2013 Golden Bell Award Winners

Early College High School
Students on Academic Rise High School
Antelope Valley Union High School District
Los Angeles County
Barbara Willibrand, Board President; Dr. Davis J. Vierra, Superintendent; Chris Grado, Principal
Students on Academic Rise High School (SOAR) provides a supportive and academically enriched environment with an emphasis in mathematics, science, and engineering for underrepresented students who may be high potential, but are low performing within the traditional educational system. SOAR embraces the principles of the Early College High School Initiative, including improving graduation rates with a flexible high school year, compressing the number of years to complete a college degree, and removing financial and other barriers to college

Let’s Go STEM!
Menifee Valley Middle School
Menifee Union Elementary School District
Riverside County
Dr. Randy Freeman, Board President; Jerry Bowman, Board Member; Dr. Steve Kennedy, Superintendent; Dr. Robert Voelkel, Principal; Cheryl Frye, Shelly Munoz, and Lisa Waller, STEM Teachers
The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program allows students to participate in cross-curricular learning projects that incorporate academic experiences with real-world applications. All subject matter is integrated in each student project and the program is available to all students.

Xtreme Summer Camp
Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa ROP
San Bernardino County
Patty Holohan, Board President; Stephanie Houston, Superintendent
Xtreme Summer Camp is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program targeting middle school–age youth. Each summer, 100 middle school students participate in day camp experiences featuring activities, field trips, and career exploration. Students perform real-life laboratory experiments at local colleges and universities, as well as tour community work place settings, seeing STEM in action.

Automotive Technology
Hemet High School
Hemet Unified School District

Riverside County Marilyn Forst, Board President; Dr. Barry Kayrell, Superintendent; Vance Bloom, Instructor; Dr. Emily Shaw, Principal; Claire Spence, Principal
The Hemet High Automotive Technology Program is a National Automotive Technicians Educational Foundation and Automotive Youth Educational Systems accredited school program. Students are taught how automotive systems operate and complete hands-on tasks through three levels of courses. The program leads the state with student interns placed with local dealers and independent garages and included more than 30 female participants during the 2012-13 school year.

Agriculture Program
Perris High School
Perris Union High School District

Riverside County William Hulstrom, Board President; Dr. Jonathan L. Greenberg, Superintendent; Dr. Lynne Sheffield, Principal; Charlynn McNaul, Aaron Nering, Douglas Cousins, and Desiree Trapp, Agriculture Teachers
The Hemet High Automotive Technology Program is a National Automotive Technicians The Perris High School agriculture program is a well-balanced program that offers students the opportunity to explore careers in agriculture and learn valuable skills while being a part of an active Future Farmers of America chapter. The program offers courses in plant and animal science, agriculture biology, floral design, horticulture science, mechanics, leadership, government/economics, chemistry and earth science.

Norco High School Agriculture Program
Norco High School
Corona-Norco Unified School District
Riverside County
Mrs. Michell Skipworth, Board President; John Zickefoose, Board Member; Dr. Michael Lin, Superintendent; Dr. Lisa Simon, Principal; Tony Amabile, Assistant Principal; Sherry Mata, Deputy Superintendent; Robin Grundmeyer, Carole Lindsey, and Joel Richartz, Teachers
Norco High School Agriculture Department evenly incorporates the three circles of agricultural education; classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and leadership development. The students served by the program are as diverse as the course offerings. Classes are structured so that students will learn the theory of the topic at hand and apply their learning through projects based in the classroom or in the field.

ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering)
Chico High School
Chico Unified School District
Butte County
Elizabeth Griffin, Board President; Kelly Staley, Superintendent; Jim Hanlon, Principal; Mike Bruggeman, Program Director; Doug Wion, Counselor; Paul Watters, Director, Butte County ROP
The Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) program offers a pathway that prepares students to pursue a degree or a career in a broad spectrum of areas related to architecture and engineering, including graphic communication, mechatronic engineering, residential design, and commercial skyscraper design. Support from grant funding and business partners have provided industry-standard software, cutting edge machines, and real-world internship and job shadowing experience.

