2011 Winning Programs

PACK: Bridging the Achievement Gap by Personally Achieving Character and Knowledge
Day Creek Intermediate School
Etiwanda Elementary School District
San Bernardino County
David Long, Board President; Cecilia Solorio, Cathline Fort, Brynna Cadman and Margaret Strom, Board Members; Shawn Judson, Superintendent; Charlayne Sprague, Principal
Personally Achieving Character and Knowledge (PACK) adds one additional instructional period to the school day where students are grouped based on CST data, local assessments and classroom performance. The goal is to move students to proficiency through instructional practices targeted to meet their needs.

A Look at Learning (A.L.L.) Collaborative
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Santa Clara County
Charles Weis, Superintendent; Joseph Di Salvo, Board President; Yee Wan, Multilingual Programs Coordinator; Edith Mourtos and Linda Aceves, Chief Schools Officers; Linda Carstens, Director of Professional Learning; Carol Tanton and Janet Welch, Education Consultants; Craig Blackburn, Director, Technology Programs and Instructional Support; Bill Conrad, Director, Assessment and Accountability
A Look at Learning is a comprehensive, multi-year system that builds instructional leadership and teacher efficacy to implement research-based classroom practices that lead to English learners’ increased English language proficiency and academic achievement.

Fairfield-Suisun Adult School School-to-Career Transition Program
Fairfield-Suisun Adult School
Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District
Solano County
Patricia Semansky, Board President; David Gaut, Board Member; Jack Cottingim-Dias, Superintendent; Kris Korey, Assistant Superintendent; Vickie Good, Retired Principal; Sheila McCabe, Director of Secondary Education; Arlene Bailey, Career Transitions Advisor; Evonne Woods-Quesada, Teacher
The School-to-Career Transition program engages adult high school students by providing them with a curriculum that broadens their knowledge, guides them in setting goals and enables them to graduate with a realistic Exit Plan.

Geospatial Technology Pathway
Piner High School
Santa Rosa City Schools
Sonoma County
Frank Pugh, Board President; Sharon Liddell, Superintendent; Sally Bimrose, Principal; Kurt Krnger, Program Coordinator; Kristi Erickson, Teacher; Nancy Miller, Director of Community Outreach
The Geospatial Technology Pathway involves students in the process of applied science, math, engineering and technology. Students actively engage in the collection of data and create digital maps that reveal trends, patterns and phenomena used to make important decisions.

Merced Union High School District Character Counts
Merced Union High School District
Merced County
Sam Spangler, Board President; V. Scott Scambray, Superintendent; Kelly Bentz, Program Administrator; Annette Brown, Character Education District Coordinator; Character Counts Lead Teachers
Through relevant connections via school culture and community, MUHSD Character Counts is working to address issues of violence and classroom disruption in order to build a safe, clean environment that promotes respect, fosters learning and supports a collaborative school culture.

Voluntary Student Drug Testing Program
Fresno County Office of Education
Fresno County
Delbert Cederquist, Board President; Larry Powell, Superintendent; Randy Mehrten, Senior Director; Steve Price, COE/Evaluator, Stephen Price, Lead Evaluator; Vince Wesson, Project Coordinator
Fresno County Office of Education’s Voluntary Drug Testing Program is a collaborative effort with 16 high schools to reduce the incidence of drug usage, promote conversations among families about drug use, and provide students with a tool to use against peer pressure.

Innovative Video in Education
San Diego County Office of Education
San Diego County
Susan Hartly, Board President; Randolph Ward, Superintendent; Steve Clemons, Assistant Superintendent; Chris Brawner, Senior Director; Heidi Schlageter, Producer; Bill Simpson, Founder and Executive Director, Technology
The Innovative Video in Education Program motivates teachers to integrate media technology into lesson plans. Students must create videos incorporating California standards to be eligible to attend an Oscar-style awards event and receive valuable classroom technology prizes.

School-wide RtI
Andres Duarte Elementary
Duarte Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Pam Kawasaki, Board President; Terry Nichols, Superintendent; Joilyn Campitiello, Principal; Elizabeth Landrum, Teacher; Mary Jansen, Teaching Learning Coach
The goal of the Andres Duarte Schoolwide RtI program is intervention for all students. By addressing the needs of students at all performance levels, this exemplary program has been key in moving Andres Duarte to an API of 804.

