Best Practices - Tulare County Office of Education
Best Practices - Tulare County Office of Education
Best Practices - Tulare County Office of Education
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
2010 - 2011 Award Winners<br />
<strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
c
1 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
A Message from the <strong>County</strong> Superintendent<br />
Dear colleagues,<br />
Congratulation to the recipients <strong>of</strong> the 2011 Torch Academic<br />
Achievement Awards, and to those who are receiving the<br />
Sustaining the Flame Award, for your success in improving<br />
academic achievement for all students. We commend you for<br />
the tremendous effort, innovation and collaboration you and<br />
your staff have implemented to bring you to this point.<br />
Thank you to Dr. Pansy Ceballos, Dr. Guadalupe Solis, the<br />
program managers and instructional consultants within the<br />
<strong>Tulare</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Education</strong> Instructional Services<br />
Division for administering the Torch Awards and for collecting<br />
the descriptions <strong>of</strong> the instructional practices the award<br />
recipients are utilizing. We are pleased to <strong>of</strong>fer the “best<br />
practices” contained in this booklet as a resource for you.<br />
As the Torch Awards are a way to highlight those schools<br />
that have instituted innovative programs to achieve academic<br />
growth, we hope to encourage other schools to study the<br />
winning programs in this booklet and utilize the practices to<br />
improve their own instructional efforts.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Jim Vidak<br />
<strong>Tulare</strong> <strong>County</strong> Superintendent <strong>of</strong> Schools
2 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
The Torch Achievement Awards<br />
The Torch Achievement Awards were created by the <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Education</strong>’s Instructional Service Division in<br />
2009. The awards program was designed to recognize <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
<strong>County</strong> schools or districts for effective instructional practices<br />
that are making a difference in improving student achievement,<br />
The program was conceived by Assistant Superintendent <strong>of</strong><br />
Instructional Services Dr. Pansy Ceballos and the program<br />
managers within her division who work directly with school<br />
districts supporting their instructional efforts.<br />
The schools or districts receiving the Torch Award were<br />
nominated by the Instructional Services Program Manager<br />
based on the following criteria: 1) Achievement, based on<br />
measurable data, such as a schools’ Academic Performance<br />
Index scores; 2) An innovation that has contributed to academic<br />
growth, such as student interventions, an attendance program,<br />
etc.; and/or 3) A successful partnership with parents, businesses<br />
or an outside educational agency.<br />
For the 2010-2011 school year, the Instructional Services<br />
Division honors 48 <strong>Tulare</strong> <strong>County</strong> schools as part <strong>of</strong> the annual<br />
program. For more information on the Torch Academic<br />
Achievement Awards program, call Pansy Ceballos at (559)<br />
733-6328.
3 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
The Sustaining the Flame Awards<br />
The Sustaining the Flame Award was created in 2011 for past<br />
Torch Award recipients that continue to show significant gains<br />
in academic performance. Below are the schools receiving the<br />
first annual Sustaining the Flame Award along with the year(s) in<br />
which they received the Torch Award.<br />
Golden Valley Elementary School, Orosi (2010)<br />
Dinuba High School (2010)<br />
Jefferson Elementary School, Dinuba (2010)<br />
Ducor Union School District (2010)<br />
Alila School, Earlimart (2010)<br />
Earlimart Elementary School (2010)<br />
Exeter Union High School (2009)<br />
Freedom Elementary School, Farmersville (2009)<br />
Santa Fe Elementary School, Porterville (2010)<br />
Sundale Union School District, <strong>Tulare</strong> (2010)<br />
Alice G. Mulcahy Middle School, <strong>Tulare</strong> (2009)<br />
Mt. Whitney High School, Visalia (2009)
4 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Table <strong>of</strong> Contents<br />
Elementary Schools Page 5<br />
Allensworth School District, Allensworth<br />
Alpaugh Unified School District, Alpaugh<br />
Burton Elementary School, Porterville<br />
Castle Rock Elementary, Woodlake<br />
Elbow Creek Elementary School, Visalia<br />
George L. Snowden School, Farmersville<br />
Grand View Elementary School, Dinuba<br />
Ivanhoe Elementary School, Visalia<br />
Frank Kohn School, <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
Lincoln Elementary School, Dinuba<br />
Lincoln Elementary School, Lindsay<br />
Lincoln School, <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
