Services

SPECIAL EDUCATION & SPECIAL EDUCATION

LOCAL PLAN AREA

Special Education Regionalized Programs

Program Specialists

Related Services

WorkAbility I

430 CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES

751 CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES

1,255 SUBSTITUTE AND TEMPORARY*

* Does not include students in paid work experience.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

College and Career Readiness

Comprehensive Health

Continuous Improvement & Support

Early Education and Support

Language and Literacy

Mathematics

Migrant Education

Student Activities & Events

STEM Programs

Teachers College of San Joaquin

Visual and Performing Arts

COUNTY OPERATED SCHOOLS & PROGRAMS

Academic Resources

Career Technical Education

Discovery ChalleNGe Academy

Foster Youth and Homeless Services

Greater Valley Conservation Corps

one.Charter Academies

one.Program

Student Services

Venture Academy Family of Schools

WorkStartYES

OUR SCHOOLS & CLASSROOMS

CODESTACK ACADEMY

An affordable and immersive coding school located in Stockton

DISCOVERY CHALLENGE ACADEMY

A five and a half month quasi-military residential program located in Lathrop

HEAD START SAN JOAQUIN

70 sites and 124 classrooms across the county

one.ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION

27 sites and 67 classrooms across the county

one.CHARTER ACADEMIES

Academy of Visual & Performing Arts

Building Futures Academy

Career Readiness Academy

Come Back Kids

Elementary Academy K-6

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

McFall and Redwood schools, plus 98 classrooms on satellite sites at various school district campuses

TEACHERS COLLEGE OF SAN JOAQUIN

The only regionally accredited institution of higher education that is a department within a county office of education

VENTURE ACADEMY

FAMILY OF SCHOOLS

13 specialized academies: Academic Performance Excellence (APEX); BrainWorX; Delta Visionary Integrated Science, Technology, and Academics (Delta Vista); Durham Ferry; Excel; Foundations; ImagineIT; Independent Study; Kinect, Synergy; Teacher Education and Early College High (TEACH!); Venture Integrated School of the Arts; and Ventureland.

WE SERVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS

San Joaquin County is home to 14 public school districts with 255 schools, including charter schools, and more than 152,000 students. Each independent school district is governed by an elected board of trustees. The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) provides a variety of services to support students and educators. Collaborative efforts between the SJCOE and school districts help ensure ALL STUDENTS have access to a high-quality education.

14 SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS

255 PUBLIC SCHOOLS & PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS

152,384 SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

Manteca

Lodi

Linden

Stockton

Lincoln

Tracy Escalon

Banta

Jefferson

New Jerusalem

Lammersville

Oak View Ripon

New Hope

2021-22

BY

BANTA UNIFIED

WE EDUCATE 86% GRADUATION RATE

Rechelle Pearlman, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 2,091

ESCALON UNIFIED

Ricardo Chavez, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 2,906

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY

Dr. James Bridges, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 2,261

LAMMERSVILLE UNIFIED

Dr. Kirk Nicholas, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 6,980

LINCOLN UNIFIED

Kelly Dextraze, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 8,967

LINDEN UNIFIED

Dan Moore, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 2,339

LODI UNIFIED

Dr. Catherine Nichols-Washer, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 30,727

MANTECA UNIFIED

Dr. Clark Burke, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 24,154

NEW HOPE ELEMENTARY Clint Johnson, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 187

NEW JERUSALEM ELEMENTARY

Kellyann Reis, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 6,670

OAK VIEW ELEMENTARY Beverly Boone, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 371

RIPON UNIFIED

Dr. Ziggy Robeson, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 4,980

STOCKTON UNIFIED

Dr. Traci Miller, Interim Superintendent Student Enrollment: 39,803

TRACY UNIFIED

Dr. Rob Pecot, Superintendent Student Enrollment: 15,398

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

Dr. Troy A. Brown, San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools Student Enrollment: 4,550

*Total enrollment includes indpendent and district-operated charter schools.

Schools Directory at WWW.SJCOE.ORG

African American American Indian of Alaska Native Asian Filipino Hispanic or Latino Pacific Islander White

Two or More Races Not Reported

30,943 English Learners

764 Foster Youth

3,789 Homeless Youth

18,820 Students with Disabilities

94,042 Socioeconomically Disadvantaged

EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDING

CELEBRATING THE RESILIENCY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY STUDENTS

Students in San Joaquin County are inspiring. This is especially true for those recognized with the Every Student Succeeding award!

The annual awards are organized by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) to celebrate students who have succeeded despite facing difficult challenges, including overcoming physical and mental barriers, improving attendance, returning to school, changing their attitude, all while changing their lives.

Nominated by supporters in their schools, 17 students were recognized this year at an awards ceremony at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE), where administrators, teachers, and families came together to honor the students and their achievements.

“I think it is important for us to celebrate students in all different kinds of ways,” said Kelly Dextraze, Lincoln Unified School District superintendent.

“Every student’s road to success looks different,” said Dr. Ziggy Robeson, Ripon Unified School District superintendent. “Sometimes this kind of recognition can springboard them to something extraordinary.”

Each of the 17 stories shared at the regional event were as unique as the students themselves. They faced homelessness, family tragedy, learning differences, or personal illness and were still able to push themselves forward and, often, support others.

“I wanted to become something better for my siblings and my daughter,” said Cayla Alvarez, one award-winner who overcame her challenges and is now a student leader, varsity athlete, and senior at Mountain House High School headed toward graduation and college.

Lilliann Ruiz

Escalon Unifed

Samantha Hagan

Escalon Unifed

Cayla Alvarez

Lammersville Unifed

Avya Arrien

Lincoln Unifed

Lilliana Otey

Lincoln Unifed

Brooklyn Armanino

Linden Unifed

Amber Way

Manteca Unifed

Orlin Josue

Perez Rodriguez

Manteca Unifed

Xavier Gabriel Avila

Manteca Unifed

Yaratzarani

Aguilar Ontiveros

New Jerusalem Elementary

Joselin Figueroa

Ripon Unifed

Ocean Cook

Ripon Unifed

Karry Marie

Colon-Siles

San Joaquin County Office of Education

A.Z.

San Joaquin County Office of Education

Adrian Belloso

Tracy Unifed

Jorge Bolin

Tracy Unifed

Milagros Miranda

Tracy Unifed

START FROM THE HEART

Linden Unified educators and school staff work to ensure students feel safe and connected

Filled with games, puzzles, and more to give students a place to relax, recharge, or meet with friends -- the new wellness center was a popular new addition at Waterloo Middle School. It has comfortable places to sit and read. And there are also building stations, trays of sand where students make patterns using tiny wooden rakes, games, and much more.

“I love it,” said Owen, a student at the school. He particularly likes building things with friends, he said. “It’s fun and soothing.”

Waterloo was the first school in the Linden Unified School District to open a wellness center, but it won’t be the last. The wellness center was funded by a CalHOPE grant through the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). It is also an extension of a culture that was already at the school and is a prime example of how the district is keeping a tight focus on social-emotional health to strengthen connections with students.

The districtwide theme of the last school year has been “Start from the Heart,” Superintendent Dan Moore said. “Students feel connected and safe at school because they’re connected to an adult on campus.”

