Update 3/5/08: This post now has 2,003 comments! However, it has exceeded the capacities of our server and has been truncated recently at about 1,529 posts. But one of our readers has stepped up to the plate and painstakingly copied all of the comments into three NEW posts:
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2008 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2007 Comments
- SAUSD-Mijares corruption thread, 2006 Comments
We have also started a NEW open SAUSD thread, which I hope our readers will post to regarding new SAUSD news and views.
You can also go to our home page and go to the right column. Click on “SAUSD Posts” and you can get links to ALL of our past SAUSD articles.
I must say, I am amazed at the stories that have been posted on this blog in the wake of Al Mijares’ exit from the Santa Ana Unified School District. I am posting this item merely to give SAUSD bloggers a place to post their comments. Post away my friends – we have an opportunity now to finally do away with the corruption left over from the Mijares regime. Change is at hand, but we must remain resolute.
I noted that someone affiliated with the SAUSD administration recently posted a threat on this site – alleging possible legal action against SAUSD employees who post anonymously on this site. That is despicable and a form of terrorism. Do not let fear restrain any of you from revealing the truth.
The final challenge we face in Santa Ana is to replace Mijares with someone competent. We won’t have another opportunity like this anytime soon. This process must be open and focused and whatever else happens we must keep Audrey Noji out of the Superintendent’s position. As a member of the Cerritos College faculty and a member of the teacher’s union at that campus I opposed her when she tried to get a job at our campus. If she goes after the SAUSD superintendent post I will do so again. I know we can do better!
All of my children are in the SAUSD system. For their sake and that of all schoolchildren in the district, I urge those who are rebelling against the last vestiges of Mijares’ broken empire to keep the information flowing and to do whatever it takes to ensure that our next superintendent will be up to the task. Mijares certainly was over his head throughout his doomed tenure.
#1227
If it were a contractor issue this item would not be on the agenda to obtain bids for replacement. One would hope there were provisoins in the contract protecting the district from faulty product and/or installation.
Smooth move on distancing yourself from getting involved. Did you take the etiquette class taught at Willard’s Corporate Academy?
Word is that SAUSD can’t get rid of its worst administrators. Tony Espinosa is rumored to be a new counselor at Segerstrom.
Isn\\\’t this the school where that security gilr that is suing the district because of espinosa is, segerstrom.
Talk about retaliroty actions, what is juan lopez thinking, put espinosa at the same school and have him retaliate against her some more, lawsuit, again!
Maybe juan lopez should also be fired, when you think about it, he is the one who decided to put espinosa there.
#1129
Godinez’s official website lists Kathy Ochoa and Gabriel Morneo as counselors for the upcoming school year.
Since Godinez has less than 700 students, the chances of a third counselor are unlikely.
#1231 – #1129 never said Godinez. The school was Segerstrom
Principal Lynn Maher at Segerstrom runs a tight ship. I cannot imagine Tony asking for that assignment, if true.
I don’t believe there is any truth to the rumor that Jeff Bishop will be replacing Christine Anderson, either. Interesting speculation and I am sure that idea scares a number of staff, just thinking about it. But it really doesn’t make sense and has yet to be verified. Anyone with the enormous staff turnover and terrible morale like Jeff has would hardly “qualify” as a human resources asset.
Letting Bernedette Medrano ride rough-shod over paid employees and their duties is hardly the sign of healthy leadership.
Looks like the cat’s out of the bag regarding Tony. Anybody know the whys?
Look for lots of announcements/transfers regarding APs at the secondary level at tomorrow night’s school board meeting.
Lynn Maher’s ship runs so tightly she does not accpet any special ed students and benefits from school boundaries that favor Santa Ana’s $1 million Armstrong Ranch neighborhood and cherry picks from the entire district.
District admins know that half of the district’s comprehensive high schools are in Year 5+/Program Improvement and have diligently decided to bulk up Segerstrom with the district’s higher performing students with the hope of avoiding further NCLB sanctions.
Supt Russo’s decision to embark on this course, with Audrey Noji’s full support,has created a strata of education for the few.
Where are our 21st century Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez?
#1236 – This is where I’m disappointed with John Palacios. He used to be such a strong advocate for Special Education students, but seems to have mellowed now and I don’t know why.