Standards-Based Practices
Victoriano Elementary School
Val Verde Unified School District
Riverside County
Wraymond Sawyer, Board President; Alan Jensen, Superintendent; Caryn Lewis, Principal; Richard Aleksak, Former Principal; Jennifer Walker, Katrina Bermudez, Jeremy Bateman, Tawnya Patton and Lorena Manrique, Teachers
Victoriano Elementary School uses the CST blueprints as the foundation to create standards-based practices that include posters, graphic organizers and activities for walls; “standards web” graphic organizers; and teacher created assessments that share the same rigor as the CST.

Ramona Reads!
Ramona Unified School District
San Diego County
Rodger Dohm, Board President; Robert Graeff, Superintendent; Cathy Pierce, Assistant Superintendent; Linda Ball, Teacher on Assignment; JP Baker, Youth Librarian; All site Principals; All Ramona Unified School District Teachers
Ramona Reads! is building a sustainable culture that encourages students to make a life-long habit of reading. For the past 13 years, the Ramona Reads! initiative encouraged elementary students to earn “college degrees,” begin school-wide reading and discussion of books, and listening to book talk podcasts to get their students reading. The following list highlights the mainstay of Ramona Reads!: Lexile Level Books; Reading Counts; Ramona Community Library Partnership; Read your way to College; Schoolwide Reading of Books; Online Academic Support; Webpage Resources, Student Goal Setting, San Diego County Library Search Tool; Oasis Tutoring, Destiny; Professional Book Study.

The California Oil Museum Project Chronicles of Time
Santa Paula Union High School
Santa Paula Union High School District
Ventura County
Diana Ponce-Gomez, Board President; Pamela Martens, Superintendent; Robin Gillette and Elizabeth Garcia, Principals; Christina Urias, Doug Jackson, Terence Nelson and Chris Wilson, Board Members; Ed Arguelles, Instructor
The California Oil Museum project exemplifies the meaning of "beyond the classroom learning." It is an academic collaboration between the school's history, English, science, arts, vocational education departments and the Santa Paula community where students bring history to life.

American History in the Schools
San Diego County Office of Education
San Diego County
Randolph Ward, Superintendent; Mark Anderson, Board Member; Laurie Mosier, Project Director; Jeffrey Charles, Principal Investigator and Professor of History, Cal State University, San Marcos; Kimber Quinney, Professor of History, Cal State University, San Marcos; Michael Henderson, Professor of History, Cal State University, San Marcos; Michael Gonzalez, Professor of History, University of San Diego; James Marshall, San Diego State University; Brenda Hall, NCPDF Director; Grace Ko, Coordinator; Tracie Audifferen, Project Specialist; Sakura Hamada, Project Assistant; American HITS Teachers
American History in the Schools (American HITS) engages elementary, middle and high school teachers through intensive professional development with curriculum experts and university historians to increase student achievement in history and sustain collaborative learning partnerships that extend beyond the program.

Strategic and Intensive Mathematics Initiative (SIMI)
Alameda City Unified School District
Alameda County
Ron Mooney, Board President; Mike McMahon, Board Member; Kirsten Vital, Superintendent; Philip Gonsalves, Director; Aimee, Penn, Therese Silva, Katherine Crawford, Jim Miller, Hilda Aguilar and Eric Van Laeken, Mathematics Coaches
At Alameda City Unified School District, through a unique county-district partnership, they have transformed the culture and performance of teaching and learning mathematics in the district by focusing on teacher content knowledge, lesson design, full-time coaching in the classroom, and formative assessment.

Physical Education: Walkinators vs. Adolescent Obesity
San Ysidro Middle School
San Ysidro Elementary School District
San Diego County
Raquel Marquez-Maden, Board President; Manuel Paul, Superintendent; David Torres, Principal; Veronica Konkoly, Assistant Principal; Dee Connaghan and Laura Duehring, Physical Education Teachers
The Walkinator vs. Adolescent Obesity is a middle school physical education program committed to decreasing adolescent obesity and increasing physical activity through the use of pedometers and online technology. Seventy percent of Walkinators decreased their body mass index after three years.

