Schools
TVUSD Receives 3 'Model of Academic Excellence' Awards
The Temecula Valley Unified School District, Erle Stanley Gardner Middle School and Ysabel Barnett Elementary were recognized during the 11th Annual Riverside County Educational Summit.
The Temecula Valley Unified School District was recently honored with three Model of Academic Excellence awards.
During the 11th Annual Riverside County Educational Summit and Models of Academic Excellence Recognition Luncheon held Oct. 24, TVUSD was given the countywide award for “District-wide Transition to the Common Core State Standards.”
Additionally, the district’s Erle Stanley Gardner Middle School was recognized as a Model of Academic Excellence for its Peer Buddies Program, while Ysabel Barnett Elementary received the same for its 21st Century Professional Learning Community/Visual and Performing Arts (PLC/VAPA).
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The Riverside County Office of Education and County Superintendent of Schools Kenneth M. Young hosted more than 400 educators for the workshop summit at Palm Springs Convention Center that culminated in the awards luncheon, according to a news release.
County education officials review numerous applications for the Model of Academic Excellence award submitted by schools and school districts in the county that have been proven successful in improving student academic achievement and can be replicated countywide, according to RCOE Spokesman Rick Peoples.
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“Those selected receive the Riverside County Models of Academic Excellence award during the luncheon,” Peoples said. “Some of those selected are also invited to share the best practice that earned them this recognition during a series of workshops at the summit.”
TVUSD said it was honored to have three of its programs recognized.
“We're fortunate to have administrators, teachers and staff who possess a true passion for the work they're doing in the classroom,” said TVUSD Spokeswoman Melanie Norton. “Their enthusiasm is evident by the strong programs they have put together."
The well-attended event was kicked off by keynote speaker Dr. Milton Chen, former executive director of the George Lucas Education Foundation and author of the book “Education Nation,” who shared that “as a result of constant innovation, learning is no longer limited by traditional confines and we're moving beyond students tied to their chairs, desks, and textbooks-and teachers locked away in classrooms.”
With the combination of the Internet and small, portable smart devices (like today’s smart phones and tablets), students literally have a world of information in their hands, Peoples stated.
Young people are accessing information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and Chen encouraged educators to leverage this by treating students as digital scholars, mentoring them on the exploration and application of high quality online content that is relevant to their lives, interests and education. He also explained how parents can use technology to better help their children in the learning process.
“With the Internet, we can all get the answers to almost any question anytime, anywhere,” Chen said. “But it’s knowing why the answers are important that is so important.”
Chen also spoke about America becoming a country where “the education of children and adults is the highest national priority, on par with a strong economy, high employment, and national security.” He demonstrated this by displaying currency from China and other parts of the world where education is a very high national priority—the currency depicts images of groups of children learning.
Linking the best practices and Dr. Chen’s message together in his remarks to attendees during the luncheon, County Superintendent Young said: “We believe the information you’ve been given today, both by Dr. Milton Chen and by presenters from the Models of Academic Excellence demonstrations, will stimulate thought and action that can enhance student educational outcomes in Riverside County.”
The programs that earned the distinction of “Models of Academic Excellence” included transitioning to the new state Common Core standards, preparing students for college and careers, meeting the instructional needs of English Learners, and preparing teachers to address the needs of 21st century learners.
The schools and districts recognized as “Models of Academic Excellence” are listed below in alphabetical order by district:
Health Career Academy: Supporting Students for College and Health Career Readiness
Alvord Unified School District
La Sierra High School
Weathering the Storm: How Highly Functional Teams Drive Student Success
Alvord Unified School District
La Sierra High School
Collective Inquiry
Compton Unified School District
Laurel Street Elementary School
CST (California Standardized Test) Grade Incentive Program
Corona-Norco Unified School District
Centennial High School
Counseling for College and Career Readiness
Corona-Norco Unified School District
Santiago High School
Save Our Seniors (SOS)
Corona-Norco Unified School District
Lee V. Pollard High School
School-wide Implementation of Science Content and Notebooking (SCAN)
Corona-Norco Unified School District
River Heights Intermediate School
Student Academic Support
Corona-Norco Unified School District
Citrus Hills Intermediate School
Hemet High School Career Technical Automotive Program a.k.a. “Bulldog Garage”
Hemet Unified School District
Hemet High School
Dual Immersion
Jurupa Unified School District
Focus for Success
Jurupa Unified School District
Big 7 School-wide Commitments
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Sunnymead Middle School
Canyon Springs High School Health Careers Academy
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Canyon Springs High School
Moreno Valley Multi-Agency Collaborative
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Setting Sail for Success
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Edgemont Elementary School
Site Governance Committees
Moreno Valley Unified School District
March Mountain High School
Turning Passion Into Practice: Integrated Projects and Senior Exit Interview
Murrieta Valley Unified School District
Murrieta Mesa High School
Cielo Vista Charter Project Based Learning
Palm Springs Unified School District
Cielo Vista Charter School
DIGICOM
Palm Springs Unified School District
Middle School Programs that Support the Common Core and Career Technical Education (CTE)
Palm Springs Unified School District
Nellie Coffman Middle School
Monitoring Rigor, Instruction, and Collaboration Through the PREVI
Palm Springs Unified School District
Cahuilla Elementary School
Going “Above and Beyond” by Integrating Science and Writing
Perris Elementary School District, Railway School of Math, Science, and Technology
Pachappa Elementary
HEARTS After School Program
Riverside Unified School District
Pachappa Elementary School
Strategic Student Guidance
Riverside Unified School District
Arlington High School
Leadership Education: ‘Growing Team-Builders’
San Jacinto Unified School District
San Jacinto Leadership Academy
Promoting a College-Going Environment in a High-Poverty High School
Sweetwater Union High School District
Sweetwater High School
21st Century Professional Learning Community/Visual and Performing Arts (PLC/VAPA)
Temecula Valley Unified School District
Ysabel Barnett Elementary School
District-wide Transition to the Common Core State Standards
Temecula Valley Unified School District
Peer Buddies Program
Temecula Valley Unified School District
Erle Stanley Gardner Middle School
Val Verde’s Focus on Raising Student Academic Achievement for All
Val Verde Unified School District
University Preparatory “Building a Culture of Excellence”
Victor Valley Union High School District
University Preparatory School
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