Engineering and Design Academy
Patrick Henry High School
San Diego Unified School District
San Diego County
John Lee Evans, Board President; Kevin Bieser, Board Member; Cindy Marten, Superintendent; Elizabeth Gillingham, Principal; Kathy Schulze, Coordinator; Shawn Loescher, Director; Marian Kim-Phelps, Area Superintendent
The Engineering and Design Academy is a small school within a large comprehensive high school that allows students the opportunity to explore fields of engineering and technology through a rigorous thematic curriculum, and prepares them to be successful in a college engineering program. Unlike charter schools and other programs within the district, this program is open to students within or outside the school district.

Health Careers Academy
Canyon Springs High School
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Riverside County
Cleveland Johnson, Board President; Dr. Judy White, Superintendent; Dr. Martinrex Kedziora, Assistant Superintendent; Dr. Tammy Guzzetta and Tamara Kerr, Principals; Sharon Scott, Director; Diana Donald and Maribel Mattox, Teachers
The Health Careers Academy is a school-within-a-school program for grades 10-12. The academy’s standards-based academic and career technical curriculum focused on the medical field is coordinated with related academic core classes. The academy incorporates a family-like atmosphere, integrated academic and career technical education, motivational activities, real-world work experiences, and viable business partnerships.

HEART Matters
Redlands Unified School District
Redlands High School
San Bernardino County
Donna West, Board President; Lori Rhodes, Superintendent; Christina Rivera, Principal; Pam Kettering, Teacher
The Health Careers Academy is a school-within-a-school program for grades 10-12. The Health Education and Recreational Training Academy is a three-year school-to-career program focused on the healthcare industry. Academy students study integrated academic and career coursework and participate in a wide variety of application experiences including guest speakers, field trips, mentoring by medical professionals and internships.

Visalia Technical Early College High School
Visalia Unified School District
Tulare County
Donna Martin, Board President; William Fulmer, Board Member; Craig Wheaton, Superintendent; Tim Chaney, Former Board President; Todd Oto, Assistant Superintendent; William Davis, Director; Victoria Porter, Principal
Visalia Technical Early College High School students are college and career ready upon graduation as they complete a prescribed course of study within the agriculturally based program. Pathways are aligned with community college certifications, and students enroll concurrently in both high school and community college courses.

Linked Learning District-Wide Pathways
Porterville Unified School District
Tulare County
Pete Lara, Board President; Hayley Buettner and Lillian Durbin, Board Members; John Snavely, Superintendent; Cynthia Brown, Director; Nate Nelson and Ken Gibbs, Assistant Superintendents;
Linked Learning Pathways merge challenging academics, technical skills, work-based learning and student support. Students experience college preparatory academics blended with demanding technical skills; working collaboratively with teachers and business mentors to solve real-world problems.

Project Based Learning
Roosevelt School
Redwood City Elementary School District
San Mateo County
Shelly Masur, Board President; Jan Christensen, Superintendent; Tracy DaCosta, Assistant Principal; Particia Girardi, Principal; Shari Tsuchiyamam, Teacher
Project Based Learning is an educational approach that organizes lessons and assessments around carefully crafted questions or projects. The students in a project-based learning environment become active solution seekers, develop verbal and written presentation skills, and learn to collaborate with peers to solve problems.

No Excuse University
Poway Unified School District
San Diego County
Marc Davis, Board President; Dr. John Collins, Superintendent; Todd Gutchow, Penny Ranftle, Andy Patapow and Kimberly Beatty, Board Members; Los Penasquitos Staff; Deanne McLaughlin, Principal; Fran Hjalmarson, Counselor
What would a school look like if it truly embraced the notion that all students can learn, staff members collaborate, every decision is based upon the needs of students, and all students are educated in a way that makes college an option? Los Peñasquitos No Excuses University is the model of what can happen when educators raise expectations and accept the responsibility for the success of all students.