Zingy Science
Dean L. Shively Middle School
Valle Lindo Elementary School District
Los Angeles County
Mary Louise Labrucherie, Superintendent; Gloria Olmos, Board President; Lynn Bulgin, Principal; Richard Angel, David Del Rio, Ruth Gonzales and Rudy Martinez, Board Members; Sharon Okouneff, Program Developer
The Zingy Science combines online learning with lecture, note-taking and lab activities to create a comprehensive, structured program that has ignited a passion for learning science among the students at Shively Middle School. Uniquely, all student groups have demonstrated phenomenal gains.

The English Learner Immediate Support and Resource Allocation (ELISANDRA) Project
Sanger Unified School District
Fresno County
Peter Filippi, Board President; Marcus Johnson, Superintendent; Richard Smith, Deputy Superintendent; Tim Lopez, Academic Officer
The English Learner Immediate Support and Resource Allocation (ELISANDRA) Project consists of three components to enhance language acquisition and student achievement of English Learners through staff training of academic language, higher order thinking and reading strategies, a formative language assessment system and process to monitor implementation.

Fallbrook Union High School ASSETs After School Program
Fallbrook Union High School
Fallbrook Union High School District
San Diego County
Sharon Koehler, Board President; Dale Mitchell, Superintendent; Rod King, Principal; Adam Dawson, Assistant Principal; Gina Delcoure, Campus Supervisor; Rob Broyles, Former Coordinator; Dan Capello, Food Services Director; Justin Quinn, Transportation Director; Cori Jepsen and Ashley Campbell, Campus Supervisors; Jennifer Jepsen, Attendance Clerk
The A.S.S.E.T’s after school program was established in September of 2008 to provide students with a safe and enriching learning environment after school hours. Students have opportunities to build relationships with participating certificated teachers, mentors, or bilingual paraeducators. Students receive additional time and support in needed core subject areas. Students can also participate in any of 15 extracurricular activities. The program has a holistic goal of building relationships, leadership skills, and self-confidence during the after school hours in order to prevent students from making destructive choices.

Sanger After School LEAP (Learning, Enrichment, & Activities Program)
Sanger Unified School District
Fresno County
Peter Filippi, Board President; Marcus Johnson, Superintendent; Richard Smith, Deputy Superintendent; Tim Lopez, Academic Officer
Sanger Afterschool LEAP provides a seamless approach to after school enrichment and academics. More than 1,700 students at 14 schools participate in the program daily – receiving intervention, fitness instruction, enrichment and standards-based curriculum that is aligned with the school day.

Carmenita Middle School Distinguished Scholars Program
Carmenita Middle School
ABC Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Maynard Law, Board President; Gary Smuts, Superintendent; Mary Sieu, Deputy Superintendent; Kester Song and Rhonda Buss, Principals; Carmenita Middle School Leadership Team Members
Carmenita Middle School’s Distinguished Scholars Program provides an avenue for students who have an interest in a specific subject area to attain a deeper understanding and encourages a passion for life-long learning.

Project Pass
Monrovia Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Ed Gililland, Board President; Linda Wagner, Superintendent; Duke Freyermuth, Coordinator
Project Pass is a unique, sustainable, replicable, free tutoring/mentoring program where trained high school honor students become tutorial big brothers and sisters in a one-on-one relationship with at-risk, struggling sixth graders in a win-win situation.

Road to Glory
Sparks Middle School
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Jay Chen, Board President; Barbara Nakaoka, Superintendent; Hasmik Danielian, Associate Superintendent; Sherri Franson, Principal; Norman Hsu, Joseph Chang, Anita Perez and Rudy Chavarria, Board Members
Sparks Middle School has created and implemented an innovative improvement plan to increase student achievement. Over three years, Sparks has surpassed its goal of 800 API and now has the highest API of its 100 similar schools.

Los Peñasquitos Academy
Poway Unified School District
San Diego County
Penny Ranftle, Board President; John Collins, Superintendent; Laura D’Acquisto, Kristie Szentesi, Ed Sandstrom, Anthony Bayro and Kara Fradsham, Teachers
The Los Peñasquitos Academy is driven by the belief that all students will achieve and the theory of more time for learning, with an extra hour of instruction each day and eight additional days in each school year.

Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy
Turlock Unified School District
Stanislaus County
Frank Lima, Board President; Sonny Da Marto, Superintendent; Ed Ewing, Principal; Susan Fisher, Assistant Principal; Erica Maldonado-Higle, Bilingual Literacy Teacher
Two-Way Bilingual Immersion instruction brings together students of different ethnic, racial, economic and language backgrounds to learn rigorous academic content through two languages: English and Spanish. By sixth grade, students are fully literate in both languages.

Keeping The Main Thing, The Main Thing: Instruction!
Ceres Unified School District
Stanislaus County
Faye Lane, Board President; Scott Siegel, Superintendent; Jim Kinard, Mike Welsh, Betty Davis, Mrs. Valliwigt and Lourdes Perez, Board Members; Jan Wood, Supervisor of Projects
The Ceres Unified School District Instructional Norms model is a comprehensive strategies-driven program that requires all teachers to actively engage students in the learning process. Through this model effective planning, implementing and evaluating of powerful lessons takes place by both teachers and students.

21st Century High School
Minarets High School
Chawanakee Unified School District
Madera County
Barbara Bigelow, Board President, Stephen Foster; Superintendent; Michael Nichoff, Principal; Jim McDougeld, Claudie Box, Larry Myers and Seth Waltner, Board Members; Jon Corippo, Director of Charter
The Minarets High School is a 21st century high school designed for digital natives. We use integrated technology, student voice, choice, teacher access and a project-based approach in order to engage and reach all high school students.

Meaningful Student Engagement
Oakland Unified School District
Alameda County
Gary Yee, Board President; Anthony Smith, Superintendent; Jody London and David Kakishiba, Board Members; Raquel Jimenez and Tony Robinson, Coordinators; Jidan Koon, Co-Coordinator; Sagniche Salazar, Dean; Kim Miyoshi, Executive Director; Isabel Montoya, Student Director; Nikita Mitchell and Eric Adams and Cecilia Lopez, Former Student Directors
The Meaningful Student Engagement (MSE) is an “inside/outside” school district and community partnership to increase student leadership and build mutual accountability for district change efforts. Through joint funding and implementation, MSE programs develop the competencies of a critical mass of youth and adults to create a culture of respect, collaboration, and co-ownership that improves student learning and achievement. MSE builds opportunities for youth and adult partnership via five core program components: youth action research, the All City Council (district wide student union body), high school leadership classes and action projects, peer mentoring, and coalition organizing.

Ivy League Connection
DeAnza, El Cerrito, Hercules, Kennedy Middle College, Pinole Valley and Richmond High Schools
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Contra Costa County
Charles Ramsey, Board President; Madeline Kronenberg, Board Member; Bruce Harter, Superintendent
The Ivy League Connection program sends competitively selected high school students and chaperones to Ivy League summer studies courses, after which the students return as ambassadors for higher education. Students share by blogging and presenting at high school, middle school and elementary school classes and community meetings.

Parent University
Evergreen Elementary School
Santa Clara County
Sylvia Alvarez, Board President; Kathy Gomez, Superintendent; Kathy Shepard, Associate Superintendent; Rosemary Gellman, Principal; Aaron Brengard and Tonya Trim, Assistant Principals; Randy Hollenkamp, Teacher; Denise Williams, Director; Parent University Instructors; Categorical Staff
The Parent University offers all Evergreen parents opportunities to participate in workshops and classes on a variety of topics designed to improve their ability to assist their children, understand the District’s standards, and enhance their knowledge in various areas of interest. Classes are taught by highly qualified teachers, and site/district administrators from Evergreen School District and all classes, materials, and childcare is provided free of charge. Classes are structured in one to five week sessions, depending on the topic, and meet at locations throughout the district.

Military Families Advisory Committee
Las Posas Elementary School
Pleasant Valley School District
Nevada County
Suzanne Kitchens, Board President; Luis Villegas, Superintendent; James Martinez, Principal; Theda Pogue, Coordinator; Monica James, Liaison; Christy Morey, Parent; Commander Charlie Willmore, Former Coordinator; Ian Doyle, Construction Training Center; Rae Aure Michael, Director of Curriculum
The Military Families Advisory Committee is a collaboration between Las Posas Elementary School and the Naval Construction Training Center. The focus of the MFAC is to serve the needs of our growing student population with family members who are deployed in the military services.