Manuel F. Hernandez Elementary, Visalia<br />
Maple School, <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
Oak Grove Elementary School, Visalia<br />
Oak Valley Union School District, <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
Outside Creek School District, Visalia<br />
Palo Verde Union School District, <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
Roosevelt School, <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
Royal Oaks Elementary School, Visalia<br />
Saucelito School District, Terra Bella<br />
Springville Union School District, Springville<br />
Strathmore Union School District, Strathmore<br />
Tipton School District, Tipton<br />
Vandalia Elementary School, Porterville<br />
West Putnam Elementary School, Porterville<br />
William R. Buckley Elementary School, Porterville<br />
Wilson Elementary School, Dinuba<br />
Middle/Junior High Schools Page 13<br />
Carl F. Smith Middle School, Terra Bella<br />
Divisadero Middle School, Visalia Unified<br />
Earlimart Middle School, Earlimart<br />
Farmersville Junior High, Farmersville<br />
Green Acres Middle School, Visalia<br />
Live Oak Middle School, <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
Pioneer Middle School, Porterville<br />
Woodlake Valley Middle School, Woodlake<br />
High Schools Page 16<br />
El Diamante High School, Visalia<br />
Farmersville High School, Farmersville<br />
Golden West High School, Visalia<br />
Granite Hills High Schools, Porterville<br />
Harmony Magnet Academy, Strathmore<br />
La Sierra Military Academy, Visalia<br />
Lindsay High School, Lindsay<br />
Monache High School, Porterville<br />
Redwood High School, Visalia<br />
<strong>Tulare</strong> Union High School, <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
<strong>Tulare</strong> Western High School, <strong>Tulare</strong><br />
Woodlake Union High School, Woodlake
5 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Elementary Schools<br />
Allensworth School District<br />
Roberto Cárdenas, Superintendent/Principal (661) 849-2401<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
interventions and enrichment.<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE<br />
Alpaugh Unified School District<br />
Robert M. Hudson, Superintendent/Principal (559) 949-8413<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Robbnet and Associates, TCOE<br />
Burton Elementary School, Burton School District<br />
Marcus White, Principal (559) 784-2401<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
daily bases.<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, Dennis Parker<br />
Castle Rock Elementary, Woodlake Union School District<br />
Robert Gonzales, Principal (559) 564-8001<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
development<br />
<br />
program<br />
<br />
on the cusp,
6 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Elementary Schools<br />
<br />
Odyssey <strong>of</strong> the Minds, Track Team.<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, Woodlake Police Department, Night<br />
Vision, Central Valley Prospectors, YMCA, PIQE.<br />
Elbow Creek Elementary School, Visalia Unified<br />
Shirley Williams, Principal (559) 730-7766<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE<br />
George L. Snowden School, Farmersville Unified<br />
Randy DeGraw, Principal (559) 747-0781<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, Boys and Girls Club<br />
Grand View Elementary School, Dinuba Unified<br />
Cynthia James, Principal (559) 595-7275<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Kevin Clark, Pivot Learning Systems.<br />
Ivanhoe Elementary School, Visalia Unified<br />
Deborah Cardoza, Principal (559) 730-7849<br />
The school’s innovation has been:
7 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Elementary Schools<br />
<br />
home visits, sending get well cards, and taking students to<br />
doctors appointments, as well as developing a PLC culture.<br />
Partnerships: West Ed. Fresno State, <strong>Tulare</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
Sheriff’s <strong>Office</strong>, <strong>Tulare</strong> <strong>County</strong> Probation, Vision, Local<br />
Church Savior’s Community Church, AVID, PACT,<br />
HEART (after school program), PIQE, and First Five.<br />
Frank Kohn School, <strong>Tulare</strong> City School District<br />
Paula Adair, Principal (559) 685-7340<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
analysis, re-teaching, and progress <strong>of</strong> focus students.<br />
<br />
Partnerships: American Heart Association and the Rescue<br />
Mission, Parent Teacher Organization<br />
Lincoln Elementary School, Dinuba Unified<br />
Gina Ramshaw, Principal (559) 595-7260<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
focuses on grammar instruction<br />
Partnerships: Kevin Clark, Pivot Learning Systems.<br />
Lincoln Elementary School, Lindsay Unified<br />
Pam Canby, Principal (559) 562-2571<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
staff.