I’ve often wondered if the ACLU could be involved with the Spec Ed issues, such as the Segerstrom issue, etc. These students seem to be treated like African-American students were treated a long time ago: separate but equal. If that doesn’t apply, they are definitely being discriminated against because of the lack of equal access issue.
Kind of sounds similar to the Corporate Academy program at Willard where a few receive special privileges such as field trips, etc. The majority of students are denied access to these perks. Again, lack of equal access. Funds designated for all students are siphoned away and used only for Corporate Academy students. The rest do not go any any field trips.
Again. we need board members to be strong advocates for all students so that all students (not just the chosen ones) have equal access to school and district resources.
The following administrators, shool based and district office need to go!
Long time Buddies, Do the math
doing what Vera did!
Juan Lopez
Amelia Amaya
Donald Trigg
Brought in by Vera Munoz
Helen Stainer, Ed. D.
Socorro Baron
Jim Miyashiro (HOT PANTS)
Dennis Ziegler
Tony Espinoza Counselor, Yeah! right???
Brenda McGaffigan
Gomeztrejo, Fred
Plus many more Assistant Administrators.
1238 – What about Esther Jones, Saddleback and Jeff Bishop, Willard?
http://www.ocregister.com/news/students-education-high-1783731-special-valley
Monday, July 23, 2007
State clears Santa Ana special ed program
A complaint alleging special education students were improperly moved because of limited classrooms is thrown out.
By FERMIN LEAL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
SANTA ANA The state Department of Education has thrown out a complaint filed by two teachers at Valley High alleging that special education students at their school were improperly moved into regular classes because of limited classroom space.
The state began investigating Valley High’s special education program after spouses Tyrone and Alice Borelli, who teach on the campus, alleged that the district violated state and federal law. School officials transferred students to regular education classes without following outlined procedures, including the proper notification of parents, the Borellis said in their complaint.
But state officials said in a 19-page report released Monday that Santa Ana Unified “is in full compliance of” of the law. There are no federal or state violations in Valley High’s special education program, the report said.
“We were confident from the start that the state would not find anything wrong here,” said Doreen Lohnes, the district’s assistant superintendent who oversees special education. “The goal of the program is to provide special education students with the best services possible.”
The Borellis, who filed the complaint May 10, did not immediately return phone calls Monday.
According to the Borellis’ complaint, the problem with the special education students arose after Valley High students were temporarily moved this school year to the new Godinez Fundamental High site about a mile away.
The Valley High site is undergoing an extensive renovation. Godinez High, a campus completed one year ago, is slated to open to new students this fall after Valley High students return to their campus.
The Godinez High site, built for a capacity of 2,500 students, could not accommodate all the 3,100 students from Valley High, so district and school administrators combined special education students with the other students, the complaint said.
Lohnes said that some special education students were moved to traditional classes as part of an inclusion program aimed at “maximizing the gains made by students in special education classes.”
Lohnes said that severely disabled students were not a part of this program. Students were not moved around simply because of limited classroom space Lohnes said.
Contact the writer: 714-445-6687 or fleal@ocregister.com
http://www.ocregister.com/news/district-program-audit-1783367-school-class
Monday, July 23, 2007
Santa Ana Unified to release final audit findings
An audit of the district’s class-size reduction program was authorized in April after teacher complaints.
By FERMIN LEAL
The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA Santa Ana Unified School District officials on Tuesday will release the final findings of an audit of the district’s troubled class-size reduction program.
The audit, conducted by an outside accounting firm, was authorized in April to review why problems occurred in a class-size reduction program at several elementary campuses in the district.
The audit will be discussed at the school board meeting that begins at 6 p.m
Earlier this year, teachers at about a dozen schools came forward publicly to allege that principals and administrators asked them to sign inaccurate class rosters.
The teachers said their rosters showed only 20 students when up to 26 were actually assigned to their classrooms.
Preliminary results of the audit already released in April revealed that the district will lose about $2 million in state funding because the district could not keep dozens of elementary classes limited to 20 students.
April’s preliminary findings also stated that the biggest issues with the district’s class-size reduction program were the following:
#1240 & 1241
Thanks for the early bird postings. It’s evident Russo & Burrell are throwing the district’s stories to the weakest newspaper writer in the OC.
