CSBA Student Issues Conference Groups
Let's Collaborate to Close the Academic Achievement Gap
Clinic: Thursday, November 29 | 3:45p.m. – 5:45p.m. Room 6B
Moderator: Jo Ann Yee, CSBA Senior Director - Strategy Development, Achievement, Diversity, and Urban Affairs
Student achievement improves when districts, county offices of education, higher education, business, civic and community organizations work together. This clinic addressed these questions and others:
- How many districts are working to close the achievement gap?
- How many districts have strategies and programs that are specifically targeted to students of color or students in alternative programs?
- Which districts and how many are working in partnership with other organizations, agencies or other districts?
This clinic also examined the variety of regional, county, and district-wide partnerships and collaborative efforts around the state. Representatives from major collaboratives spoke about their successes and challenges in improving the academic achievement of children of color. The participants at this clinic discussed how they can start or strengthen the partnerships in their districts and share ideas about other efforts to address the needs of these targeted groups of students.
Presentations :
Panelists:
Alliance for Regional Collaboration to Heighten Educational Success (ARCHES)
Diane Siri, Executive Director, ARCHES
Santa Ana Partnership
Lilia Tanakeyowma, Associate Dean, Cross Cultural Center, Santa Ana College
The Southern Alameda County Regional Educational Alliance
Robyn Fisher, President and CEO, R.T. Fisher Educational Enterprises, Inc.
Bobbie Brooks, R.T. Fisher Educational Enterprises, Inc.
American Indian Student Issues: School Districts, Counties and Tribes Working Together for American Indian Students
Workshop: Friday, December 1 | 3:30p.m. – 4:45p.m. Room 10
Moderator – Shelly Yarbrough, CSBA director-at-large, American Indian
Home to the largest Native American Indian tribe in California, Del Norte County and Humboldt County K-12 education systems are collaborating with Humboldt State University and Hoopa and Yurok tribal leaders to improve the academic achievement of American Indian Students.
Presentations:
Panelists:
Humboldt-Del Norte P-16 Council
Cathleen Rafferty, Professor of Education and Director of the Center for
Education Excellence, Collaboration and Inquiry, Humboldt State University
Kenny Richards, Superintendent, Northern Humboldt Union High School District
Jon G. Sapper, Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instructional Support,
Humboldt County Office of Education
Jim McQuillen, Education Director, Yurok Tribe
Asian Pacific Islander Student Issues: The Silent Issues for Asian Pacific Islander Students: Mental Health and Social Well-Being
Workshop: Friday, December 1 | 3:30p.m. – 4:45p.m. Room 9
Moderator – Ben Liao, CSBA director-at-large, Asian Pacific Islander
On many standardized tests, Asian Pacific Islander students often achieve at very high levels. The test scores often hide the underachievement of some API students, such as Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders. More importantly, the standardized test scores cannot capture other statistics: the high percentage of API students who suffer from depression; the effects of pressure from families to succeed at all costs; and the social and emotional conflicts due to differences between their native cultures and the American culture.
Presentations:
Panelists:
Fresno Unified School District
Valerie Davis, Board Member
Tony Vang, Board Member
Cupertino Union School District
Helen Sung, School Psychologist
African American/Black Student Issues: Partnerships for Improving African American Student Achievement
Workshop: Friday, December 1 | 3:30p.m. – 4:45p.m. Room 8
Moderator – Gwen Estes, CSBA director-at-large, Black
Many factors affect the academic achievement of students. One that is often overlooked is the role of social identity. College Bound San Diego, an educational component of the Concerned Parents Alliance (CPA) is working in partnership with school districts to improve student achievement and college going rates of all students, with a particular focus on Black/African American students.
Presentations:
Panelists:
San Diego State University
Tonika Duren Green, Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling and School
Psychology
College Bound San Diego, Concerned Parents Alliance
Darlene Willis, College Bound San Diego, Concerned Parents Alliance
Marsha Dodson, College Bound San Diego, Concerned Parents Alliance
Hispanic Student Issues: Closing the Achievement Gap for Hispanic Students: Models of Success
Workshop: Friday, December 1 | 3:30p.m. – 4:45p.m. Room 7B
Moderator – Dr. Susan Heredia, CSBA director-at-large, Hispanic
The California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) will report on the work of CALSA in addressing the achievement of Hispanic students. Three districts will present the strategies, policies and programs they use to successfully narrow the achievement gaps for Hispanic students. They will also discuss the governance role of the school board and how they support the superintendent’s efforts to improve student achievement.
Presentations:
Panelists:
California Association of Latino Superintendents (CALSA)
Fernando Elizondo, Executive Director
Sandy Thorstenson, Superintendent, Whittier Union High School District
David Verdugo, Superintendent, Paramount Unified School District
Roberto Salinas, Executive Director, Closing the Achievement Gap (CTAG),
California Department of Education
County Student Issues: Greater San Jose Alternative Education Collaborative: Focus on the Non-traditional Student
Workshop: Friday, December 1 | 3:30p.m. – 4:45p.m. Room 6B
Moderator – Sara Wilkins, CSBA director-at-large, County
The county offices of education and school districts provide many alternative programs to students who do not feel successful in traditional school settings. Alternative education programs, though often overlooked, play a large role in keeping students engaged in school and help to close the academic achievement gaps of these students.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education initiated a collaborative to improve the alternative education system throughout the county. In addition to the school districts within Santa Clara County, the collaborative includes the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, the United Way of Silicon Valley, and other business and community organizations.
Presentations:
Panelists:
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Leon F. Beauchman, Board Member, Santa Clara County Office of Education
Joe Fimiani, Assistant Superintendent, Santa Clara County Office of Education
Gary Rummelhoff, Vice President of Operations and Chief Financial Officer, United Way
Silicon Valley; and Board Member, Santa Clara County Office of Education
Cupertino Union School District
Pearl Cheng, Program Manager for Self-Sufficiency, United Way Silicon Valley; and
Board Member, Cupertino Union School District
For questions about the Student Issues Conference Groups, contact:
Jo Ann Yee, Director
Strategy Development, Achievement, Diversity, and Urban Affairs
(916) 371-4691
Jyee@csba.org
Leslie Jordan, Research Consultant
Administration
(916) 371-4691
ljordan@csba.org