Developed to meet the diverse and complex needs of California GEAR UP middle schools, the 2015 Spring Regional Leadership Events provide a forum for school teams to problem solve together and learn from each other about school practices, challenges and solutions. The events were designed to build on the progress made at the Fall events and were facilitated by Whole School Services Coaches with content designed to respond to the needs of each unique middle school community in their region. Activities were customized to engage and support participating schools within each region aligned with target areas of growth identified in the School Self Assessment Rubric.
Goals of the Regional Leadership Events:
- Develop and expand working, cohesive school teams;
- Share and reflect on leadership and approaches for developing leadership;
- Network to share smart practices and opportunities for continued regional work;
- Reflect on progress in building a sustainable college-going culture using the SSAR;
- Use data to identify and address challenges to access and equity for All students;
- Develop implementation plans for of GEAR UP partner resources and services;
- Complete the PDAP and Communication Plan.
Below is the complete regional events report including attendees, content areas, presenters, and locations.
2014 Regional Institutes: 360 participants; 15 counties, 29 school districts, and 1 charter school were served
Title: North State Regional Collaborative October 15 & 16, 2014
GEAR UP Coach: Brad Trimble Number of Participants: 55
Focus: Support and engage students transitioning to high school.
Presenters: Brandon Santiago (YouthSpeaks), Mark Cerutti—Assistant Superintendent (Elk Grove USD).
Region: North State Counties: Tehama and Shasta
Districts: Red Bluff, Antelope Elementary, Happy Valley Union Elementary, Richfield Elementary, and Gateway.
Title: 2014 Bay Area Regional Learning Institute October 7 & 8, 2014
GEAR UP Coach: Michele Molitor Number of Participants: 60
Focus: Achieving social justice and equity through Common Core strategies to ignite student success.
Presenters: Tovi C. Scruggs, Principal, San Lorenzo High School, and Alice Kawazoe.
Region: Bay Area Counties: Alameda, San Francisco, Solano, and Contra Costa
Districts: San Lorenzo, San Francisco, Vallejo, and West Contra Costa.
Title: 2014 Southern California Regional Institute September 30-October 1, 2014
GEAR UP Coaches: Mary Unverferth and Barbara Sedano Number of Participants: 105
Focus: Advancing Equity and Access for ALL Students through High Quality Teaching
Presenters: Robert Kaplinsky (Glenrock Consulting), Bruce Arnold and Mary Sirody (MDTP).
Region: Southern California Counties: San Bernardino and Los Angeles
Districts: Long Beach, Los Angeles, Mountain View, Palmdale, Rialto, San Gabriel, Baldwin Park, San Bernardino, Hacienda La Puente; Charter: The Accelerated School.
Title: 2014 Riverside Regional, GEAR UP Round-Up September 30, 2014
GEAR UP Coach: Jon Sides Number of Participants: 55
Focus: GEAR UP Leadership Team progress & connecting with the School Self-Assessment Rubric (SSAR).
Presenters: Jon Sides
Region: Riverside Counties: Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino
Districts: Moreno Valley, Azusa, Los Angeles, and Upland.
Title: Central Valley Regional Institute 2014 October 1, 2014
GEAR UP Coach: Martin De Mucha Flores Number of Participants: 45
Focus: Developing the “Why?” in Leadership and Cohesive Teams to influence school change.
Presenters: Encarnacion Ruiz—Director of Admissions (UC Merced); Raul Moreno—Coordinator (CSU Fresno, University Migrant Services), Sharon Twitty, Robyn Fisher, & Martin De Mucha Flores.
Region: Central Valley Counties: Fresno, Stanislaus, and Tulare
Districts: Caruthers, Empire Union, Parlier, Pleasant View, and Raisin City Elementary.
Title: ELA Differentiated Instruction October 15, 2014
GEAR UP Coach: Frank Holmes Number of Participants: 40
Focus: Strategies in English — Differentiated instruction in middle school Language Arts.
Presenters: Lynne Lertzman (the College Board).
Region: San Diego County: San Diego County
Districts: Oceanside and San Diego County.
2015 Regional Forums: 318 participants; 12 counties, 21 school districts, and 1 charter school were served
Title: Southern California Regional March 6, 2015
GEAR UP Coaches: Mary Unverferth, Barbara Sedano & Frank Holmes Number of Participants: 132
Focus: Engaging GEAR UP Schools in their continued work of achieving the conditions on the SSAR.
Presenters: James Kass (YouthSpeaks), Carole Gallagher (WestEd), Julie Mendoza (CAIC), and ScholarShare.
Regions: Southern California & San Diego Counties: San Bernardino and Los Angeles, San Diego County
Districts: Long Beach, Los Angeles, Mountain View, Palmdale, Rialto, San Gabriel, Baldwin Park, San Bernardino, Hacienda La Puente, Oceanside and San Diego County.
Title: 2015 Bay Area Learning Forum April 15, 2015
GEAR UP Coach: Michele Molitor Number of Participants: 66
Focus: Enhancing student engagement and building community.
Presenters: Vicki Rice, Cloteal Thrower-Herron, Carlene Davis (CEP), Mildred Gains & Joe Lara (PIQE), Patrice Hill (YouthSpeaks), Tyrone Weaver (Samuel Jackman Middle School), ScholarShare.
Region: Bay Area Counties: Alameda, San Francisco, Solano, and Contra Costa
Districts: San Lorenzo, San Francisco, Vallejo, and West Contra Costa.
Title: Elk Grove/Sacramento Regional Leadership Forum March 25, 2015
GEAR UP Coach: Jill Campbell Number of Participants: 60
Focus: The purpose and value of building strong community for all students.
Presenters: Kadhir Rajagopal (Grant Union High School), Jay King, Tyrone Weaver (Samuel Jackman Middle School), Alice Kawazoe, and ScholarShare.
Region: Elk Grove/Sacramento Counties: Sacramento and Amador
Districts: Elk Grove and Twin Rivers.
Title: GEAR UP Spring Symposium _____May 15, 2015
GEAR UP Coach: Jon Sides Number of Participants: 60
Focus: Foster care system—resources and tools to support foster youth in Riverside County.
Presenters: Tamera Trotter (Child Protective Services), Alyssa Heckmann (Guardian Scholars, UCR), Christopher Dech (Advisor Student Support, Moreno Valley College), Julie Orozco (EAOP, Cal State San Bernardino), Bruce Petersen (Riverside County, Office of Education & Student Programs) and Cedric De Visser (Upland Unified Child Welfare and Former Principal at Upland Junior High School).
Region: Riverside Counties: Riverside, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino
Districts: Moreno Valley, Azusa, Los Angeles, and Upland.
Big takeaways: The exchange of ideas, events, projects, etc. as a result of the “reflecting on the past” exercise has been mentioned a number of times. One (GEAR UP) site contact returned to school and, using her notes, immediately drafted a memo of implementation listing ideas to share with the rest of her staff. The group-alike breakout sessions gave teachers, administrators, counselors and out of classroom advisers a chance to share job specific experiences in building a college-going culture. The regional event provided an opportunity for participants to work collaboratively and function as a learning community.
Jon Sides-California GEAR UP School Services Coach
####
The mission of California GEAR UP is to develop and sustain the organizational capacity of middle schools to prepare all students for high school and higher education through a statewide network of support for adults who influence middle school students, specifically their counselors, faculty, school leaders and families. As a result of this expanded capacity, a higher proportion of students, particularly from backgrounds and communities that have not historically pursued a college education, will enroll and succeed in higher education. California GEAR UP is a program of the University of California Office of The President Education Partnerships department and has served whole school communities across the state since 1999.