Thank goodness one school board member is an outspoken critic of the district.
#1237
SAUSD’s special ed dept. is a disgrace, however your disappointment is misplaced. John Palacios is one voice only on the board. The current trifecta – Noji, Richardson and Hernandez don’t understand special ed and are content to let it slide.
As far as ACLU involvement; special ed parents need to ban together and approach the ACLU about the educational inequities
imposed upon their children.
Maher has the blessing of Noji and Russo to turn away special ed students. These admins want a perfect pool of students to produce very healthly test scores because they are banking on Segerstrom to keep further NCLB santions at bay.
Santa Ana’s class-size woes expand
Audits find that overcrowded classroom problems affected ninth-graders as well. Financial impact won’t be known until August.
By Seema Mehta, Times Staff Writer
July 25, 2007
Audits of Santa Ana Unified School District’s troubled class-size reduction program have found that problems with overcrowded classes exceeding state caps were not limited to elementary schools but affected ninth-graders as well, independent auditor Christy White said at a school board meeting Tuesday.
In district high schools, special education students taught in mainstream classes were not included on class rosters, making it appear that the classes met state size requirements when they were actually too large to be eligible for class-size reduction funding, White said.
Other classes simply had too many enrolled students to qualify for funding, she said.
The depth of the problem and its financial impact won’t be publicly known until the final audit is presented to the school board in August, she said, but in the 2005-06 school year the district received $549,696 in state funds for keeping high school classes small.
The loss will be on top of the $2 million in state funding the district is losing for failing to keep elementary classes limited to an average of 20.4 students per teacher. Those problems came to light in a series of Times articles reporting that teachers at several elementary schools were asked to sign falsified class rosters and that the district misused substitute teachers in an attempt to qualify for $16 million in state funds during the 2006-07 school year.
District officials have said the elementary school problems occurred when class sizes didn’t shrink as much as expected after the winter holiday. In hopes of salvaging some class-size reduction funds, they said, it was decided to add long-term substitute teachers to some classrooms to improve student-teacher ratios.
The preliminary audit
Anyone know what administrative appointments were announced at the board meeting last night?
I heard Dr. Stainer’s replacement was named at last night’s meeting. Apparently he’s an outsider. Most are wondering if he’s a pal of Juan Lopez or Don Trigg.
http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/departments/pio/release.asp?id=158
By Invitation Only:
High School, Inc. Academies Launch Set for September 2007
Start the countdown!
Santa Ana, CA – July 20, 2007
10…9…8…
There are less than three months left until the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Ana Unified School District “launch” their innovative High School, Inc. Academies! On September 26th, at 10 am, the school will hold an exciting grand opening ceremony for the unique technical school program at the newly-modernized Valley High School campus in Santa Ana.
The High School, Inc. Academies feature six specialized programs created to teach students the career skills necessary for hire into some of today’s most progressive high-growth industries. This fall, the school welcomes young students into its promising curriculum.
We invite you to save the date now for this spectacular occasion! For such an unprecedented event, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has given his unwavering support, and may be making an appearance at the ceremony! Also attending will be many dignitaries from the City of Santa Ana, the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, and the Santa Ana Unified School District.
Please mark your calendars now for 10 am on September 26th, and watch for more updates on the event within the coming months! You will need a press pass issued by the school to gain access to interviews with those students, parents, and teachers on board. For more information, please contact India Quarles at iquarles@santaanachamber.com, or 714-541-5353, ext.114.
See you on Launch Day!
Contact Information
Santa Ana Unified School District is made up of an area of approximately 24 square miles located primarily in the City of Santa Ana, County of Orange, California. For further information, please contact the Public Information Office at 714.558.5555; fax: 714.558.5812
http://www.sausd.k12.ca.us/news/docs/2007-07-26_qeia.pdf
Joint Press Release
Contacts:
Dr. David Barton, SAEA President (714) 542-6758
Angela Burrell, SAUSD Public Information Officer (714) 558-5555
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2007
State Officials Award Instructional Improvement Funding
for Santa Ana Unified Schools
Fourteen Schools Chosen to receive up to $77 million over seven years
SANTA ANA, CA.