The focus comes from lessons learned by keeping the connection strong through the ever-changing challenges of the pandemic. The district observed attendance carefully to make sure that students who were able to be in school would be in class. That effort included positive home visits with teams comprised of a school principal, a social worker, and other staff. Keeping families well-informed was a priority, too. So was stepping in with support for students with behavior issues.

As normalcy returned, the district remained focused on increasing attendance, reducing suspensions, and making counseling available to students. Efforts paid off. By reducing absenteeism and suspension rates for particular student groups, the district was able to show enough improvements to move out of the state’s “differentiated assistance” classification, based on data reported on the California School Dashboard.

The district is carrying the focus on student connections forward. It’s cemented in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), and all campuses now have an on-site social worker.

“When you’re talking about social-emotional learning and school culture -- our social workers at each school site lead that,” Linden Unified Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jamie Hughes said. Its impact benefits the school as a whole, positively impacting attendance and suspensions as well as academics.

A BADGE OF EXCELLENCE

Four San Joaquin County schools named 2023 California Distinguished Schools

Of the thousands of schools in California, only about 350 earned the title of 2023 California Distinguished School. Four of those schools call San Joaquin County their home.

Established in 1985, the California Distinguished Schools Award remains one of the important ways to celebrate exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and classified employees for their innovation, talent, and success in supporting students, according to the California Department of Education when announcing this year’s list of schools.

As part of the local recognition of the achievement of these schools, San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Troy Brown, and a team from the San Joaquin County Office of Education visited each school. During tours of the schools, they were able to witness a typical day in a celebrated school and got to meet students and staff.

“Whatever the job is, everybody is always willing to collaborate and come together to make it a success. We have a good team that wants to make it successful no matter what it takes,” said Ripon Elementary School Principal Dana Phelps.

HANSEN ELEMENTARY

Lammersville Unified School District

LAMMERSVILLE ELEMENTARY

Lammersville Unified School District

PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY

Ripon Unified School District

RIPON ELEMENTARY

Ripon Unified School District

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

JEFFERSON SCHOOL TEACHER GARY PEASE EARNED TOP HONOR

If it wasn’t for some inspirational words from a second-grade teacher, Gary Pease would not have started down the path of a career in education that led to him becoming the 2022 San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year.

While working on a computer science degree, Pease found time to volunteer in his son’s second-grade classroom. The teacher noticed Pease had a knack for working with students and told him he might want to consider it for a career.

So, Pease changed track and enrolled in a teacher credentialing program, which turned into what is now a teaching career that has spanned more than 21 years. He currently teaches eighth-grade math, algebra, and STEAM at Jefferson School in Jefferson Elementary School District, where he is now the one providing inspiration for his students and colleagues, alike.

Pease sets high expectations, which he helps students meet through subject-matter expertise, creativity, humor, and a willingness to go above and beyond to provide students support.

Pease is also a coach and athletic director at his school. In addition to mentoring teachers and leading the district’s math professional learning team, Pease is credited for growing Jefferson School’s science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) department.

“The greatest reward in teaching is getting to those struggling students and seeing that as their understanding increases, so does their effort,” he said

2022 CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

SHELLY METCALFE FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES Lathrop Elementary School

ARTHUR MEDINA

CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE SERVICES Lincoln Unified School District

HOW FUNDS ARE USED Total Expenditures $1,846,221,523

Salaries 54% Employee Benefits 25% Books and Supplies 7% Services 11%

Capital Outlay 1% Other 2%

FUNDING & ACCOUNTABILITY

California public schools are funded through a combination of state, local, and federal funding sources. The primary funding source is the state’s General Fund, which comprises revenues from personal income tax, sales and use tax, corporation tax, and other taxes.

The state’s education budget is divided into several programs, the largest of which is the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). Established in the 2013-14 State Budget, the LCFF fundamentally changed how all local educational agencies (LEAs) are funded, how they are measured for results, and the services and supports they receive to allow all students to succeed to their greatest potential.

The LCFF guarantees a base level of funding connected to each LEA’s average daily attendance (ADA), which is calculated by the number of student attendance days divided by the number of days in the regular school year. In addition, supplemental funding—based on the number and concentration of low-income students, English learners, or foster youth—is added to the base funding. Local property taxes received by districts also fund a portion of LCFF.

This funding method is intended to correct historical funding inequities, increase flexibility and transparency, and simplify education funding. The LCFF process also introduced the annual Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), which emphasizes community engagement and student achievement goals when districts plan their budgets.

Other state and federal funding is also available to California public schools through various grant programs to support students, such as the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Title I and Title II grants.

A look at how California public schools are funded to allow students to succeed to their greatest potential

DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS TO LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, WE INSPIRE

The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) inspires educators by offering professional development and other support to enhance their skills and add new tools to inspire their students. We also provide an abundance of rich and rewarding learning experiences inside and outside the classroom for students throughout the county. At SJCOEorganized events and competitions, students have a platform to showcase their talents and inspire others to achieve, too.

CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DASHBOARD

MEASURING SCHOOL SUCCESS ACROSS CALIFORNIA

The California School Dashboard (Dashboard) is an online tool designed to help educational partners and communities across the state access important information about kindergarten through grade 12 schools and districts. The Dashboard features easy-to-read reports on multiple measures of school success. It goes beyond test scores. The six state indicators in the Dashboard are:

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT & SUPPORT

Part of the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s (SJCOE) Educational Services division, the Continuous Improvement and Support (CIS) department develops partnerships with districts and schools throughout the county to enhance, strengthen, and support the personal, social, and academic success of all students.

California relaunched the Dashboard in December 2022. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many state and federal accountability requirements were waived or adjusted until the 2021-22 academic year. Because of the pause, the current Dashboard uses only current-year performance data and doesn’t measure change from previous years’ data. The updated Dashboard has a new look, too, with performance levels in single-color purple “cellphone bars.” The multi-colored graphics of previous years will return next year.

The 2022 Dashboard reflects data from the 2021–22 school year and demonstrates the difficulties evident throughout the system in terms of achievement, engagement, and school climate. The 2022 Dashboard data should be used in conjunction with other local data on student performance and progress, such as local assessments, progress reports, student work, and teacher feedback. The combination of state and local data provides educators with a more detailed picture of strengths as well as opportunities for growth.

The 2022 Dashboard establishes a new baseline with the first reporting of this data since before the pandemic. Data from future years will be used to measure change. This will be an important indicator of how schools are growing and improving. The data in the 2022 Dashboard marks a new starting point and provides opportunities to further our schools’ commitment to focus on student growth and equity in our schools.

For more information, please visit the Dashboard website at caschooldashboard.org.

EVENTS, TRAININGS, & MORE!

This takes shape in many ways. Through technical assistance and targeted intervention, CIS works hand-in-hand with districts and schools, addressing performance areas identified on the California School Dashboard. Under statewide changes, this role expanded to include charter schools in the 2023-24 school year.

CIS also provides an array of opportunities for individual educators to learn and grow, from professional learning workshops to networks of local professionals and more.

More information: sjcoe.org/CIS

Learn more about upcoming events, meetings, trainings, and workshops for students, families, and educators on the San Joaquin County Office of Education calendar at sjcoe.org/calendar.aspx

COUNTYWIDE STUDENT EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

HIGH SCHOOL ART SHOW

CELEBRATING THE ARTS ACROSS SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Over 400 pieces of art from 11 school districts filled the Wentworth Education Center at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) on May 8, 2023, for the second annual Best of San Joaquin County High School Art Show.