Brookside's Tuesdays' Take or Trade
Beaumont Unified School District
Riverside County
Susie Lara, Board President; Barry Kayrell, Superintendent; Carolyn Goode, Principal; Terry Carrizosa, Teacher; Trish Murrill, Parent Volunteer; Kim Murrill, Volunteer; Mr. and Mrs. Noel Toquero, Wal Mart and Puma Shoes and Clothing, Business Owners/School Partners
Brookside’s Tuesdays’ Take or Trade is a resourceful approach to providing clothing support to students in a time of economic crisis, while increasing the bonds that exist between the school and community. Patrons have two options—take and/or trade.

Lincoln Latin Leadership
Lincoln Unified School District
San Joaquin County
Ted Bestolarides, Board President; Tom Uslan, Superintendent; Debbi Holmerud, Principal; Van Ha To-Cowell, Jose Mercado and Marcela Mercado, Board Members; Debbie de Ganna, Director; Manny Moreno, Teacher; Ileana Ortiz and Francisco Ortiz, Co Presidents
Lincoln Latin Leadership, a parent-run organization, engages Latino families in meaningful ways in their children’s education to ensure academic success and college/career readiness. LLL is an integral part of the District’s culture and has strong, symbiotic relationships with regional universities.

Empowering Parents/College Bound Oceanside
Oceanside Unified School District
San Diego County
Lillian Adams, Board President; Larry Perondi, Superintendent; Duane Coleman, Associate Superintendent; Darrell Aiden, President; Bess Bronson, Director, Raye Clendening, Coordinator; Darlene Willis and Marsha Dodson, Consultants
Empowering Parents and College Bound Oceanside assists parents of under-performing student groups and community members in becoming collaborative partners with the district to produce students who are academically engaged while gaining the confidence to be college ready.

Carver Academy's Enrichment Cluster Program
Carver Elementary School
ABC Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Maynard Law, Board President; Gary Smuts, Superintendent; Mary Sieu, Deputy Superintendent; Deborah Berlyn, Principal; Celia Spitzer, Board Member; Betty Hyatt, Retired Magnet Coordinator; Carver Students, Parents and Staff; Carver Community Facilitators
Carver Academy’s Enrichment Clusters bring together students and adults in the community with common interests. Students self select enrichment classes facilitated by school staff, parents, and community volunteers. Enrichment cluster classes extend the learning for all students.

G.R.I.P. (Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership): A Successful Community Collaborative
Robert M. Pyles and Esther Walter Elementary Schools
Magnolia Elementary School District
Orange County
Clifford Breeden, Board President; Ellen Curtin, Superintendent; Gregory Merwin and Elizabeth Nordyke, Principals; Tracy Rinauro, Senior Deputy District Attorney; Frank Acosta, Deputy District Attorney
G.R.I.P. (Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership) is a unique program partnering two of our Magnolia schools with the Orange County District Attorney, Anaheim Police Department, and Orange County Sheriff's Department to significantly reduce student absences, tardies, and gang involvement.

WINGS: Winners Growing Strong
National School District
San Diego County
James Grier, Board President; Christopher Oram, Superintendent; Katie Filzenger, Assistant Superintendent; Tamarie Tigh, WINGS Coordinator; Clint Taylor, Former Coordinator; Minh Duong, Library Director
The National School District has developed the WINGS Program for elementary students, providing free, academically and recreationally rich before and after school programming that is strong in academics, performing arts, and athletics.

Partnerships for Outstanding Science Education (POSE)
San Bernardino County Office of Education
San Bernardino County
Samuel Crowe, Board President; James Hammond, Superintendent; Karla Wells, Assistant Superintendent; Jarred Shell, Linda Braatz-Brown, Project Directors; Rick Hall, Coordinator; Leslie Rodden and Paul Gale, Directors; JoAnn Carter, Support Staff
Partnerships for Outstanding Science Education (POSE) is a mode partnership between educators, business, and labor that is bonded by the common goal to improve student learning by building powerful relationships to design rigorous and relevant problem based learning for students.