The Borellis did not immediately respond to phone calls because the Borellis are out of state for the month of July. The Borelli’s did recieve a call from the State informing the Borellis that the District was found in complience. According to the Borellis,the statement made by Ms. Lohnes,”…that ‘SOME’ special education students were moved to traditional classes as part of an inclusion program aimed at maximizing the gains made by students in special education classes” is absolutely wrong. At this time the Borellis are looking into filing an appeal.
Alice & Tyrone Borelli are two of the district’s educational leader bright spots. Unfortunatley, district administrators continued to feel threatened by this integrity-driven duo.
SAUSD is a culture of mediocre leadership with no room for independent thinkers who have a hint of educational integrity. The district does their best to suck the integrity DNA from its employees but have failed when it comes to the Borelli’s.
Don’t forget ….the past two special ed directors have left the SAUSD Special Ed Dept. in shame and shambles and the new upstart is shaking out to be no better.
Alice & Tyrone Borelli deserve to be awarded the Giraffe Award for sticking out their neck for those who do not have the voice to do so!
#1249
Heads of Department of Educations are appointments by the state’s govenors. I want to share some information currently happening at the state DOE level in NY. I am glad the Borellis are planning an appeal, however they might be heading for a brick wall like the one apparently constructed under the Republican govenor in NY. Anyone have any idea if there was a mass exodus of state lawyers from the Department in California, like there has been in NY?:
July 25, 2007 Edition
Education Dept. Criticized Over Special Ed. Checks
BY ELIZABETH GREEN – Staff Reporter of the Sun
July 25, 2007
URL: http://www.nysun. com/article/ 59078
The state Education Department is coming under fire from attorneys
from both inside and outside the agency who say it illegally denies
educational services to hundreds of disabled children. Lawyers
representing parents of disabled children are meeting today to discuss
plans to file a civil rights lawsuit against the agency at the center
of the conflict, the Office of State Review.
At least seven of the 10 attorneys on staff have quit the State Review
office in the last three years, including several who left because
they were concerned about violations of law, sources familiar with the
office said. One former staff member said nine attorneys had left the
office. A spokesman for the state education department, Tom Dunn,
could not immediately confirm the reports of the turnover. The review
office is the last step in a process designed to supply an impartial
decision on what services school districts should give disabled
students, such as tutoring, aides, and private school tuition. Parents
and school districts first make arguments before a hearing officer.
The office rules only if either party wants to appeal the decision.
An analysis by a special education lawyer, Jeffrey Marcus, found that
recent decisions have almost unanimously favored the districts:
Between 2006 and March of this year, five of 43 cases where parents
originally prevailed were upheld after school districts’ appeals, and
37 of 39 successive cases favored the district completely.
Mr. Dunn traced the change to Supreme Court decisions that shifted the
burden of persuasion and to changes in federal law. But several other
sources said the office’s head, Paul Kelly, who entered in 2003, is
responsible.
A hearing officer who judges New York City cases, Lynn Almeleh, called
Mr. Kelly’s decisions “a very tortured reasoning to arrive at a
predetermined conclusion.”
A former staff member in the Office of State Review who requested
anonymity said a main concern for Mr. Kelly was the cost services pose
to school districts. Reimbursements for qualified private school
tuition, for instance, cost New York City more than $49 million in the
2005
Doreen Lohnes, Ass’t Supt., Special Ed, comes to SAUSD directly from the indicted Fleming’s office, former Capo UnifiedSchool Superintendt. This blog excerpt can be found on the internet.
While at CUSD Lohnes screwed with the lives of decent people. Are we going to let her run rough shod on SAUSD special ed students?
An appeal to CUSD parents, teachers and staff is underway to gather more information on Lohnes.
SOS to the Borellis … APPEAL.
Read this account of Ms. Lohnes’ activities ….
A certain volunteer to the district was working with Doreen Lohnes in Dr. Fleming’s office. The volunteer mentioned a story coming from a female teacher at AN who felt she may have been a victim of sexual harassment coming from the principal.
Ms. Lohnes suggested that the volunteer secure the teacher’s name and phone number and she would call her on the QT in an informal manner to ascertain if her experience was in deed sexual harassment. The teacher agreed, so the volunteer passed along the name and phone number.