Each piece of art on display was chosen by school district representatives and previously appeared in a school or district showcase or art show. Organized by SJCOE Student Events & Activities, the countywide art show is a way for students’ artwork to advance to the next level and share their talents outside of their district. It’s also a way for students to tell their own stories.

“We know that every student has an individual story,” County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Troy Brown, said. “And one of the best ways to see those stories is through art.”

Artwork was displayed in 14 categories. Within each of these categories, there was a best of category award given as well as first, second, and third place awards. Celeste Salazar from Weston Ranch High School (Manteca Unified School District) received the Best of Show award for her stop-motion sketch. Abigail Mao from Lathrop High School (Manteca Unified School District) received the SJCOE Educational Foundation (SJCOEEF) award.

Some of the events and competitions organized by Student Events and Activites and other SJCOE departments include:

Best of Category Winners

Introduction to Art

Cecilia Herrera

Manteca Unified School District

Advanced Art

Sadie Gray

Tracy Unified School District

AP 2D Art

Abigail Mao

Manteca Unified School District

Introduction to Video

Celeste Salazar

Manteca Unified School District

Graphic/Computer Design

Darryl Cayabyab

Manteca Unified School District

3D Art

Sidney Pham

Manteca Unified School District

Color and Design

Marlene Rubio-Alcala

Manteca Unified School District

Introduction to Photography

Sadie Gray

Tracy Unified School District

Advanced Photography

Amy Fedeff

Manteca Unified School District

Introduction to Digital Photography

Marvin Pasaqui

Manteca Unified School District

Advanced Digital Photography

Enriquez Ornelas

Manteca Unified School District

AP Studio Photography

Sarah Gallegos

Lodi Unified School District

Ceramics

Ashley Trinidad

Manteca Unified School District

Advanced Ceramics

Ryan Saugalang

Manteca Unified School District

Academic Decathlon

Dinner with a STEM Professional Esports

H2O Hackathon

Honors Concerts

Math Tournament

Mock Trial

Pinnacle Awards

Seal of Biliteracy

STEAM Fair and EXPO

Science Olympiad

Spelling Bees

Summer Art Camp

Youth in Government Day

MEETING STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE

The San Joaquin County Office of Education serves students of all ages by providing direct education services -- from close-knit charter academies to unique programs for students who have fallen behind to adults seeking a flexible way to earn their high school diploma -for success in school, college, careers, and life.

DISCOVERY

ENRIQUE TALAMANTES

CHALLENGE ACADEMY

With four days to go before he graduated from the Discovery ChalleNGe Academy (DCA), Enrique was perfectly calm.

That’s not how he would have felt before attending DCA. The old Enrique would get nervous about doing or saying the wrong thing. The old Enrique also skipped school all the time and never bothered to push himself to meet a new challenge.

But Enrique changed during the time he spent at DCA -- a highly structured, quasi-military program in Lathrop that is a joint effort of the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) and the California National Guard.

He wasn’t nervous at all. He was excited to graduate from the program, receive his diploma, and go back home to show his parents whom he had become. “I’ve made my parents cry for the wrong reasons. So, seeing them cry about me for the right reasons makes me a lot more happy,” he said. “So, I’m really excited to go home and just show them the brand-new me.”

Located in Lathrop, DCA welcomes Northern California 16-to 18-year-olds who are at risk of not graduating high school. During the 22-week residential program, students live on the campus while earning high school credits and learning life and leadership skills. After the residential phase, program graduates build on positive successes and direction with the help of an adult role model in a one-on-one mentoring relationship.

More information: iamdiscovery.org

COME BACK KIDS

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET YOUR DIPLOMA

Come Back Kids (CBK) is a free, mostly online educational program that is offered through the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s (SJCOE) County Operated Schools & Programs division that can help anyone 18 years and older earn their high school diploma.

CBK’s flexibility and support make it an option for anyone to choose to return to school when the time is right for them. For Alice Garcia, that time came when she was 62 years old.

“In my heart, I always felt like I needed to graduate,” she said. “Thanks to CBK and all the supporting staff, I was able to fill that void.”

Once she enrolled in CBK, Alice was surrounded by teachers and staff who supported her, cared for her well-being, and encouraged her to pursue her professional goals after graduation. As she worked through the program, Alice knew that her dedication would one day help her achieve greater success. When she walked across the stage at the CBK graduation ceremony, she was filled with a sense of accomplishment. And in her new job as a clerktypist in the program, she looks forward to helping others follow in her footsteps.

“It’s never too late,” Alice said. “Come Back Kids led me to be stronger and appreciate life more.”

Not having a diploma can be a barrier to advancing in jobs or education. CBK is an independent study program designed to be able to work for students of all ages. The flexible, individualized schedules make it possible for students to balance work and family responsibilities while getting that diploma.

More information: sjcoe.org/CBK

VENTURE ACADEMY FAMILY OF SCHOOLS

A small group of educators with a dream and a mission, working closely with parents and the San Joaquin County Office of Education, had a plan to create something new for students in San Joaquin County.

Part of their goal was to build a non-traditional approach to learning that could awaken the passion and imagination of students and put them on a path to becoming lifelong learners who embrace challenges while pursuing their dreams.

This plan, which came to life more than 20 years ago, lives on today. It’s the Venture Academy Family of Schools (Venture Academy) -- one of the first charter schools in the county that is now home to about 1,650 TK-12 grade students in 13 distinct academies to provide options for students.

“Everybody needs to have a home and be connected to others when they’re in high school,” said Joni Hellstrom, Venture Academy’s division director.

That home could be in any one of the academies, which typically consist of around 200 students and a core group of teachers to focus on different interest areas meant to connect and engage with students, she said.

Or that home could be on a sports team, leadership class, the mock trial team, or within a full range of career technical education pathways. These are some of the types of experiences students can have. Because the smaller academies are all connected on one campus, larger-scale programs normally found at more traditional, comprehensive high schools become available, too. It offers the best of both worlds of high school.

However, the strong connections between students and the school can start long before freshman year. Over the years, Venture has also added academies for students from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. Like all of Venture’s academies, they were added to address student needs identified by staff.

That is how Venture Academy has developed and grown over the years, Hellstrom said. Whether it is a new academy, a new elective, or an extracurricular activity, they all start with an idea from the Venture Academy team.

“Everything we do is about our students. Every decision we make, every program we create is intended to meet the needs of our students,” she said. “If a staff member has an idea, the question is asked: ‘Is this good for kids?’ If the answer is ‘yes,’ then we make it happen,” she said. “I really believe Venture is magic because students are at the core of everything we do.”

There are choices and different directions for students to find just the right place for them, from different middle school academies to a variety of high school academies. Students at the school know when they find the right fit and why it works for them.

PUTTING STUDENTS ON A PATH TO BECOMING LIFELONG LEARNERS

CODING AT CODESTACK ACADEMY COMMUNITY IN THE one.PROGRAM KINDNESS AT MCFALL PRESCHOOOL

CodeStack Academy is Stockton’s first immersive and accelerated software engineering school, established in 2018. Its mission is to provide an affordable and thorough education in software engineering and meet the demand of employers by producing students skilled in leading-edge software development practices and technologies.

CodeStack Academy does this by providing a combination of instructor-led, hands-on workshops, one-on-one mentoring with experienced developers, peer-to-peer learning, and real-world project experience.