Saturday Morning Academic Reading Time (SMART) Academy
ABC Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Celia Spitzer, Board President; Dr. Mary Sieu, Superintendent; Valencia Mayfield, Assistant Superintendent; Christine Balbuena, Principal
A marked increase in students’ motivation to read, use of academic language, increased California Standards Test (CST) scores for English Language Arts (ELA), and positive attitudes towards school are significant outcomes of the Saturday Morning Academic Reading Time (SMART) Academy. This program provides extended learning time focused on reading comprehension strategies and academic vocabulary development.

Bridging the Achievement Gap through Data Analysis
Pinedale Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District
Fresno County
Sandra Bengel, Board President; Janet Young Ed.D, Superintendent; Benjamin Clement, Senior Guidance Instructional Specialist; Kristen Belknap, Senior Resource Teacher; Megan Corrao and Kristina Byers, Teachers; Allison Hernandez, Principal; Jeanne Hatfield, Assistant Superintendent
The Response To Intervention (RTI) system is a program designed to monitor and intervene with students who are struggling academically. Ongoing assessments during interventions help determine each student’s progress. If warranted, the RTI process is furthered through strategic, intense, small group interventions, Student Support Team assistance and testing by a specialist teacher.

Time To Teach Behavioral Management System
Kastner Intermediate School
Clovis Unified School District
Fresno County
Sandra A. Bengel, Board President; Dr. Janet Young, Superintendent; Jeanne Hatfield, Assistant Superintendent; Dr. Johnny Alvarado, Principal
The Time to Teach Behavioral Management System is a systemic program focused on improving student behavior to maximize instructional practice and learning time. CUSD has reduced office referrals, suspensions, overall discipline issues and increased positive student-teacher relationships

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
Bell Gardens High School
Montebello Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Hector Chacon, Board President; Susanna Contreras Smith, Superintendent; Gerri Guzman, Board Vice President; Cleve Pell, Superintendent; Aida Hinojosa, Director; Juan Herrera, Principal; Elizabeth Lowe, Coordinator
Bell Gardens High School recognized the need for a systematic approach to assist students in becoming college ready. Over the last 15 years, the school has created a college readiness environment using the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) College Readiness System.

Pathway to Success
Buena High School
Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Orange County
Marilyn Buchi, Board President; Dr. George Giokaris, Superintendent; Regina Taylor, Department Chair; Fabiola Logis, Michelle Johnson and Hilda Arredondo, Teachers
Buena Park High School’s Pathways to Success English Learners Support Program helps identify the needs of each English learner student, allows students to take ownership of their education, and partners with parents to engage them as active participants and partners. Sustainable partnerships between the school, parents and community have resulted in an increase in student achievement.

Coyote Central - C2
Buena Park High School
Fullerton Joint Union High School District
Orange County
Marilyn Buchi, Board President; Dr. George Giokaris, Superintendent; Mary Boules, Dean of Students; Devon Bucher, Academic Tutor; Jeanette Medina and Sharon Fera, Teachers
Coyote Central is Buena Park High School’s tutoring program serving approximately 1,980 students with academic tutors, online resources, financial aid application assistance, grade checks, and SAT preparatory courses. The program has provided students with nearly 8,000 contacts for tutoring and academic mentoring through this multi-faceted program.

Children’s Health Intervention Partnership
Magnolia Elementary School District
Orange CountyNathan Zug, Board President; Dr. Ellen Curtin, Superintendent; Myrlene Pierre, Director; Sandra Lee, Teacher; Dr. Harris Done, Dentist; Carrie Hatherly, Retired Teacher-Volunteer
The Magnolia School District Children’s Health Intervention Partnership is a 19-year partnership providing free comprehensive dental care and community health services for children ages 7-12. The school district, Ayuda Clinic, USC dentists, and dental students work with more than 40 community organizations to provide quality oral health care and connect families to community services, valuable information and resources.

Career Orientation Program at the Tiger Woods Learning Center
Savanna Elementary School District
Orange CountyChris Brown, Board President; Linda Weinstock, John Shook, Edward Erdtsieck, and Carol Sundman, Board Members; Dr. Sue Johnson, Superintendent; Kathy Bihr, Teacher
The Tiger Woods Learning Center Career Orientation Program provides the opportunity for fifth grade classes to attend the Tiger Woods Learning Center for a one-week interactive experience. While the students learn about the career fields of Forensic Science or Marine Science, classroom teachers receive professional development in science, technology, and positive youth development.