When Ms. Lohnes called the teacher she stated that she was making an official call and asked if the teacher had filed a civil action. The teacher became frightened because the discourse was direct and presented in an official capacity.
When the volunteer was advised that the teacher had been intimidated and that she eventually claimed that she may not have been offended my the principal’s remarks, a call to Ms. Lohnes confirmed the capitualtion.
After hearing the discourse between the teacher and the principal, the volunteer asked Ms. Lohnes how could the district not reprimand, censure or remove the principal for making such disgusting sexually explicit remarks in front of a female and with a male AP in attendance.
Shortly after, the volunteer had cause to meet with the principal and the meeting opened with the principal stating, “What’s this about me and sexual harrassment coming down from the district?” The volunteer realized that the district had not only admonished the principal for his actions but had told him the volunteer was the one who carried the message.
This was a blatant case of a breach of trust and retribution. Several days later the volunteer resigined from all activities as a volunteer to the school and district.
#1252
Link to that source?
1252 .. . I Googled Doreen Lohnes and found the link immediately.
Art .. this is one of reasons the OJ is consistenly in the top 5 CA blogs. You and your team are the BOMB!
Doreen Lohnes was Chief Compliance Officer/PTA Liaison for CSUD in 2004 according to a search.
However, there are some facinating documents in the David Smollar Deposition during the CUSD investigations. (He was the communications department head who resigned because of unethical behavior by the district- so he had a great deal of knowledge of what the district was doing).
Here is the collection of documents that helps one understand a corrupt and irresponsible board of education and dishonest superintendent.
The gamut covers a Mole inside the recall effort, written and spoken lies, a hit list, enemies list and a consortium of school districts that colluded to prevent special education students from getting needed services.
:
http://www.cusdrecall.com/page68/page63/page61/page61.html
Here is a relevant section that references special education – a topic that Dr. Lackey, sped advocate, repeatedly visited at the board meetings- which includes references to Doreen Lohnes. Apparently she was very much part of the top administrators in that district.
http://www.cusdrecall.com/page68/page63/page61/page61.html#toc4
From Pages 39, 40, 41, 42
Dr. Lackey, in
8 particular during that period, was very critical of the
9 district’s special ed executive director, Susan Roice,
10 who was number two under Doreen Lohnes, who was the
11 assistant superintendent, I think — I think that was her
12 title, but she was in charge of special ed, Susan Roice,
13 I think, was the operations …..
Dr. Lackey was very
14 critical because the husband of Susan Roice, a man I
15 think, if I’m not mistaken, his name is Robert Roice,
16 worked as a consultant in our special ed division or
17 department, and Dr. Lackey was very, very critical of
18 that, because he thought it was a conflict of interest
19 with Susan Roice being the exec director. But he also —
20 there was another point he was also making. Oh, also
21 because Robert Roice, he said, was doing attorney-like
22 functions or had an attorney-like role in special ed
23 hearings and he was not an attorney. And this went on, I
24 mean, you know, month after month. ……
18 And I was given by Doreen Lohnes, who I
19 assume — and it’s an assumption, but I — who got it
20 from Susan Roice, but I was given a copy of a court case
21 that I think originated against the Poway Unified School
22 District, and they were sued — Poway was sued by some
23 special ed advocates, and Robert Roice was at issue, and
24 the issue in that case was that, basically, Robert Roice
25 was practicing law without — you know, without proper procedure or whatever, the rules and regulations of
2 special ed. The case went against the special ed
3 advocates, it went for the city of — or the Poway School
4 District, and I think it was certified by whatever the —
did you spend a great deal of time responding
16 to requests by Dr. Lackey?
17 A Yes, Dr. Lackey — actually, for a while during
18 the ’04-’05, Doreen Lohnes was replaced in special ed by
19 Susan McGill, temporary assignment, and for a period
20 there things seemed to calm down. I think Dr. Lackey
21 even got up at one board meeting and actually praised
22 Susan McGill for the way she was handling the special ed,
I guess this was sometime in late 25 ’04-’05 the district joined a consortium along with other
1 school districts of some authority where they’re pooling
2 their money to be able to fight special ed advocates and
3 IEPs more strongly or whatever. I forget what it’s
4 called, but that seemed to just tick off Ron Lackey
5 immensely, and subsequently every board meeting he was
6 there.