In addition to preparing individuals to join the local workforce, CodeStack Academy fosters a growing community of skilled software engineers to change the landscape for technology in Stockton and San Joaquin County. Through regular Coding Meetup events and Let’s Learn workshops, CodeStack Academy builds community and provides opportunities for all to learn new skills.

CodeStack Academy is operated by CodeStack, a technology department of the San Joaquin County Office of Education focused on developing largescale web, software, and mobile applications for the public sector. CodeStack’s software and services are used in over 5,000 school districts nationwide and over a dozen state-wide agencies, including the Community College Chancellor’s Office, the Department of Health Services, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Education. This includes EDJOIN - the go-to website that connects job seekers to careers in education which has over 2 million applicants with 10 million hits per week.

More information: codestackacademy.org

When one.Discover teachers Grace Sandoval and Gabriela Galindo are in the front of the classroom they are usually teaching students in the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s (SJCOE) one Program.

But once a month this school year, they have been leading a discussion with their peers through the new professional learning communities -- commonly known as PLCs -- recently launched in the program.

“I like picking the brains of other teachers. There’s never a time for a teacher to stop learning,” Sandoval said.

The PLC meetings at the central SJCOE campus in Stockton bring teachers, campus safety technicians, clinicians, counselors, and administrators all together in one place to learn together and grow, said Brandy Thurman, the one.Program director organizing the PLCs. “It’s a time to step back, exchange ideas, and find new ways to engage students.”

The SJCOE’s one.Program is an alternative education program for students from across San Joaquin County. The program includes students who are homeless, foster youth, referred by probation and social services, and students expelled from other school districts in San Joaquin County for discipline, truancy, and other issues.

Some of these students can be difficult to reach. The new PLCs help one.Program teams pool their knowledge to help students find success. This could be by getting another perspective when digging into test-score or attendance data. It can also be through sharing ways to make connections with students and build trust.

“If you have relationships with these students, they will work for you, and they will reach out to you,” Sandoval said.

Rochelle Strickland spent a week in April focusing on teaching her preschool students at McFall School how to give a compliment.

It took practice. But with Strickland’s help, by the end of the week, the students were passing around compliments, such as “I like your shirt,” “I like your hair,” and “You are a good friend.” The smiles on the preschoolers’ faces showed how much they enjoyed giving and receiving acts of kindness.

Kindness was the theme throughout the month of April at McFall, a school operated by San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) Special Education Programs. Many of the students at the school have been diagnosed with autism, and the month of kindness was scheduled to fall during Autism Acceptance Month. The aim was to promote inclusivity, said Kristi Baysinger, SJCOE autism and behavior coordinator. “By teaching kindness, we are promoting acceptance of everybody.”

At McFall, the mission is to improve outcomes for students in terms of their quality of life and work toward integration back into their home districts. While the school is focused on academics, independence, and development, it is kindness that ties it all together.

SJCOE Special Education Programs serve students with special needs from birth to age 22. Programs are designed to meet each child’s individual needs while protecting and nurturing personal dignity, ensuring health and safety, and promoting the understanding of each child. In addition to two special centers at McFall and Redwood schools, the SJCOE offers classes on Banta, Escalon, Jefferson, Lammersville, Lincoln, Linden, Manteca, Ripon, and Tracy school district campuses.

WE INNOVATE

TCSJ PREPARES AND INSPIRES EDUCATORS TO BECOME EMPOWERED LEADERS WHO SERVE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

A SNAPSHOT OF SOME POPULAR PATHWAYS SHOW THE IMPACT OF TCSJ:

194 Students earning a master of education

TEACHERS COLLEGE OF SAN JOAQUIN

BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL LEADERS

Inside classrooms across the region every school day, veteran teachers are passing along their expertise and passion to the next generation of educators in the Residency@TCSJ program at Teachers College of San Joaquin (TCSJ).

“I really think that by the end of the year I will feel prepared,” said Madison Wood, a resident teacher in the program who shares a classroom with her mentor teacher at Redwood School, a site focused on students ages 6-22 with special needs. “It will give me the peace of mind and knowing I can do it on my own because I’ve done it for a whole year.”

The only regionally accredited institution of higher education that is a department within a county office of education, TCSJ offers a wide range of programs, whether they are just getting started or looking to grow in their education careers. “At Teachers College of San Joaquin, we play an important role in the development of teachers and teacher leaders,” TCSJ President Dr. Girlie Hale said.

The college doesn’t just teach educators, it supports them in becoming great educators and gives them the confidence, skills, and inspiration to remain in the profession, she said. “I truly believe that we do a great service for this area, for this region, and we’re really happy to be a part of that pipeline, from recruitment all the way to retention.”

459 Students earning a preliminary teaching credential

92 Students earning a preliminary administrative services credential

246 Students in other TCSJ programs

EDUCATION AND LITERACY BEGINS WITH EARLY LEARNING AND CARE

It’s never too early to start learning. From helping parents be their child’s first teacher to supporting preschool programs, the San Joaquin County Office of Education starts building the foundation for students across the county to find success in school and in life.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THE POWER OF PLAY

At the annual Early Childhood Education Conference, teachers, childcare providers, home visitors, and others who work with our region’s youngest children learned about the importance of play in helping build growing minds.

Attendees networked and took part in workshops where they could sample easily accessible, inexpensive, hands-on activities that can be recreated anywhere.

Play isn’t just fun. It is powerful. Play is vital in the development of the whole child. It’s where lifelong learning starts.

Experiences in the classroom and alternative care settings build brain connections that support physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth.

Organized by the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s (SJCOE) Early Childhood Education (ECE) department, the conference reflects the work that ECE does year-round to support the education and growth of infants and young children. The department works collaboratively with local agencies to offer preschool, childcare, and home visitation programs to more than 1,500 children annually. The department supports the Council for Quality Education and Care of Children and the county’s Children’s Services Coordinating Commission, which brings together partners with the primary goal of preventing child abuse. ECE also provides a variety of professional development opportunities for educators and childcare providers.

ECE improves the lives of young children in our county through education and support services. It is part of the larger Early Education and Support department in the SJCOE’s Educational Services division.

Learn more about Early Childhood Education at sjcoe.org/EChildEdu

A CHILD’S FIRST TEACHER UNIVERSAL PRE-K

AT HEAD START SAN JOAQUIN, PARENT ENGAGEMENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM IS KEY

Nicholas, age 7, knew the library in his second-grade classroom needed an official librarian to keep track of all the wonderful books. He volunteered to be the first librarian, and now it’s an official, rotating position in the class.

Head Start teachers nurtured Nicholas’ love of reading, said Fayleen Golden, his mother, who was also in a Head Start program when she was a child. Head Start also helped him learn the confidence to speak up, volunteer, and help others, Golden said.

The Head Start program helped her cultivate those traits in herself, too. Head Start programs across the country provide preschools as well as other services for children from before the time they are born until age 5. But the program also supports the families of those children, empowering them.

“It gives parents a lot of confidence that their voices are heard,” said Golden, a Head Start San Joaquin (HSSJ) Parent Policy Council member. “I feel like I have more of a voice in where the Head Start program is going and in ways that I can help children and other parents.”