SAPAAL Lunchtime Fitness Program at Jackson School
Jackson School
Santa Ana Unified School District
Jose Alfredo Hernandez, Board President; Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, Superintendent; Sela Longacre, Principal; Tom Serafin, Director; Rob Richardson, Audrey Uamagata, John Palacio and Roman Reyna, Board Members; Paul Walters, Interim City Manager
The Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League (SAPAAL) and Jackson Elementary School joined forces to offer students a unique lunchtime fitness program for students across all grade levels. Workouts focus on cardiovascular health and circuit training based on calisthenics.

The Buena Park High School Agricultural Partnership Project
Buena Park High School
Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Orange County
Robert Singer, Board President; George Giokaris, Superintendent; Jim Coombs, Principal; Shari Brekenfeld, Assistant Principal; Jessica Fernandes and Mary Ann Maxfield, Science Instructors; Samantha ValVerde, Farmhand; Bill Camarillo and Nancy Gibbs, Agromin; Greg Partida, Professor; Buena Park and Fullerton Elementary Districts; City of Buena Park
Over 400 Buena Park High School students thrive academically and focus on college thanks to a hands-on Agriculture Partnership Project providing college/career pathways and leadership development opportunities. Extensive college and community partnerships support this nationally recognized program.

YouthBuild San Joaquin
San Joaquin County Office of Education
San Joaquin County
Jill Fritchen, Board President; Mick Founts, Superintendent; Jamie Mousalimas, Assistant Superintendent; Sheilah Goulart, Director I; Doug Martin, Director II; Patty Mozzelli, Chief Probation Officer; Barbara Kausas, Executive Director; Jeff Armstrong, Director of Apprenticeship; Paula Resa, Program Manager; Chris Iglesias, Interim Director
YouthBuild San Joaquin (YBSJ) is a collaborative of government and education agencies, law enforcement, and employers that partnered to establish a youth program that simultaneously addresses core issues facing low income communities: housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development.

Partners in Education
Poway Unified School District
San Diego County
Penny Ranftle, Board President; John Collins, Superintendent; Cora Bagley, Coordinator; Kathleen Porter, Executive Director
The purpose of Poway Unified School District’s Partners in Education program is to attract, develop, support and sustain strategic relationships among business, community, schools, and programs in order to expand and enrich the educational experiences of our students.

Migrant Education Summer Academy-Junior Otters
Monterey County Office of Education
Monterey County
Ronald Panzeira, Board President; Nancy Kotowski, Superintendent; Carl Del Grande, Principal; Rosa Coronado and Perry Angle, Directors; Chris Cambern, Coordinator; Phil Esparza, Board Member; Guadalupe Zamora, Secretary
Junior Otters is a summer academy for migrant students in grades 4th-8th. Collaborating with local districts, CSUMB, and Teatro Campesino, Monterey County Office of Education provides intensive academic intervention, university enrichment, cultural exploration, performing arts and technology programs for migrant students in Monterey County.

Del Sur Middle School True Leaders
Westside Union Elementary School District
Los Angeles County
Gwendolyn Farrell, Board President; Regina Rossall, Superintendent; Tim Barker, Principal; Linda Jones, Joan Sodergren, John Curiel and Steve DeMarzio, Board Members; Lauri Massary, Counselor
Del Sur Middle School True Leaders is a student service organization conducting campus and community wide anti-bullying programs, rallying the participation of four school districts, 20 secondary schools, thirty-two area businesses and the City of Lancaster into community activism.

MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education)
Sacramento County Office of Education
Sacramento County
Brain Cooley, Board President; David Gordon, Superintendent; Robin Pierson, Assistant Superintendent; Sharon Holstege, Special Education Principal; Shelia Wolfe and Jan Cookson, Occupational Therapists; Lisa Walker, Andrea Ando, Terri Edinburgh, Jan Paluck and Sharon Botkin, Teachers
Mobility Opportunities Via Education is an innovative and successful educational model for individuals with severe disabilities, teaching skills for increased independence to sit, stand, walk, and transition. MOVE promotes meaningful, dignified participation with peers and family and increases quality of life.

