THE NEWSLETTER of THE TULARE COUNTY OFFICE of EDUCATION newsgallery Lindsay Unified and Special Services create partnership to bolster behavior, academics Green Zone a safe place for learning, support On a pair of couches in a classroom at Lindsay High School, a small group of students discuss the personal effects of bullying and the proper response to it. The students are discussing the subject with their teacher, Matt Griffiths, and their behavioral intervention technicians as part of a new behavioral health program piloted by the Special Services Division. Known as the Green Zone, this classroom is a safe and highly supportive environment where identified students with behavior management issues can go when they feel overwhelmed. The Green Zone is a pilot partnership between Lindsay Unified and Special Service’s growing Behavioral Health Services program. Behavioral Services Administrator Dr. Eileen Whelan explains that many of the students in the Green Zone program have exhibited “escape behavior” – actions such as outbursts, physical altercations, truancy, or refusing to participate. “In the Green (top photo) Behavioral Intervention Zone, we will offer strategies for mitigating the stress they feel in their Technicians (l-r) Jose Iniguez and regular academic classes,” she says. Christopher Morales and District School Psychologist Rashella Avalos talk with The unique part of the Green Zone program is the academic support it also Lindsay High School students in the provides. “Often these students are behind academically, which builds their Green Zone. (lower photo) Teacher frustration in the classroom and can lead to their use of escape behavior,” Matt Griffiths offers academic support. says Dr. Whelan. To alleviate this frustration, students may visit the Green Zone at any time for one-on-one instruction from Mr. Griffiths. Assistant Superintendent Linda McKean is optimistic saying, “We fully expect to see improvements in educational performance through this model of giving students the emotional and academic tools they need to be successful.” February 2013 Tulare County Health and Human Services helps provide valuable software to schools Free anti-bullying Sprigeo system available Tulare and Kings county schools have taken great steps to keep their students safe from bullying and school safety threats. One of the tools several schools are using to meet these challenges is a web-based bullying reporting system known as Sprigeo. Currently being used by La Sierra Military Academy, Cherry Avenue and Los Tules Middle Schools in Tulare, and schools in the Pixley School District, Burton School District and the Tulare Joint Union High School District, Sprigeo provides students with an anonymous reporting system, which is a safe way for victims and bystanders to report incidents without fear of retaliation. The online system allows students to make reports at any time and from any device with an www.sprigeo.com internet connection. Now in use by over 500 schools across 25 states, the online reporting system has proven itself as a safe way for kids to report bullying, resulting in fewer incidents over time. Schools interested in learning more about Sprigeo should visit the website “We are pleased to announce that through a partnership with above, or call Adam Valencia at Sprigeo and with funding from the Tulare County Health and (559) 651-0155, ext. 3611. Human Services Agency, all schools throughout Tulare and Kings Counties will have free access to the Sprigeo system for the next two years,” says Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. “I encourage administrators to take advantage of this opportunity to make their learning environments places were students feel safe and welcomed.” To register for the Sprigeo software, contact Choices supervisor Adam Valencia at (559) 651-0155, extension 3611 or by email at [email protected]. Administrators may also contact Sprigeo CEO Joe Bruzzese at (805) 319-2358 or [email protected]. School Health Program’s Nan Arnold named State School Nurse of the Year Arnold wins state honor for community work For the health services she has provided to Tulare County students, particularly those in the Pixley area, nurse Nan Arnold has been named State School Nurse of the Year by the California School Nurses Organization (CSNO). The CSNO praised Nan for her leadership in partnering with local clinics to help provide services for students. When one of her students or members of their family have needs, she is quick to tap the resources of local agencies. “I’ve know the families in the Pixley area for so many years,” says Ms. Arnold. “It’s easy to help make the connections they need.” Ms. Arnold also provides trainings to other school nurses and administrators to support students with medical issues. She has been a school nurse with the School Health Program for 18 years, serving primarily in the Pixley and Waukena districts. “She is such a caring professional who is admired, respected and loved by all,” says School Health program manager Kathy Johnston. Ms. Arnold will be honored at the CSNO state conference in San Diego on