Head Start programs prepare America’s most vulnerable young children to succeed in school and life beyond school. To achieve this, programs deliver services in core areas of early learning, health, and family well-being. Services are provided in centers or the family’s home. HSSJ administers a federal Head Start grant that provides services through a partnership with Lodi and Stockton unified school districts and nonprofit organizations Child Abuse Prevention Council and Creative Child Care, Inc.

Helping children prepare for kindergarten and beyond

More free and low-cost preschool spots are opening up throughout California and in local communities.

Launched in the 2021-22 state budget, California Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) has begun and aims to reach all 4-year-olds in the state by the 2025-26 school year.

UPK is made up of a variety of early education programs that are already well established and have been helping children in our communities get ready for kindergarten for decades. Public and private preschools provide options for 3- and 4-year-olds, while transitional kindergarten programs are part of the elementary school system and are open to 4-year-olds, depending on birthdays.

Early learning programs put children on a path to succeed in school and be ready for college and careers. Research shows that preschool children have improved self-control and ability to manage emotions, achieve higher in math and reading in elementary school, and are more likely to graduate high school and earn a college degree.

WHERE TO FIND PREKINDERGARTEN OPTIONS FOR YOUR CHILD IN SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

Head Start San Joaquin www.sjcoe.org/headstart (209) 468-4933

California State Preschool Program www.211sj.org

Private www.communityconnectionssjc.org

Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

Students born between Sept. 2, 2018, and April 2, 2019, are eligible for TK programs in the 2023-24 school year. Contact your local school district for more information.

SPARKING INTEREST IN STEM EDUCATION

OUTDOOR EDUCATION FOR

ALL

STUDENTS EXPLORE NATURE AND EXPAND KNOWLEDGE

The way the sun made the rock sparkle caught Armando’s eye. He grabbed it and held it up so his fellow fourth graders could see his discovery. The students had many other discoveries -- a lizard, a butterfly, and a dust-colored insect hiding in plain sight -- as they walked through the dappled shade and summer grass along a hiking trail to the banks of the San Joaquin River, where they learned how to fish.

It was the summer Let’s Play Outside day camp at the Durham Ferry Outdoor Education Center. Organized by the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) STEM Programs department and funded by a California Natural Resources Agency grant, the program was designed to bring the natural world close to young people who might have trouble making that connection on their own. The program focused on a breadth of students, including those in foster care, experiencing homelessness, living in low-income areas, or enrolled in Migrant Education.

Another key part of the summer program was hiring and training school-aged youth leaders and college-aged counselors to work with the younger students. Over the course of the four-day camps held over four weeks in the summer, students sampled a variety of experiences, including sculling in the Delta, kayaking on Lodi Lake, and visiting a community garden in Ripon.

The week was an invitation to students to let them know that they, too, could experience a lifetime of outdoor activities.

“The goal is to bring children outdoors,” said Kristine Stepping, SJCOE STEM Programs coordinator. “We believe that it will help their emotional and physical well-being. It gives students a chance to be active outdoors and participate in activities staged so they can build mastery and feel confident.”

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education gives learners an in-depth understanding of the world around them. STEM-related jobs are on the rise and important to the economy. It’s essential that we provide ALL students with opportunities to explore and innovate so they are prepared for the future.

STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Students and educators can hike along the San Joaquin River at the Durham Ferry Outdoor Education Center, wire something that glows at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) campus FabLab, or experience Science Camp in the Tahoe National Forest at the Sky Mountain Outdoor Education Center.

DURHAM FERRY OUTDOOR EDUCATION

The Durham Ferry Outdoor Education Center sits on more than 80 acres of wild riparian ecosystem along the San Joaquin River outside Manteca. It includes seasonal ponds, oak woodlands, picnic areas, a working farm, and several miles of hiking trails. SJCOE STEM Programs offer professional learning for teachers and field trips for students. The Meander field trip takes students from grades 3-5 on a journey to the beach on a bend in the river while engaging in hands-on activities connected to the Next Generation Science Standards. The Great Hike field trip offers self-guided hikes for students from sixth grade into college.

FABLAB MAKERSPACE

The FabLab is a unique engineering experience where students of all ages as well as educators come to learn and play. Students engage in hands-on activities and have access to high-end equipment: laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC mills, robotics arenas, augmented-reality workstations, and more than 100 computers. While learning Next Generation Science Standards for engineering, students also learn about their own abilities to use math, science, and technology to invent something new, solve a problem, or take part in a robotics competition. The FabLab offers field trips, events, and summer STEM camps for students, professional learning opportunities for educators, and graduate-level classes through Teachers College of San Joaquin.

PLUS, THE OFFICE OF STEM PROGRAMS PROVIDES:

SKY MOUNTAIN OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Situated in the Sierra Nevada region of the Tahoe National Forest in Placer County, the Sky Mountain Outdoor Education Center provides opportunities for year-round learning and activities for students in the San Joaquin Valley. Operated by SJCOE STEM Programs, Sky Mountain is the home of Science Camp, where students stay in cabins and explore nature in the forest surrounding a pristine mountain lake. Located on more than 68 acres of land, Sky Mountain also includes a lodge, gymnasium, and other facilities. It is the site for year-round activities, including Color the Summer, an art-focused camp where students experience nature while creating works of art.

TOMORROW’S WORKFORCE IS IN THE CLASSROOM TODAY

To be college and career ready, students must be prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary to enter the everchanging workforce of the future.

Robust Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, high school apprenticeships, early college high school, programs to support young adults, and on-the-job training make the path easier for students.

CAREER EDUCATION ACADEMY

NEW ACADEMY FOCUSES ON CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION TRAINING

The clock was ticking as a group of students in the one.Program culinary program carefully and quickly sliced tri-tip. The meat and side dishes were packed and sent out on the loading dock on their way to a catering appointment in Tracy.

It felt like a real-world job experience because that is exactly what it was. Real.

You find the same kind of energy in the culinary classroom as you do in a local business, said Michael Speer, who owns both a catering business and restaurant while teaching the one.Program culinary class.

The real-world experience of fulfilling an order on a deadline was only part of the process. Along the way, students learned about working with a client to set a menu, looking at the prices of the ingredients, setting a price point per person, and other pieces of the business side of fulfilling a catering order.

Besides the kitchen, the program has enough room to set up a salad bar and tables to give students a chance to manage a restaurant floor, too. There’s

also a full-service trailer, so students get experience running a food truck at some of their catering events.

“They’re getting all the aspects of the culinary field,” he said.

With a focus on career training and a goal of growing a career technical education hub for students in alternative education, the one.Program’s new Career Education Academy has launched pathways to careers in the culinary industry, logistics, and computer coding.

The program includes an emphasis on hands-on training, rigorous instruction, high expectations of students, and the use of top-notch facilities and equipment designed to prepare students for whatever comes next, whether that means going to work after earning certifications and their diplomas or continuing their education after high school, said Tony Damele, Career Technical Education (CTE) coordinator for the one.Program, the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s (SJCOE) alternative education program.

FOR one.PROGRAM STUDENTS

The academy follows on the tradition of the one.Program to provide to students who may have struggled elsewhere a wide range of educational options that will allow them to be successful in education and in life, he said. “We continue to always be innovative in meeting the needs of our students, and we never stop looking for tools for those needs,” he said.

The Career Education Academy is located in two SJCOE sites in Stockton that are already used by the one.Program -- the Federal Building and Building Futures Academy. Students come from multiple program locations to the two centers, where there has been an investment in equipment and facilities focused on these CTE pathways.

