Class session highlights education

JANUARY 2008 - Among the concerns ranked highest among Leadership Stockton applicants each year is education. Education plays a vital role in the future economic prosperity of San Joaquin County, so a hands-on look at education was the perfect way to begin the day.

The session began with the Leadership Stockton participants divided among 13 schools throughout Stockton representing four school districts. They spent the morning shadowing the principal, learning about their particular school, and their successes and challenges. The schools participating this year were Van Buren School, Kohl Open School, Nightingale Elementary, Lincoln High, Weber Institute, Pittman Elementary, Hazelton School, San Joaquin County Office of Education (one. Schools), Komure School, August Knodt School, Christa McAuliffe School, Hamilton School and Henry School.

At lunch time, the Leadership Stockton class gathered at our sponsor’s location, Humphreys College, for the remainder of the session. A working lunch, facilitated by Gary Dei Rossi Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent with the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE), covered some of the questions and revelations the class had based on its school site visits. The class continued the afternoon after a brief overview of Humphreys College and its longtime Stockton history by school President Dr. Robert Humphreys. Dei Rossi began with an overview of the San Joaquin County Office of Education and its mission. He was followed by a lesson in school finance given by KT Yorba with the Business Services Department at SJCOE. This was everything you wanted to know about school finance in 30 minutes. Yorba did a great job simplifying this complex aspect of the education system.

Director Telka Walser from SJCOE’s one. School followed, and discussed the purpose and goals of the one. School program and the impact this program has on the lives of students. She brought along three students who shared their successes in the program and their future goals. They are on the right path and we wish them the best!

The day concluded with a panel of experts from the San Joaquin County Office of Education who presented an overview of the programs and services offered by SJCOE. The panel consisted of: Gary Dei Rossi, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent Student Programs and Services, Kathy Focacci, Director of Venture Academy Charter School; Kathy Skeels, Director of SELPA and Special Education, Margaret Salazar Huerta, Program Manager, Migrant Education; and Doug Martin, Director, Career and Technical Education. The panel provided an overview of their respective areas with plenty of time for questions. We thank them for their great information and for taking time out of their always busy schedules.

Thank you to Mick Founts for all of his efforts coordinating this session, to Gary Dei Rossi for facilitating, to each of the schools for graciously opening up their campuses for our Leadership Stockton visitors, and to all of our speakers and panelists for the day.

A huge thank you goes to Candace Blue (LS Class of 2008) and Humphreys College for sponsoring our session and hosting a wonderful lunch from Bud’s Seafood Grille.

See us here next month as we recap the Justice System session to be held on January 18th at the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. If you would like more info on Leadership Stockton or wish to sponsor an upcoming session, please contact Wes Rhea at 547-2770 or leadership@stocktonchamber.org.