#1252
http://talk.ocregister.com/archive/index.php/t-12852.html
Scroll down.
Anonymous Says:
7/29/2007 11:57 AM
I see that Jose has weighed in on the Martin recall up in Anaheim, but has been silent on the disaster that is SAUSD. Why so?
If Jose was half a man he would have spoken up long ago about Noji and Rob and the disaster they have been.
Doreen Lohnes Timeline:
11/2002: Associate Supertindent, Special Services, CUSD
2004: Chief Compliance Officer/PTA Liason for CSUD
2/07: Capistranto Unified Education Ass’n (CUEA) has Lohnes listed as Sexual Harassment Contact and Susan Roice, Exec Dir/Special Ed while the Ass’t Superintendent/Special Ed position is posted vacant.
2007: SAUSD appoints Lohnnes Assistant Superintendent, Special Services.
It appears Lohnes’s last few years at Capo were on a down trend, yet SAUSD hires Lohens as Ass’t Supt/Support Services.
The CUSD transcripts are available at:
http://www.ocregister.com/news/testimony-superintendent-fleming-1791599-former-trustees
Click on and learn first hand how Fleming engaged in interfering with the democractic process to recall certain members of the CUSD Board of Ed.
SAUSD bloggers should find the*intregal involvement of The Parent Council* and the beginnings of the Enemies List an eye opener.
One could observe that Lohnes apppointment as CUSD’s PTA liasion was a deliberate move on Fleming’s part to infiltrate.
Up-to-date test scores and student demographics for the Santa Ana Unified School District.
http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/ca/district_profile/487
#1259 Capo Mom
Ms Lohnes was appointed in 2004 according to a posted timeline. When did the recall effort start?
Thanks
#1260
The CUSD transcript reads like SAUSD. They’re both corruptive school districts. It kinda makes sense that these integrity challenged educators hang together.
The transcript read is better than any reality based TV show.
The Draper testimony provides compelling evidence as to why there should be term limits.
TO: Dr. A. Noji- President, Santa Ana Unified School Board
Subject: Graduation Waivers
Speaking on behalf of members of the staff of Saddleback High School, we
are deeply concerned about the granting of graduation requirement waivers by
our school site administrator, Esther Jones. It has come to our attention,
from a reliable source, that she was directed by Dr. Lewis Bratcher to take
whatever means necessary to increase the graduation rate at Saddleback High
School.
Mrs. Jones granted waivers to course requirements for 30 seniors and
allowed them to gain their diploma in direct violation of Board Policy. In
addition, 15 of those seniors, due to waived course requirements, did not
achieve the mandatory 240 credit requirement directed by Board policy as
well.
This situition occurred last year if you will recall, and we, were given
to understand that corrective action was taken and this type of situation
would not occur again. This type of action is not only illegal but also
unethical. The diplomas that are given out to graduating seniors, who
legitimately achieved passing scores and attained credit requirements, lose
validity and value. These waivers also usurp the final decision making
authority of the teacher. Our fellow teachers have already sited examples
of underclassmen saying things such as
As long as Audrey Noji is pulling Russo’s & Bratcher’s puppet strings, graduation waivers and school staffing will be lacking.
Noji’s unchecked loyalty to Brathcer is detrimental to the entire secondary level.
Why doesn’t the union file a formal compliant against the district for these aggregious violations??
Dr. Barton needs to step it up. Don’t abandon the teachers.
To Saddleback teachers: I think you need to take a lesson from the elementary teachers involved in the CSR fiasco. They complained and complained and nothing happened. And then the press got involved. And then Russo complained that you should have gone to her. And so it goes…
This problem is similar to the CSR problem. Until the problem is reported in the press, everyone on the BOE and at the DO sticks their heads in the sand and claim to know nothing.
Get the Los Angeles Times involved, get the union involved, report this to the Department of Ed, etc. Only then will those on Chestnut St. respond.
This board and the distridt admin. is the most do-nothing group of educators that I’ve ever worked with.