Road to Success Academy
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Los Angeles CountyDr. Rebecca Turrentine, Board President; Dr. Arturo Delgado, Superintendent; Dr. Cuauhtemoc Avila, Assistant Superintendent; Dr. Perry Wiseman, Director; Diana Valasquez, Principal; Dr. Ron Randolph, Past Superintendent
Incarcerated teen girls struggle with a host of emotional and psychological issues in addition to long periods of truancy and significant high school credit deficits. The Road to Success Academy is improving educational outcomes for this high-risk student population through interdisciplinary project-based learning focused on themes that address both academic and mental health needs.

Partners in Education Internship Program
Santa Barbara County Office of Education
Santa Barbara CountyRichard M. Fulton, Board President; William Cirone, Superintendent; Michelle Magnusson, Director; Chelsea Duffy, Program Manager
Santa Barbara COE’s Partners in Education Internship Program builds on classroom learning and provides high school students with job skill development and meaningful, paid work experience. After a rigorous application and interview process, students complete seven weeks of job training focused on 21st century learning skills and basic employment proficiencies before they are matched with local businesses where they serve an eight week internship.

College Connection
Riverside County Office of Education
Riverside County
Elizabeth Romero, Board President; Kenn Young, Superintendent; Charles Fischer, Sheila Faulkner-Loser, Debra Sacks and Diana Walsh-Reuss, Specialists
College Connection helps at-risk, alternative education students identify pathways to earn a diploma, a GED, or a certificate of completion; and to develop a transition plan that details academic resources, college links, and career and technical training. College Connections has successfully assisted more than 1,000 highly at-risk students in attending college.

FRESH After-School Consortium
Fresno County Office of Education
Fresno County
Dr. Allen Clyde, Board President; Keith Eubanks, Board Member; Jim Yovino, Superintendent; Randy Mehrten, Senior Director; Alix Frazer, Director; Dr. Steve Price and Mike Snell, Consultants; California Teaching Fellows Foundation
Fresno’s Recreation, Enrichment and Scholastic Help (FRESH) After-School Consortium program is a place where previously marginalized kids can create a new perception of themselves. It begins with caring, talented staff that have “walked in our children’s shoes” and are now anxious to serve their communities

Regional Technology Hosting Program
San Diego County Office of Education
San Diego County
Sharon Jones, Board President; Randolph Ward, Superintendent; Stephen Clemons, Assistant Superintendent
The Regional Technology Hosting Program is designed to provide high-quality technology services and resources to school districts in the region. The program supports school districts by connecting them through single sign-on cloud resources, on-site technical support, and professional development while saving districts an average of $14 million per year.

Inclusion Collaborative, All Children Learning and Playing Together
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Santa Clara County
Grace Mah, Board President; Nancy Newkirk, Board Member; Xavier De La Torre, Superintendent; Jean Gallagher and Lisa Kaufman, Directors; Janice Battaglia, Manager
The Inclusion Collaborative program supports parents, community programs, and districts to create and implement inclusion models through professional development and on-site coaching. The program was created to help children with significant disabilities to have access to inclusive, high-quality learning environments in the community and schools in our county

Leadership Institute
Sacramento County Office of Education
Sacramento County
Jacquelyn Levy, Board President; David Gordon, Superintendent; Dr. Steven Winlock, Executive Director; Kristen Coyle, Director
The Sacramento County Office of Education’s Leadership Institute provides high-quality leadership training and development in the capital region. The program includes six courses taught by skilled instructors, mini sessions conducted by experts in the field, fieldwork experiences, and a web-based component guided online by principal-coaches.

Curriculum Leadership Council
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Santa Clara County
Grace Mah, Board President; Dr. Xavier De La Torre, Superintendent; Dr. Angelica Ramsey, Chief Academic Officer; Melissa Christie, Director, Curriculum and Instruction Department
Curriculum Leadership Council is a train-the-trainer professional development model comprised of teacher leaders throughout Santa Clara County collaboratively building county-wide capacity for Common Core State Standards implementation. Teachers create core and unit maps to ensure the rigor needed to raise student achievement by utilizing 21st century skills, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and communication.