February 9. February 2013 ERS increases outreach to strengthen transition to Common Core State Standards Administrators collaborate for Common Core This spring, Central Valley district administrators will have the opportunity to meet and discuss the implementation and timing of the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS). To facilitate the administrators’ knowledge and confidence in implementing the new instructional standards, Educational Resource Services continues its professional development trainings with several Common Core Phase II Administrator Trainings. The two-day trainings, which began with a cohort attended by 70 administrators from Tulare, Kings and Fresno counties on January 22, continue with cohorts beginning April 4 and June 6. At the first training, which was facilitated by ERS administrator Charlene Stringham and instructional consultants Marla Martin, Christine Roberts and Joy Soares, attendees discussed the instructional shifts that will take place in English Language Arts and Mathematics under the new CCSS. They also discussed models of instruction that would embrace the CCSS, ways that they could implement these models, and resources they could use. One of these resources is the Common Core Connect website, which can be found at commoncore.tcoe.org, a site that the California Department of Education recently recommended in its bulletin on Common Core resources. Another resource Mrs. Stringham says district (top photo) Instructional Consultant Christine Roberts leads a presentation on the instructional administrators are interested in creating is a CCSS shifts that will be occurring in mathematics under Professional Learning Community (PLC). Once the CCSS the new Common Core Standards. (lower photo) PLC is established, administrators will have a collaborative Instructional Consultant Joy Soares takes time to forum to meet and discuss, face-to-face, their challenges and visit with Tulare County administrators. Mrs. successes in implementing the new standards. In the Soares will be leading instruction in Project meantime, administrators can access online discussions Based Learning, which is an ideal way for through an Edmodo site dedicated to the subject. “We will teachers to engage students while implementing continue to repeat these offerings and expand our resources the Common Core Standards. until the needs are met,” says Mrs. Stringham. For information on joining the April or June cohorts, the Edmodo group, or arranging for CCSS training at your school or district, contact Charlene Stringham at (559) 651-3831. Read more at www.tcoe.org (photo 1) The Instructional Services Division is pleased to spotlight welcome Brook Killingsworth as secretary to Assistant Superintendent Dr. Guadalupe Solis. Prior to joining the Tulare County Office of Education, Ms. Killingsworth served as marketing director for Morris Levin & Son in Tulare for 14 years. She also was active in leadership of Visalia Parent Teacher Organizations for nine years. She succeeds Priscilla Soliz, who retired from the position in December after 23 years of service. (photo 2) In December, businessman Tom Link took the oath of office becoming Area 3 Trustee for the Tulare County Board of Education. Mr. Link replaced Dr. Edward Peterson, who retired from the board having served 1 53 years. Mr. Link is co-owner of Link's Men's and Women's Wear and was selected as the Visalia Chamber of Commerce "2012 Man of the Year" for his service to Visalia. Mr. Link has served on numerous local boards, including the Visalia Unified Superintendent's Advisory Board, the College of the Sequoia's Foundation Board, and the Tulare County Historical Society Board. In December, Jennifer Webb, a parent volunteer at Valley Life Charter School in Visalia helped to bring The Big Brain Exhibit to the school. (photo 3) The exhibit, which is a project of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, helped students see the importance of caring for and protecting brains. Central California school support staff are 2 invited to attend the 21st Annual Tulare County Support Staff Conference on March 15, featuring nationally-known entertainer Adam Christing (photo 4). Mr. Christing became a member of the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood at the age of 17. Since then, he has been featured on shows and in newspapers, including Fox News, Entertainment Tonight, ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, USA Today and The New York Times. Media expert Michael Levine called Adam “one of the most engaging and entertaining presenters in America today.” Visit www.tcoe.org/support for registration information. (photo 5) In January, founder and long-time CEO of Pro-Youth/HEART after school programs Laurie Isham was honored for her service to Tulare County students at the Region VII After School Winter Conference. 3 Mrs. Isham, who is pictured with Choices program supervisor Adam Valencia, will be retiring from Pro-Youth/HEART in June. In December, directors of special education in Tulare County launched a new event for high school students in Mild to Moderate Programs.