8 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Elementary Schools<br />
Partnerships: TCOE<br />
Lincoln School, <strong>Tulare</strong> City School District<br />
Don Dargo, Principal (559) 685-7350<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Kraft Foods (for fieldtrips), “Tutoring<br />
at Grandma’s House” after-school math and reading<br />
intervention<br />
Manuel F. Hernandez Elementary, Visalia Unified<br />
Cheryl LaVerne, Principal (559) 622-3199<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Rotary, Foods Co., Calvary Chapel<br />
Maple School, <strong>Tulare</strong> City School District<br />
Val Brown, Principal (559) 685-7270<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
and Literature Circles.<br />
Partnerships: Libby Pollack, Debbie Head<br />
Oak Grove Elementary School, Visalia Unified<br />
Scott Wahab, Principal (559) 622-3105<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: none identified
9 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Elementary Schools<br />
Oak Valley Union School District<br />
Kerry Beauchaine, Superintendent (559) 688-2908<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE (PLC, Data Director)<br />
Outside Creek School District<br />
Elaine Brainard, Superintendent/Principal (559) 747-0710<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
on with each child<br />
<br />
poverty<br />
Partnerships: Parents<br />
Palo Verde Union School District<br />
John Manning, Superintendent/Principal (559) 688-0640<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional development<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, Dennis Parker<br />
Roosevelt School, <strong>Tulare</strong> City School District<br />
Ira Porchia, Principal (559) 685-7280<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
all students.
10 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Elementary Schools<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, District Alternative Governance,<br />
Choices Afterschool Program<br />
Royal Oaks Elementary School, Visalia Unified<br />
Samantha Tate, Principal (559) 730-7787<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Oaks Computer Kids, TCOE Student Events<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Parents Institute for Quality <strong>Education</strong><br />
(PIQE), PTA<br />
Saucelito School District<br />
Cynthia Lamb, Superintendent/Principal (559) 784-2164<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Dennis Parker<br />
Springville Union School District<br />
Connie Owens, Superintendent/Principal (559) 539-2605<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
staff.<br />
Partnerships: TCOE
11 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Elementary Schools<br />
Strathmore Union School District<br />
Dr. Shelly Long, Superintendent (559) 568-1283<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
all students.<br />
Partnerships:<br />
Tipton School District<br />
Chris Greisbach, Superintendent (559) 752-4213<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, Local Kiwanis, and Safer Children,<br />
ACES after school program<br />
Vandalia Elementary School, Porterville Unified<br />
Isaac Nunez, Principal (559) 782-7260<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
mathematics.<br />
Partnerships: TCOE<br />
West Putnam Elementary School, Porterville Unified<br />
Laura Geren, Principal (559) 782-7280<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Guiding Good Choices Parent Ed.,<br />
CHARACTER COUNTS!, Food and Clothing Pantry
12 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Elementary Schools<br />
William R. Buckley Elementary School,<br />
Burton School District<br />
Chastity Lollis, Principal (559) 788-6412<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
they get enrichment<br />
<br />
Partnerships: West Ed<br />
Wilson Elementary School, Dinuba Unified<br />
Rene Rosas, Principal (559) 595-7270<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Pivot Learning Systems and Choices
13 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Middle/Junior High Schools<br />
Carl F. Smith Middle School,<br />
Terra Bella Union School District<br />
Lupe Roman, Principal (559) 535-4451<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
benchmarks<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, Flexible Innovative Curriculum<br />
Consultant Services<br />
Divisadero Middle School, Visalia Unified<br />
Matt Shin, Principal (559) 730-7663<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
growth.<br />
<br />
what the expectations<br />
<br />
<br />
students based on STAR and local assessment data<br />
<br />
time<br />
Partnerships: Parent Partnership<br />
Earlimart Middle School, Earlimart School District<br />
Phillip Nystrom, Principal (661) 849-2611<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
and history social-science,<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, After School Program, Community<br />
Service Groups
14 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Middle/Junior High Schools<br />
Farmersville Junior High, Farmersville Unified<br />
Richard Albay, Principal (559) 747-0764<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
and history social-science,<br />
<br />
Thinking Maps, Greg Tang mathematics strategies.<br />
<br />
meetings, summer pr<strong>of</strong>ession development, tutoring students<br />
after school.<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, Boys and Girls Club, After School<br />
program, Parents<br />
Green Acres Middle School, Visalia Unified<br />
Angela Sanchez, Principal (559) 730-7673<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
and do the right thing; and life is all about choices.<br />
<br />
<br />
instruction, assessment, collaboration, and extended learning<br />
time<br />
<br />
materials<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: local community groups, parent partnership<br />
Live Oak Middle School, <strong>Tulare</strong> City School District<br />
Tracey Jenkins, Principal (559) 685-7310<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
school
15 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
Middle/Junior High Schools<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: AVID, PIQE Parents Involved in Quality<br />
<strong>Education</strong>,<br />
Pioneer Middle School, Porterville Unified<br />
Isaac Nunez, Principal (559) 782-7200<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Tule River Indian Reservation<br />
Woodlake Valley Middle School,<br />
Woodlake Union School District<br />
Lou Saephan, Principal (559) 564-8061<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
guides to benchmark tests (success following first year for this)<br />
<br />
reduction in absences and disciplinary issues<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Woodlake Hispanic Leadership, PIQE<br />
parent education, Parent Partnership, School newspaper<br />
to community.