Tulare Joint Union High School Agriculture Department
Tulare Joint Union High School District
Tulare County
Craig Hamilton, Board President; Dr. Sarah Koligian, Superintendent; Frank Fernandes, Laura Fonseca, Dr. Steven Lessley, and Cathy Mederos, Board Members; Mike Mederos, Department Chair
Recognized nationally for excellence in education, the Tulare Future Farmers of America Agricultural program develops young leaders who become pillars of the community whether or not they choose to pursue a career in agriculture. Students who go through the program gain the confidence, self-assurance and life skills necessary for their future roles as leaders.

Hit the High Notes of Success with the Music in Our Schools Week Recruitment Program
Bakersfield City Elementary School District
Kern County
Lillian Tafoya, Board President; Dr. Robert Arias, Superintendent; Mike Stone, Coordinator
Music in Our Schools Week Instrumental Music Recruitment Program is an innovative approach to introducing students to the district’s music program. Students watch, listen to, and participate in the highly-interactive assemblies including instrument demonstrations, sing-alongs, and a production number about how to sign up for music classes.

Read with Me Volunteer Program
Coachella Valley Unified School District
Riverside County
Lowell Kemper, Board President; Dr. Darryl Adams, Superintendent; Roberta Klein, Community Organizer; Michael Williams, Dora Flores, Manuela Silvestre, and Graciela Avalos, Principals
The Read with Me Volunteer Program addresses the reading skills and literature access gap of students in five schools throughout the Coachella Valley Unified School District. Community members serve as role models for students who don’t have access to literature on a regular basis. Students are able to build positive relationships with volunteers who serve in the classroom two to five times per week.

JAM Sessions (JAM-Jaguars in Arts and Media)
ABC Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Celia Spitzer, Board President; Dr. Mary Sieu, Superintendent; Melinda Ortiz, Principal; Nadja Ellis, Coordinator; Kimberly Perez, Assistant to the Principal; Marissa Garbiero and Meghan Darby, Teachers
Focused on a well-researched strengths-based approach to learning and human development, the Jaguars in Arts and Media (JAM) Sessions program provide opportunities for students to explore their particular strengths and talents outside of the traditional classroom and curriculum. The culminating celebration, "The Taste of JAM", showcases students sharing their learning with the school community.

Realizing Amazing Potential Before and After School Program
Lawndale Elementary School District
Los Angeles County
Lawndale’s Realizing Amazing Potential program is a community in which every child is achieving their full potential with the help of supportive and caring adults who encourage the children to explore their talents and expand the power of their minds. More than 1,500 students at nine schools participate each day, receiving homework support, fitness instruction, engaging enrichment clubs, project-based learning and a standards-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum.

La Quinta Middle School After-School All-Stars
Desert Sands Unified School District
Riverside County
Gary Tomak, Board President; Dr. Gary Rutherford, Superintendent; Janet Seto, Principal; Tammie Monroy, Assistant Principal; Laura Spradlin, Teacher and Program Director; Daniel Monroy, Project Teacher
All-Stars is an after-school, extra-curricular program that provides structured, supervised time for students to discover and explore their interests while improving their overall physical fitness and self-image. Activities include football, soccer, basketball, table tennis, drum line, cheerleading and landscaping.

Response to Intervention and Instruction
Paramount Elementary School
Azusa Unified School District Riverside County
Los Angeles County
Rosemary Garcia, Board President; Dr. Linda Kaminski, Superintendent; Robert Allard, Principal; Dedicated Paramount Staff
Paramount Elementary School was a low performing school that had a significant achievement gap among its English language learners and socio-economically disadvantaged students. Over the last four years, it implemented a Response to Intervention and Instruction program in which every student received targeted instruction. As a result, its API has grown 100 points and 70 percent of its students are proficient.