“It’s a commitment from us as a program to give students the best,” Damele said.

TURNING DREAMS INTO PATHWAYS ARCH

Catalina always looked up to her teachers, and it was her long-held dream to one day become a teacher.

That dream became a plan with a pathway forward after the Linden High School junior became an apprentice teacher’s aide/paraprofessional through San Joaquin County Office of Education’s (SJCOE) Apprenticeships Reaching Career Horizons (ARCH) program, the first-of-its-kind program for high school students in the state.

Through the program, she has taken college-level classes and earned a wage while learning on-thejob skills working for the Linden Unified School District. She has learned and grown while getting enough real-world experience to give her a glimpse of what it would actually feel like as a career.

“I still want to become a teacher. It’s still what I am passionate about,” she said, adding that being an apprentice helped her put to rest doubts she had about being able to work with students.

Catalina is one of the students from Linden, Ripon, and Escalon unified school districts and the SJCOE who take part in the ARCH program. In addition to the paraprofessional pathway, student apprentices are working in district Information Technology departments as well as learning to become assistant farm managers. The growing program is seeking employers in both the private and public sectors to provide more opportunities for students.

More information: sjcoe.org/CollegeAndCareer

OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO SUCCESS WORKSTARTYES

Ian faced a challenge when he was at risk of not graduating from high school. He felt lost until he reached out to WorkStartYES for guidance. With the help of a dedicated career developer, Ian was able to create a clear plan, focus on goals for his future, and graduate on time.

After graduating, Ian gained valuable work experience but struggled to identify a career goal. His career developer provided him with career awareness assessments to uncover his interests, which revealed a love of working outdoors and led to a job with the Greater Valley Conservation Corps. Ian then completed an apprenticeship-readiness program where he built skills and received various certifications to bulk up his résumé.

With the assistance of WorkStartYES, Ian secured a higher-paying, permanent job in the plumbing industry. Even though Ian is no longer in the program, he continues receiving follow-up services, including free coaching, guidance, and resources as his career takes off.

WorkStartYES helps 16- to 24-year-olds overcome barriers to achievement in education and employment. They also offer workshops, industry tours, and college tours to help youth achieve selfsufficiency in early adulthood.

More information: sjcoe.org/workstartyes

TEACH!

TEACH! Academy is a teacher education and early college high school program where students can earn both a high school diploma and associate degree from San Joaquin Delta College by the time they graduate 12th grade.

Part of the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s (SJCOE) Venture Academy Family of Schools, TEACH! opened its doors in 2021 to combat the teacher shortage while building a future educator workforce that reflects the diversity of San Joaquin County.

The academy offers students a clear and affordable path to a career in education, and it is already racking up some accolades for its work, most recently being named a recipient of the Family Resource Center’s 33rd Annual Action on Behalf of Children Award in the school category for its exemplary actions to support youth and its potential to make lasting impact in the lives of thousands of children in the community in the years to come.

“Teaching is an incredibly tough job, but it’s also incredibly rewarding,” said Megan Filice, TEACH! program coordinator. “It is a privilege to work with young people every day, and we hope to see the influence of that work for generations of teachers and learners to come.”

More information: ventureacademyca.org

TOMORROW’S TEACHERS

FROM CLASS TO FARMERS MARKET WORKABILITY

Students in special education programs in San Joaquin County greeted springtime by selling produce and plants grown in school gardens and crafts made in the classroom at an annual Farmers Market at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE).

Middle school students, high school students, and young adults participating in the Farmers Market learned valuable skills by preparing products for sale and interacting with customers.

Students from Lincoln Unified School District planted seeds, pulled weeds, watered plants, and harvested the vegetables they had on sale at the market. It’s the same food they prepare in class. “They get their hands dirty in the garden,” said teacher Margaret Heinz. “What we grow, we eat.”

Kassi, a student from the SJCOE Believe! program, loved interacting with customers. “My favorite part is to feel the happiness selling things that I got to help make.”

The Farmers Market is sponsored by the WorkAbility I program through the San Joaquin County Special Education Local Plan Area, part of the SJCOE. WorkAbility I is a state program that provides students ages 12 to 22 with vocational services and places students 16 and older in paid positions with local employers.

More information: sjcoe.org/SELPA

SERVING THE COMMUNITY GVCC

Katie Yang enrolled into the Greater Valley Conservation Corps (GVCC) to learn job skills, life skills, and receive industry recognized training while working her way through San Joaquin Delta College.

GVCC was a logical choice for her employment plan because of the flexible schedule offered and an added opportunity to earn while she learned. As a corps member, Katie excelled at each task that she took on and quickly became an environmental steward during waste diversion amnesties, city cleanup projects, and community outreach events. Just prior to graduating from Delta College, Katie won the GVCC Scholarship Program and used the dollars awarded, along with multiple AmeriCorps education stipends, to support her admission into California State University, Sacramento.

Katie continued to work and commute to GVCC while successfully finishing her bachelor’s degree. She is now a fulltime crew supervisor with the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps.

GVCC offers paid work experience to youth ages 18 to 26 while providing support with academic instruction, employment opportunities, green-job training, life skills, and more. The GVCC provides services to businesses, schools, nonprofits, municipalities, and other organizations throughout San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Amador, and Tuolumne Counties.

More information: greatervalleycc.org

BUILDING A PATH FOR THE FUTURE YOUTHBUILD

After having a son at the age of 17, Mario was determined to make something of himself. This motivation led him to enroll in YouthBuild, a program for 18- to 24-year-olds designed to provide job training, leadership skills, and education to those in need of a high school diploma or equivalent.

Mario completed the program with practical experience, a strong work ethic, and lifelong memories. The program’s approach of combining on-the-job training, community service, and support towards obtaining a high school diploma or GED gave him a challenging yet rewarding experience.

Since graduating from YouthBuild in May 2022, Mario has been working as an apprentice with the Laborers Union in the construction trades. Through a partnership with the Northern California Laborers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, YouthBuild provides students direct entry into the Laborers Union after completing the program.

The foundational skills learned at YouthBuild have allowed Mario to excel in his career. “YouthBuild showed me the concept of being a hard worker and having a want-to-work attitude,” he said.

YouthBuild San Joaquin is part of YouthBuild USA, a network of programs dedicated to empowering individuals through education, skills development, and leadership opportunities.

More information: buildingfuturesacademy.org

STUDENT & STAFF WELL-BEING MAKES A DIFFERENCE

The San Joaquin County Office of Education is committed to providing support and resources that keep students and staff healthy and safe. Supporting the whole student means providing for their mental health needs, too. In our role, we build connections, hold trainings, and build networks of support in our education community.

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH

Medical emergencies can happen at any place or any time, so people learn first aid or CPR to prepare themselves to provide assistance until professional help arrives on the scene.

But how does someone who works with students learn to recognize and respond to a mental health crisis?

That was the focus of the Youth Mental Health First Aid training that San Joaquin County Office of Education’s (SJCOE) Comprehensive Health department provided throughout the year to teachers and other staff members who work with young people.

“If you are around a young person and they are showing some signs of emotional distress, you’ll be able to help them at that moment,” said Rita Rasuli, Comprehensive Health coordinator, while starting a training session.

The session was designed to give any adult who works with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to children who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. The skills help teachers, school support staff, or anyone who works with young people, be able to understand crisis and non-crisis situations and be able to step in and help that child.