16 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
High Schools<br />
El Diamante High School, Visalia Unified<br />
Mike Waters, Principal (559) 735-3501<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
based upon benchmark data.<br />
Partnerships: Parents and District in the Winter Academy<br />
Farmersville High School, Farmersville Unified<br />
Ernie Flores, Principal (559) 594-4567<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Academic Academies,<br />
<br />
Staff development on language arts and mathematics.<br />
Partnerships: WestEd., District Alternative Council and<br />
TCOE<br />
Golden West High School, Visalia Unified<br />
Nancy Powell, Principal (559) 730-7814<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
song<br />
<br />
based upon benchmark data.<br />
<br />
students<br />
Partnerships: Parents and District in the Winter Academy
17 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
High Schools<br />
Granite Hills High Schools, Porterville Unified<br />
Jeff Bottoms, Principal (559) 782-7075<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
individual teacher<br />
Partnerships: WestEd<br />
Harmony Magnet Academy, Porterville Unified<br />
Robert Land, Principal (559) 568-0347<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
courses<br />
Partnerships: TCOE School to Career, Project Lead the<br />
Way<br />
La Sierra Military Academy,<br />
<strong>Tulare</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Office</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Education</strong><br />
Anjelica Zermeño, Principal (559) 733-6963<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
experts,<br />
<br />
student learning<br />
Partnership: PESTO, PIQE, TCOE, ERS Library, TCOE<br />
Consultants
18 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
High Schools<br />
Lindsay High School, Lindsay Unified<br />
Virgil Hammonds, Principal (559) 562-5911<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>iciency <strong>of</strong> all standards before moving onto next content<br />
level.<br />
<br />
<br />
conduct<br />
<br />
performance-based system.<br />
Partnerships: Partnership with community/parents/<br />
students<br />
Monache High School, Porterville Unified<br />
Richard Smithey, Principal (559) 782-7150<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE (CHARACTER COUNTS!), and<br />
community/business partnerships<br />
Redwood High School, Visalia Unified<br />
Dr. Fernie Marroquin, Principal (559) 730-7367<br />
The school’s innovation has been:
19 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
High Schools<br />
<br />
Partnerships: District Winter Academy, Migrant Ed.<br />
TSA’s as coaches.<br />
<strong>Tulare</strong> Union High School,<br />
<strong>Tulare</strong> Joint Union High School District<br />
Dr. Michelle Nunley, Principal (559) 686-4761<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE<br />
<strong>Tulare</strong> Western High School,<br />
<strong>Tulare</strong> Joint Union High School District<br />
Lucy Van Scyoc, Principal (559) 686-8751<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: TCOE, Pivot Learning Systems
20 2010-2011 Torch Achievement Awards — <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Practices</strong><br />
High Schools<br />
Woodlake Union High School,<br />
Woodlake Union High School District<br />
Nicole Glentzer, Principal (559) 564-3307<br />
The school’s innovation has been:<br />
<br />
<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional development.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Partnerships: Pivot Learning Systems
Change language