K-12 Innovation Cohort, Math
Vista Unified School District
San Diego County
Elizabeth Jaka, Board President; Devin Vodicka, Superintendent; Shari Fernandez, Director; Krista Berntsen, Coordinator; Cathy Williams, Director Math K-12; Jeanie Luckey, Deputy Superintendent
The Vista Unified School District Math Innovation Cohort began as a district-wide pilot, training teachers in curriculum and technology tools in order to align teaching practices with common core. Teachers met for 80 hours over the course of a school year connecting common core, technology, and innovative practice. Those participants then provided training to colleagues throughout the district.

Oceana High School Garden Project
Oceana High School
Jefferson Union High School District
San Mateo County
Thomas Nuris, Board President; Thomas Minshew, Superintendent; John Schults, Director; Ryan Reidy, Science Teacher; Vo Hai, Coordinator; Naftali Moed, Founder of Garden Project; Caro Peinberton, Principal; Laurie Hughes, Teacher
The Oceana Garden is a student-initiated organic vegetable garden, native plant nursery, and outdoor classroom for experiential learning that grew out of a partnership between Oceana High School, the Golden Gate National Parks Site Stewardship Program, and Pie Ranch. Students work in the garden to learn the basics of sustainable agriculture: soil quality, planting, harvesting, composting and irrigation.

Orcutt Academy High School
Orcutt Union Elementary School District
Santa Barbara County
Jan Zilli, Board President; Bob Bush, Superintendent; Bob Hatch, Rob Buchanan, Dr. Jim Peterson and Liz Phillips, Board Members; Kathy Meissner, Former Board Member
In founding Orcutt Academy High School in 2008, the Orcutt Union School District creatively solved enrollment and budget challenges while giving hundreds of students an innovative, exemplary high school with an excellent record of student achievement and family satisfaction.

Digital Design and Engineering Academy
William "Pete" Knight High School
Antelope Valley Union High School District
Los Angeles County
Barbara Wilibrand, Board President; David Vierra, Superintendent; Will Laird, Principal; James Stockdale, Coordinator; Sherry Garmon, Instructor; Betsy McKinstry, Director
The Digital Design and Engineering Academy (DDE) is a California Partnership Academy focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), design, and sustainable technologies. Since its inception, the academy has increased student achievement, created strong business partnerships, offered learning opportunities through field trips, provided experiential/project based learning, and created positive relationships for students through teamwork and mentoring.

Senior Portfolio and Exit Interview
Santa Ana Unified School District
Orange County
Los Angeles County
Jose Alfredo Hernandez, Board President; Dr. Audrey Yamagata-Noji, Board Member; Charles McCully, Superintendent; Lucinda Pueblos, Cindy Landsiedel, Dr. Robert Laxton, Julie Infante, and Duncan McCulloch Principals; Dawn Miller, Assistant Superintendent
The Senior Exit Portfolio and Interview event is a “stepping stone” opportunity for high school seniors to verbalize to adults not only the knowledge and skills they learned in high school, but also their stories in achieving them. The formal, yet supportive setting provides the experience of what “real-world” interviews will be like when they graduate from high school and begin their transition to college and/or career.

Aquaponics: Applied Science
Citrus Hill High School
Val Verde Unified School District Orange County
Riverside County
Michael Vargas, Board President; Juan Lopez, Superintendent; Michael McCormick, Assistant Superintendent; Lou Randall, Assistant Principal; Doug Henderson, Department Chair; Michael Towne, Teacher
Aquaponics at Citrus Hill is an applied science program designed to provide students a rigorous and motivating pathway to higher learning. The purpose is to create a scientific environment that encourages students to consider college or a technical vocational field, providing them with added academic support and incentives to complete four years of science.

Student Ambassador Program
Anaheim Unified School District
Orange County
Riverside County
Brian O’Neal, Board President; Katherine Smith, Al Jabbar, Annemarie Randle-Trejo, and Anna Piercy, Board Members, Dr. Elizabeth Novack, Superintendent; Ron Hoshi and Amber Houston, Advisors
The role of the Student Ambassador Program is to engage the student voice and provide the opportunity to represent the district’s 31,500 students. There are nine student ambassadors each year, giving students a connection to something larger than themselves, while exposing the community to what young people truly are like today.