The training has built a larger network of mental health support for young people, whether they are experiencing the typical development challenges of adolescence or are facing an actual mental health crisis.

PEER- TOPEER SUMMIT

Student leaders in high school understand that leadership means connecting with fellow students to help them overcome struggles like mental health issues or substance abuse.

At the first annual San Joaquin County Peer-to-Peer Summit at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) in November, about 270 students, teachers, and counselors took the day to learn how to build leadership skills and make an even bigger impact at their schools.

They included a group of students in a conflict-resolution class at McNair High School (Lodi Unified School District) who already had some experience helping their fellow students and were looking forward to the day for new skills and inspiration. “I’m looking forward to being given advice about socialization skills and how to talk to people who are hard to talk to,” said Jadi, a student in the class. “Some people aren’t very open.”

The day included an inspirational speaker and a series of hourlong workshops with topics ranging from suicide prevention to learning how to be a peer helper. The summit was part of efforts to support students in the county funded through a $6 million Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission Mental Health Student Services grant awarded through a collaboration with the SJCOE and San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services.

“Students are more likely to talk to other students about their struggles, especially when it comes to mental health, substance use, or suicide,” Comprehensive Health Director Nora Hana said. “We want to make sure that students on campuses are able to help each other, are able to reach out to each other, and support each other as much as possible.”

Juan, a student at Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology (Stockton Unified School District) said he hoped the summit would help him as a peer leader at school while also showing him more about pursuing a career as a counselor, himself.

“I want my voice to be heard, not just for me, but for students who are too shy to do it.”

BUILDING SAFER SCHOOLS

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION HOLDS FIRST ANNUAL SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY SAFE SCHOOLS SUMMIT

The SJCOE hosted the first annual San Joaquin County Safe Schools Summit in November, welcoming district superintendents, administrators, teachers, students, law enforcement and more to network, exchange ideas, and work together to improve school safety.

The day started with an introduction from County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Troy Brown, and continued with panel discussions with students, teachers, and law enforcement followed by a presentation focusing on preparing for an active-shooter incident. Attendees then were able to attend breakout sessions to dig deeper into specific areas that ranged from suicide prevention to building comprehensive school safety plans with a focus on building a positive school climate.

Vendors offered information to assist with training, planning, and incorporating new technology. And throughout the day, the individuals looking after the safety of students were able to talk with each other, share best practices, and learn how to do it better.

Everyone at the summit faces the same issues, Lincoln Unified School District Superintendent Kelly Dextraze said. “And getting all these people together with school-safety resources and knowledge is very valuable.”

San Joaquin Delta College Police Department Sgt. Jim Bock also attended and presented an active-shooter session that focused on preparation and prevention. “I think this summit is an amazing event that can increase security countywide on our campuses.”

INNOVATION LEADS THE WAY FORWARD

FINDING THE RIGHT TEACHER

CERTIFICATED JOB FAIR

Finding the right fit to match an educator’s talents and passions with the right job is important, whether that job is in the classroom, as a service provider, or as an administrator.

The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) Human Resources (HR) department helped prospective employees find that fit at the annual job fair that draws employers from throughout the county. At the 2023 job fair in March, more than 20 employers set up booths at the Teachers College of San Joaquin campus at the SJCOE. They came from local school districts, charter schools, the SJCOE, and more.

The HR department did more than set the stage for recruitment. The team also provided support to make it easy. Since the path to jobs in education often leads through the online jobs portal EDJOIN, there was an EDJOIN lab to help job-seekers set up an online profile and complete an application for their potential new employer.

HR staff were also on hand to answer any questions about credentialing, provide transcript evaluation and offer resources to future educators.

SJCOE Human Resources

• Serves 2,000 county office employees

• Supports 14 local school districts

• Hosts recruitment and job fairs for classified and certificated staff

• Conducts Live Scan fingerprinting

• Acts as liaison with the Dept. of Justice for employee background checks

• Offers credentialing services

• Holds trainings for districts on HR, credentialing, and employment law

• Provides assistance, guidance, and training to SJCOE staff and to districts

If we stand still, we fall behind. In a rapidly changing world, the San Joaquin County Office of Education strives to create innovative programs and services to meet new challenges and achieve new goals to uplift San Joaquin County students and families.

San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) speaker series known as the Curriculum Breakfast.

The discussion at the September 2022 breakfast about how to improve the way schools grade their students was led by keynote speaker Joe Feldman, the author of the book Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms.

“Equitable grading is when the grade is accurate, bias resistant, and motivational,” he said. During his presentation, he asked those present to look at the history of schools, how it shaped the way students were graded, and how students could benefit if grading

CYBERSECURITY

STRENGTHENING DEFENSES AGAINST CYBERATTACKS

When hackers attacked the computer systems at a Southern California school district over Labor Day weekend, it sent ripples across the country. It was a chilling reminder of what keeps any educational Information Technology (IT) department’s staff up at night: Cyberattacks are on the rise, and schools are targets.

That cyberattack was on the minds of IT professionals from school districts across San Joaquin County and beyond at the 2022 San Joaquin Schools Cybersecurity Symposium in September at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). In partnership with the SJCOE IT department, Lodi Unified School District, and the Central California Intelligence Center, the symposium brought together IT teams with security experts to exchange ideas and study the best practices to defend school information systems from cyberattacks.

“It’s really important for us in education to share information and data,” said Rames Creel, SJCOE IT department’s director of enterprise services. “The more you share information, the more tips and tricks you learn. It helps the whole community.”

During the symposium, attendees focused on response and prevention, including organization-wide efforts -- like using multi-factor authentication to verify user identity -- that can make an organization’s information system harder to infiltrate.

GRADING FOR EQUITY

FAIR GRADING MEASURES WHAT STUDENTS ARE LEARNING

practices changed. Factors like extra credit and behavior don’t measure what a student is learning, he said.

“Ultimately, we want to reflect what a student knows. Not what they do in a classroom, but what they know,” he said.

Those present at the September breakfast talked about their own examples-- both as students and educators -- when they saw unfairness in grading. One example that was repeated by many was how the grades students received taking the same class at the same school could vary widely based entirely on the grading practices of individual teachers.

Grades have a lasting impact on students since they are what

is recorded in their report cards and transcripts, said Sally Glusing, professional learning director at the SJCOE.

“Equitable grading is the mindset and practice of ensuring that the grades students receive in their K-12 classes reflect what they know and what they are being taught,” she said. “And that it is bias-free and does not incorporate other elements outside of what students learn in their classes.”

To keep the conversation moving through the school year, all attendees received a copy of Feldman’s book and had an opportunity to follow up in a monthly book study and community of practice over subsequent months.

LEADERSHIP TEAM MOVES EQUITY IN EDUCATION FORWARD

The Equity Leadership Team is a group of San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) staff members taking the lead to ensure all members of the SJCOE community are represented, heard, and supported.

Formed in 2020 and led by the new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access department, the leadership team began their work by vetting consultants to help guide the SJCOE in creating safe, just, and inclusive work and educational environments. This work has led to training opportunities for management with a plan to provide training for all employees.

“My hope is for our equity work to have a direct impact on future generations of educators and students,” said Dr. Girlie Hale, part of the Equity Leadership Team and president of Teachers College of San Joaquin.