Photo Camp
San Ysidro School District
San Diego County
Raquel Marquez-Maden, Board president; Jean Romero and Yolanda Hernandez, Board Members; Manual Paul, Superintendent; Jason Romero, Assistant Superintendent of Special Education; Nitza Corrales, School Psychologist; Romeo Diacosta, Special Education Technician; Nadia Aviles and Juan Murillo, Special Education Teachers; Gilbert Araiza, Special Education Aide
Photo Camp is a unique program developed by teachers in the San Ysidro School District to raise academic achievement in all subject areas for students with learning disabilities by giving them positive experiences in the visual and performing arts.

Bidwell Elementary School Learning Center
Bidwell Elementary
Red Bluff Union Elementary School District
Tehama County
Leonard Stohler, Board President; William McCoy, Superintendent; Isaac Scharaga, Principal; Connie Holland and Darcy Thompson, Teachers
Bidwell’s learning center provides support through intense academic interventions to over 352 students daily. Additionally it provides before/after school interventions to 164 students focusing on social, emotional and academic needs. Our success is a model for schools and districts alike.

Credit Recovery
Back Bay High School
Newport Mesa Unified School District
Orange County
Walt Davenport, Board President; Jeffrey Hubbard, Superintendent; Martha Fluor, Board Member; Debbie Davis, Principal; Thomas Antal, Retired Director; Steve McLaughlin, Director; Christine Christopher and Dennia Ashendorf, Teachers
The Credit Recovery program provides an accelerated path to graduation through which our most credit deficient students can show mastery of the California Curriculum Standards by passing course exams or taking only the missing parts of courses they have failed.

Ontario-Montclair School District: Online to College (OTC) Program
Ontario-Montclair School District
San Bernardino County
Samuel Crowe, Board President; James Hammond, Superintendent; Karla Wells, Assistant Superintendent; Bonnie Mooney, Coordinator; Leslie Sorensen, Administrator; Edward Staff, City Manager; Henry Shannon, President; Jim Fillpot, Director of Institutional Research; Peggy Cartwright, Director of Marketing
The Online to College program is an early college awareness and access program, starts working with students in 5th grade. This program is exemplary in its universal reach at targeted schools and its results (increased college going rate to 54% compared to the 36% baseline).

Napa County Student Support Program
Napa County Office of Education
Napa County
Jennifer Kresge, Board President; Barbara Nemko, Superintendent; Sandy Leveque, Principal, Wolfe High School
The Napa County Student Support Program is a successful, integrated school/treatment program between NCOE Court & Community Schools and Wolfe Center treatment center. Evidence shows drug use and criminal violations decrease, school attendance increases and well-being improves because of the Program.

Behavior Change OR Climate Change: A Program for Students, by Students
Menlo-Atherton High School
Sequoia Union High School District
San Mateo County
Lorraine Rumley, Board President; James Lianides, Superintendent; Mathew Zito, Principal; June Flora, Senior Research Scientist; Alan Propp, Sara Orton, Mary Kenny, Melissa Lees, Kendall Songer, Lindsay Keare, Selin Kutlu, Emily Gran, Danielle Flannigan, Participants/Students
A student developed, delivered, and evaluated four session curriculum on global climate change and behavior change. Student leaders teach over 200 peers each year. Menlo-Atherton students work weekly with university scientists on the program and report results at international conferences.

Oakland Unified School District Sustainability Initiatives’ Green Gloves Program
Oakland Unified School District
Alameda County
Judy London, Board President; Timothy White, Assistant Superintendent; Xoland Brooch, Director of Custodial Services; Jeffrey Vickers, Lead Coordinator; Kenneth Brooch, Head Custodian; Terri Ellis, Manager of Field Supervisor
The Green Gloves program engages students to implement and maintain recycling and composting programs to reduce their school’s waste bills and greenhouse gas emissions. Program innovations include: the leadership role of district custodians and the alignment with State content standards.

Strong Minds, Strong Bodies, Strong Futures
Richman School
Fullerton School District
Orange County
Lynn Thornley, Board President; Mitch Hover; Superintendent; Estella Grimm, Principal; Kurt Koerth/Tina Caton, PE Teachers
Richman School's Strong Minds, Strong Bodies, Strong Futures Program seeks to combat childhood obesity within our at-risk population. This ever evolving program consists of several components and collaborative efforts, the end goal being to create healthy, happy and productive citizens.