Restorative Practices
San Francisco County and Unified School District
San Francisco County
Rachel Norton, Board President; Sandra Lee Fewer, Board Member; Richard A. Carranza, Superintendent; Kim-Shree Maufas, Commissioner; Kevin Truitt, Associate Superintendent; Thomas Graven, Executive Director; Claudia Anderson, Retiree-Executive Director; Kerri Berkowitz, Program Administrator
Restorative Practices are based on principles and processes, emphasizing the importance of positive relationships as central to building community and repairing relationships after harm occurs. Restorative Practices enhances pro-social relationships and positive culture in school communities, decreasing the suspensions, expulsions, and time that students are excluded from instruction due to behavior infractions.

WEB "Where Everybody Belongs" Leadership
Lone Hill Middle School
Bonita Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Chuck Coyne, Board President; Dr. Gary Rapkin, Superintendent; Marlise Martinez, WEB Advisor; Sean Grycel, Principal
WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) is Lone Hill’s transition program designed to guide our new sixth grade students through their first year of middle school with a feeling of safety, security, school pride, and social belonging. The eighth grade WEB leaders pave the way as peer mentors and role models to the incoming students, helping to reduce bullying, harassment, and other discipline issues while promoting kindness, compassion, acceptance, good citizenship, and outstanding academic performance.

Central Unified Field Day
Central Unified School District
Fresno County
Los Angeles County
George Wilson, Board President; Leonard Ramirez, Terry Cox, and Cindy Berube, Board Members; Michael Berg, Superintendent; Theresa Bollier, PE Teacher
Many students in Central Unified School District receive Adapted Physical Education or Specially Designed Physical Education. These students need smaller class sizes, modified activities, equipment, and physical education curriculum support. Special Education “Field Day” events encourage and challenge these students physically and intellectually.

Professional Leaning Communities Program
Butte County Office of Education
Butte County
Los Angeles County
Brenda McLaughlin, Board President; Mike Walsh, Board Member; Tim Taylor, Superintendent; Stacy Doughman, Principal; Butte County Office of Education Collaborative Team; Dr. Steve Olmos, Assistant Superintendent; Michelle Zevely, Director Special Education
The Professional Learning Communities program is a unique model for teachers of students with severe disabilities. Butte County Office of Education teachers collaborate in an innovative team and use assessment and data to drive instruction with a population that often isn’t seen as needing rigorous academic instruction.

Eileen’s HOPE Closet
Chaffey Joint Union High School District
San Bernardino County
Los Angeles County
Sue Ovitt, Board President; Mathew Holton, Superintendent; Josie Estrada, Charles Uhalley, Shari Megaw and Arthur Bistamonte, Board Members; Lucy Valencia, Outreach Consultant; Chris Hollister, Executive Director
The mission of Eileen’s Helping Others Pursue Excellence Closet is to provide needy families in the community with clothing, toiletries, school supplies, food, and hope for a better tomorrow. The Closet was re-named in memory of the closet’s founder, District Outreach Coordinator Eileen Watson, whose vision and follow-through helped establish the Closet as a safe and discreet haven where people can receive the help they need to provide for their families.

Parent University
Alhambra Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County
Jane Anderson, Board President; Laura Tellez-Gagliano, Superintendent; Robert Gin, Chester Chau, Adele Andrade-Stadler, Pat Rodriguez-Mackintosh, Marsha Gilbert, Gary Gonzales, Cynthia Martin, and Jan Bear, Teachers
Alhambra Unified School District established a sustainable infrastructure that maximizes resources and utilizes current staff to provide support to parents. The vision of the Parent University initiative is to provide comprehensive prevention and intervention services for the parents of AUSD students, and to overcome many of the obstacles often faced by families who wish to access support by bringing such trainings to the school sites.

Comprehensive Alcohol and Drug Reduction and Education
William S. Hart Union High School District
Los Angeles County
Joseph Messina, Board President; Robert Challinor, Superintendent; Vicki Engbrecht, Deputy Superintendent; Kathy Hunter, Director of Student Services
The Comprehensive Alcohol and Drug Reduction and Education program was developed in collaboration between the district and community partners. More young people lose their lives to drugs than to traffic fatalities. “Enough is Enough” became the mantra leading to a collaborative effort to change the culture of drug use among youth in the community.