Students take matters into their own hands…cell phone cameras snap pictures or student-narrated clip video of overcrowded classes with peers sitting on the floors, on tables, standing, etc. and not enough books for students. Download images to disk and send to all available media, blogs, post on line. Just hire some teachers already.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
One graduation, two degrees
Sandy Fonseca graduated this spring with a high school diploma and a college degree.
By FERMIN LEAL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
High school student Sandy Fonseca graduated this spring with not only a diploma like the rest of her peers, but also with a college degree.
Sandy earned both a diploma and an associate of arts degree from her school, Middle College High in Santa Ana. The school is part of a partnership between Santa Ana College and Santa Ana Unified. Students attending the school can take college credit courses along with their regular high school work load.
Sandy is one of 13 students to graduate from her school this spring with both a college and high school degree.
Q: Why did you decide to enroll in Middle College High?
A: Middle College had caught my eye because they had small class sizes, offered college classes and because it was close to my middle school, Mendez Fundamental Intermediate. The idea of attending college and high school classes concurrently sounded like a good academic challenge and seemed to promise some good learning experiences.
Q: How different was it attending Middle College High compared to typical high school? Describe your typical school day?
A: Well, I can’t confidently say that I know what a typical high school is like, having attended Middle College for all four years of high school. However, from my experience at Saddleback High School (I had taken a PE class there for the summer) it really does seem a lot less crowded, even with all the college students around campus. I also feel more of a friendly and welcoming environment at Middle College; you are acquainted with just about everyone in the school and the teachers and counselors get to know you more personally.
Q: Describe your typical school day at Middle College High?
A: My typical day at Middle College was pretty much like what I think most high school students’ days would be like. I arrived on campus at about 7:30 a.m. so I could be with my friends until classes started at 8 a.m. I might attend high school or college classes, but I usually arranged my schedule so I would have a regular schedule and be free at 3:00 p.m. Other students, however, might not have to start classes until 10 a.m. or leave school until as late as 9 p.m. due to the way they arranged their schedules. As you can see, Middle College students certainly have a lot of flexibility with their schedules.
Q: How does it feel to already have a college degree when most of the students your age do not?
A: I have to admit, I feel accomplished and somewhat odd knowing that I am two years ahead of most other students. At the Cal State Fullerton new student orientation, I was most certainly proud that I could concentrate on my major and not have to worry about spending two more years to complete my general education classes.
Q: What will you study at Cal State Fullerton? What are your career plans after college?
A: I am going to major in art, with an emphasis in animation and also get a minor in business or psychology. I have been planning to work in the animation industry for a long time, since cartoons have always brought me joy, and now I hope to do the same for others through my love of art. I’m not set on working in a specific studio yet, but I have always liked Disney and Nickelodeon. So I may end up in one of those studios someday.
Contact the writer: 714-445-6687 or fleal@ocregister.com
Message to Noji and Bratcher:
Did Natalie Funetes pass the math portion of the CASHEE test?
Saddleback quotes for the day: “O ye of little faith” “Hope ever urges on and tells us tomorrow will be better”
Report from Saddleback, Esther “Memo” Jones was removed from the School site today. Her keys were taken away and she was escorted off campus. Let’s all hope Jeff Bishop, Dan Salcedo, are next.
Around 14 new A/P’s were named at the last board meeting and many more are being reassigned to different schools.
Has any body driven around Valley High School? Check out all the furniture getting ruined. It’s just sitting out side in the sun. Much of it was to used again but may not be because the weather has destroyed it. What a waste!!!
Can anyone verify that memo jones has been pulled out?
It is way beyond time for that.
http://www.theacorn.com/news/2007/0802/Community/025.html
Former SAHS educator and VP takes up principalship in Calabasas
Vincent Jantz, an attorneyturnedteacher, is the new principal of Calabasas High School.
Jantz was named to the school’s top post by Dan Stepenosky, Las Virgenes Unified School District assistant superintendent of personnel .
“We are delighted to have Mr. Jantz join the district and look forward to his role on the Las Virgenes Unified School District administrative team,” Stepenosky said.
Jantz, 59, got a taste of teaching while practicing law in Southern California. He said he taught his first class in 1976 and for the next 20 years taught college-level law classes parttime while keeping his day job.
But a midlife crisis got Jantz thinking differently about life. “What does it all mean; what’s it all about- those things you think about in your mid-40s,” Jantz said. “I decided I wanted a second chapter.”
