OCDE Education in the News

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Principal of the Year credits former teachers with making a difference

Cal State Fullerton alumnus John Briquelet didn’t plan on becoming an educator. But after a nearly 35-year career in the field, where he has served Southern California students as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal, Briquelet has been named the 2022 California Principal of the Year and a finalist for the 2023 National Principal of the Year Award by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Briquelet, who currently serves as the chancellor of Oxford Preparatory Academy in south Orange County, began his journey to these accolades when he moved with his family from Wisconsin to California at age 13. The son of a waitress and a city bus driver, he attended 14 different schools in the span of 12 years, and it was his teachers who provided him the stability that wasn’t a constant at home.

https://www.ocregister.com/2022/11/22/principal-of-the-year-credits-former-teachers-with-making-a-difference/

New York Times best-selling author Neal Shusterman visits Irvine school t

Students at Plaza Vista School in Irvine read and discuss Neal Shusterman’s books in class. Now, they’ve heard straight from the author about his writing. Shusterman is a best-selling author of more than 30 books for children, teens and adults, and many, with their “what if” twist on issues such as water supply or immortality, have become part of the curriculum at Plaza Vista, helping lead to broader discussions of modern times. Knowing that, Shusterman treated students to an hour-long Q&A session during a visit to the campus on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

https://www.ocregister.com/2022/11/22/new-york-times-best-selling-author-neal-shusterman-visits-irvine-school-plans-reading-tonight/

EDSOURCE

Long Beach Unified, city officials to launch childhood experience survey

Long Beach Unified and the city’s Department of Health and Human Services announced they are launching a childhood experiences survey, the first in the city’s history, according to the Press-Telegram. Beginning this month, the survey will be sent to parents and guardians of students currently enrolled in kindergarten. The purpose of the survey will be for officials to better understand the challenges facing families with young children, according to the newspaper.

https://edsource.org/news-updates#long-beach-unified-city-officials-to-launch-childhood-experience-survey

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

Parent volunteer who survived tragedy named 'Hero of the Heart'

“I’m gonna try to get through this without crying,” Los Alamitos Elementary School Principal Gary Willems said during the Nov. 15 workshop of the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education. As Willems recognized the school’s “Hero of the Heart” recipient for the 2022-23 school year, parent volunteer Autumn Bignami, his eyes welled up with tears.

https://www.spotlightschools.com/articles/community/parent-volunteer-who-survived-tragedy-named-hero-of-the-heart-for-los-alamitos-elementary-school

San Diego Unified Appeal of Vaccine Mandate Ruling Gets Struck Down in Court

A state appellate court panel ruled against the San Diego Unified School District Tuesday in its appeal of a judge’s decision striking down its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students. A three-justice panel from the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled in agreement with San Diego Superior Court Judge John Meyer’s finding that only the state can implement such a mandate without exemptions for religious or personal beliefs.

https://timesofsandiego.com/education/2022/11/22/san-diego-unified-appeal-of-vaccine-mandate-ruling-gets-struck-down-in-court/

SD Foundation Announces Grants for Programs Addressing Students’ Covid Isolation

The San Diego Foundation announced Tuesday the availability of $2 million in grant funds for educational programs for local elementary and middle school students, particularly to aid students who experienced pandemic-related isolation or trauma. The multi-year grants will go to organizations providing “high-quality summer learning programs to San Diego County students over the course of summer 2023 and summer 2024,” according to the foundation.

https://timesofsandiego.com/education/2022/11/22/sd-foundation-announces-grants-for-programs-addressing-students-covid-isolation/

CA takes big bet on community schools. Will it pay off?

The state of California is investing $4 billion over the next seven years into transforming thousands of public schools into “community schools,” a model advocates say aims to improve academic achievement by taking a “whole child” approach to education.

https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/greater-la/edu-cars-thanksgiving/community-schools-ca

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