Project Safety Net
Montebello Unified School District
Los Angeles County
Hector Chacon, Board President; Gerri Guzman, Board Member; Susanna Contreras Smith and Cleve Pell, Superintendents; Dr. Angel Gallardo, Director; Linh Dinh, Chief of Police; George Muriel, Assistant Director
Project Safety Net is a district-wide effort that engages the most at-risk students by providing site-based services to increase student success. It is a student support effort in collaboration with community partners from Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Probation, neighboring law enforcement agencies, and Child and Family Services.

Fresno County Teen Parent Support Collaborative
Fresno County Office of Education
Fresno County
Dr. Allen Clyde, Board President; Jim A. Yovino, Superintendent; Kayla Wilson, Consultant; Mary Ann Cusator, Coordinator; Wilma Hashimoto, Director
The Fresno County Teen Parent Support Collaborative has positively impacted the graduation rate of teens living in foster care and homeless and/or impoverished areas. The collaborative catches teens and their children before they fall through the cracks so they will graduate high school, learn healthy parenting skills and techniques, and become self-sufficient.

School Yard Habitat/River Restoration Projects
Sierra High School
Fillmore Unified School District
Ventura County
David Wilde, Board President; Dr. Alan Nishino, Superintendent; Bob Sube, Director; Michael Glenn, Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife; Lucy Rangel, Tony Prado, Virginia De La Piedra, and John Garnica, Board Members; Laura Todis, Teacher; Cynthia Frutos, Principal
In the School Yard Habitat and River Restoration Project, staff and students have created on-site natural habitats for use as a living laboratory that includes planting and researching native plants, researching species, and the protection of the environment. Working closely with local biologists, they have created one of the largest school based natural habitats in the Western U.S.

Beyer Robotics and Engineering Pathway
Fred C. Beyer High School
Modesto City Schools
Stanislaus County
Nancy Cline, Board President; Pam Able, Superintendent; Dan Park, Principal; Heidi Pagani and Dr. Liliana Lazo, Co-Directors
The Beyer Robotics and Engineering Pathway program is designed to provide students with the technical knowledge of engineering design, opportunities for programming and building an actual robot, along with the rigorous coursework including Advanced Placement science, math, and computer programming courses. The goal is to prepare students for the 21st century workforce and to continue their studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs at universities and colleges.

Peres Dental Clinic
Peres Elementary School
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Contra Costa County
Madeline Kronenberg, Board President; Charles Ramsey, Randy Enos, Todd Groves, and Elaine Merriweather, Board Members; Bruce Harter, Superintendent
In collaboration with local volunteer dentists and with the use of district bond funds, the district operates a state-of-the-art, full-service, on-site dental clinic in a low-income minority school which has served hundreds of students—ensuring their dental health while increasing attendance. This program has developed new partners for the district—the dental community—who are working collaboratively to support student health.

School-Based Mental Health Program
Santa Fe High School
Whittier Union High School District
Los Angeles County
Dr. Ralph Pacheco, Board President; Sandra Thorstenson, Superintendent; Kevin Jamero, Principal; Angela Castellanos, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The Santa Fe High School based mental health program has supported more than 1,500 students over the last seven years. The mental health services provided to these students contribute to increased student well-being, attendance, academic success, teacher awareness, and greater collaboration with community agencies.

Wellness Champion Program
Oakland Unified School District
Alameda County
David Kakishiba, Board President; Jody London, Board Member; Gary Yee, Superintendent; Michelle Oppen, Program Manager
In support of Oakland Unified School District’s Full-Service Community District, Thriving Students Strategic Plan, the Wellness Champion program identifies school site staff members to lead specific health and wellness programs to enhance the overall health of students, families, and staff. This program has led to school garden programs, salad bars, breakfast in the classroom, exercise classes for parents and a variety of other program, environmental and policy changes.