The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) founded the SJCOE Educational Foundation in January of 1995. Foundation funding supports countywide academics, student events, and other valuable programs.

The Foundation’s support would not be possible without the donations made by the community. Sponsors mentioned on the Honor Roll of Sponsors list reflect donations of $250 and above to the Foundation and SJCOE from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.

BOARD MEMBERS

TROY A. BROWN

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

JANE STEINKAMP

PRESIDENT

SCOTT ANDERSON

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

MARLENE FLAU

SECRETARY TO THE BOARD

JACALYN DAVIS

BOARD MEMBER

JANWYN FUNAMURA BOARD MEMBER

DYLAN GEORGE BOARD MEMBER

CHARLYNN HARLESS BOARD MEMBER

RAYMOND MCCRAY BOARD MEMBER

GREG MCCREARY BOARD MEMBER

WILLIAM TREZZA BOARD MEMBER

2022-23 HONOR ROLL OF SPONSORS

BENEFACTOR SPONSOR

$10,000 - $34,999

Amazon

Bayer Fund

Blackwing Foundation

Blue Diamond Growers

Premier Community Credit Union

Van Groningen & Sons, Inc.

YouthBuild USA

PLATINUM SPONSOR

$5,000 - $9,999

Financial Center Credit Union

Katherine Dei Rossi

Legacy Enterprises

PG&E Corporate Foundation

Raley’s

Raymus Foundation

Save Mart CARES

Sozosei Foundation

Staples

Synopsis SV Sci & Tech Outreach Foundation

United Way

CORPORATE SPONSOR

$3,000 - $4,999

Delta Sierra Group - Sierra Club MLC

Diane and James Mousalimas

Keenan & Associates

Merrill Lynch

GOLD SPONSOR

$2,000 - $2,999

Aaron Judge All Rise Foundation

Calaveras County Chamber of Commerce

EMCOR Services/Mesa Energy Systems, Inc.

First Student

GoodRX

JaniTek Cleaning Solutions

Johnson Controls

Progressive Designs

RJ Commercial Flooring Company, Inc.

Roebbelen Contracting, Inc.

SONITROL

WARDEN’S

SILVER SPONSOR

$1,500 - $1,999

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo

Blue Shield of California

Janwyn and Jack Funamura

Mimms Electric Inc.

Suncrest Bank

Tina Talamantes

BRONZE SPONSOR

$1,000 - $1,499

African American Chamber

AM Stephens Construction Co., Inc.

AMS.NET

Brig Summers of First Student

California Waste

CDW-G

Community Foundation of San Joaquin

Dean and Kathleen Janssen

Diede Construction, Inc.

Eric D. Kjeldgaard

Henry & Associates Architects

Korean Professional Building Maintenance

North Stockton Rotary Club

Port of Stockton

PVS Vending

San Joaquin County Bar Foundation

San Joaquin County Music Ed Assoc.

Sheri Coburn

Terracon Consultants, Inc.

CENTURY SPONSOR

$250 - $499

American Fidelity Assurance Co.

ARCHITECHNICA

Bank of Stockton

Black Oak Casino Resort

Brookside Country Club

Charities Aid Foundation

Dan and Annie Cunial

Donna Bordenkircher

Escalon Unified School District

First Commercial Real Estate & Advisory Services

Hillier Ford of Escalon

Kathleen Skeels

Keith’s Trophy Supply, Inc.

Lincoln Center

Mamie and Charlie Starr

Manuel Nunez

Migrant Regional Parent Advisory Committee

Operations and Support Services

Sandra Wendell

Securitas

Stockton Golf and Country Club

Stockton Unified School District

Strong Ambition

Troy and Cindy Brown

VSP Vision Care

Walter and Sandra Loheide

Weibel Family Winery

** We would also like to thank the individuals and businesses that donate annually between $1 and $249. Thank you to all of our sponsors for your support.**

HOW WE OPERATE

WHERE FUNDS COME FROM Total Revenue $326,240,072

THE SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

WHERE FUNDS COME FROM 13 HOW FUNDS ARE USED

• LOCAL CONTROL FUNDING FORMULA 19%

• FEDERAL 19%

• OTHER STATE 34%

• OTHER LOCAL AND OTHER SOURCES 28%

HOW FUNDS ARE USED Total Expenditures $305,140,480

• SALARIES 32%

• EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 13%

• BOOKS AND SUPPLIES 2%

• SERVICES 24%

• CAPITAL OUTLAY 5%

• OTHER 24%

20 EXPENDITURES BY SJCOE PROGRAM

EXPENDITURES BY SJCOE PROGRAM

• COURT AND COMMUNITY 20%

• SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SELPA 38%

• CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION 1%

• MIGRANT EDUCATION 1%

• RESTRICTED SPECIAL PROGRAMS 15%

• UNRESTRICTED PROGRAMS 1%

• CHILD DEVELOPMENT 13%

• LOTTERY <1%

• ADULTS IN CORRECTIONS <1%

• DESIGNATED SPECIAL PROGRAMS 10%

The five members of the San Joaquin County Board of Education each represent a geographic area of San Joaquin County. Board members are elected into office and serve six-year terms. The Board of Education approves the San Joaquin County Office of Education’s (SJCOE) annual budget and serves as an appeal board with such actions as interdistrict transfers, student expulsions, and charter school petitions. The Board of Education also serves as the county committee on school district organization, which addresses changes in school district boundaries and areas represented by school district governing board members. Regular meetings of the Board of Education are held the third Wednesday of each month, at noon, in the Board Room at the Gaylord A. Nelson Administration Center, 2922 Transworld Drive, Stockton, unless otherwise posted.

JANET D. DYK

AREA 1 | BOARD MEMBER

Includes parts of Banta, Escalon, Lammersville, Manteca, Ripon, and Tracy unified and Jefferson and New Jerusalem elementary school districts.

KEN VOGEL

AREA 2 | BOARD MEMBER

Includes parts of Escalon, Lincoln, Linden, Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, and Stockton unified school districts

DOUGLAS I. VIGIL

AREA 3 | VICE-PRESIDENT

Includes parts of Manteca and Stockton unified school districts.

VERNON J. GEBHARDT

AREA 4 | PRESIDENT

Includes parts of Banta, Lammersville, Lincoln, Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, Stockton, and Tracy unified school districts.

GREG CLARK

AREA 5 | BOARD MEMBER

Includes parts of Lincoln, Linden, Lodi, and Stockton unified and New Hope and Oak View Union elementary school districts.

WE EDUCATE

The SJCOE is a regional agency that leads San Joaquin County education forward. We support San Joaquin County’s 14 school districts by providing leadership, fiscal oversight, overseeing compliance with state and federal mandates, offering professional development opportunities, maintaining countywide technology and infrastructure, developing Local Control and Accountability Plans, building and maintaining technology, and more.

WE INNOVATE

The SJCOE believes in the potential of all students. We operate court, community, special education, and charter schools to meet the vast variety of student needs. Meeting those needs often means developing new, innovative programs, because we believe in doing what is necessary to meet students where they are and help them overcome barriers to reaching their academic and career goals.

WE INSPIRE

The SJCOE strives to inspire students and families. We provide an abundance of rich and rewarding learning experiences for students countywide – such as student events and academic competitions where students have an opportunity to shine outside of the classroom. We also collaborate with community partners to provide resources that further support students, strengthen families, and benefit our community.