The second chapter for Jantz meant giving up law for good and launching a career with the Santa Ana Unified School District. Jantz has taught many grade levels, from sixth grade to graduate school. He left his post as assistant principal of Santa Ana High School for the new job at Calabasas.
He settled on high schoollevel teaching and administration for several reasons. He said high school is somewhat of a “middle ground.”
“The materials (students are) looking at are much more difficult and complex,” he said. “Yet you still have influence on them. At college, (students are) already beginning to select what they’re going to do.”
“When it was all said and done, the one thing I decided I wanted to be identified as was teacher,” Jantz said regarding his career move into education.
Jantz found his progression into administration equally rewarding. He headed the “Small Learning Community” grant at Santa Ana High School, which allowed a large school to operate in smaller learning sections. Jantz also oversaw the school’s guidance department, helping students choose the right courses in the correct sequence.
On curriculum issues, Jantz was responsible for helping English learners navigate their way through school. He focused on raising students’ grades and helping them reclaim class credits so they could graduate.
“I constantly had to remind students what their ultimate goal is- to graduate and get past the (California High School Exit Exam),” Jantz said.
At Calabasas, with its high achieving students, Jantz expects to continue on the path of success by finding additional opportunities where students can shine. Specifically, he hopes to move more students into honors and advanced placement courses and find ways to raise SAT scores.
Expectations for Calabasas students are already high, but Jantz believes there’s room for improvement. He’d like all students to reach their full potential and carry their success on to fouryear colleges.
Jantz said it’s also his job to make sure teachers have the proper tools to work with. Technology upgrades paid for through Measure G- and a city-school partnership to train teachers on the new equipment- will help Jantz and his instructors meet their goals.
Limited space has been an issue at the campus, Jantz said. A new building with 10 new classrooms, restrooms and an elevator will relieve campus congestion, he said.
Asked whether he has an advantage as an attorneyturnedprincipal, Jantz said perhaps.
“Lawyers are the same wherever you go,” he said. “I think by analogy.”
He said he uses the Socratic method to work out problems and tends to ask many questions to gain the information he needs. “I don’t think I cross-examine people. I’m just trying to resolve problems in my own mind.”
“I like new situations,” he said. “I like being captain of a ship. Right here I can make most of my decisions, and I like that.”
If Jones is finally gone, you’re going to see the biggest collection of freaks, pedophiles, sexual harassers, incompetents, sycophants, thieves, bullies and abusers get outted and have to flee the ship. She was quite the collector of misfits.
She’s cost SAUSD huge amounts of money by her selfish choices to protect and promote some of the most compromised employees to be found.
One can be judged by the company kept.
There is that special education aide that
One graduation, two degrees
Sandy Fonseca graduated this spring with a high school diploma and a college degree.
By FERMIN LEAL
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
High school student Sandy Fonseca graduated this spring with not only a diploma like the rest of her peers, but also with a college degree.
Sandy earned both a diploma and an associate of arts degree from her school, Middle College High in Santa Ana. The school is part of a partnership between Santa Ana College and Santa Ana Unified. Students attending the school can take college credit courses along with their regular high school work load.
Sandy is one of 13 students to graduate from her school this spring with both a college and high school degree.
Q: Why did you decide to enroll in Middle College High?
A: Middle College had caught my eye because they had small class sizes, offered college classes and because it was close to my middle school, Mendez Fundamental Intermediate. The idea of attending college and high school classes concurrently sounded like a good academic challenge and seemed to promise some good learning experiences.
Q: How different was it attending Middle College High compared to typical high school? Describe your typical school day?
A: Well, I can’t confidently say that I know what a typical high school is like, having attended Middle College for all four years of high school. However, from my experience at Saddleback High School (I had taken a PE class there for the summer) it really does seem a lot less crowded, even with all the college students around campus. I also feel more of a friendly and welcoming environment at Middle College; you are acquainted with just about everyone in the school and the teachers and counselors get to know you more personally.
Q: Describe your typical school day at Middle College High?
A: My typical day at Middle College was pretty much like what I think most high school students’ days would be like. I arrived on campus at about 7:30 a.m. so I could be with my friends until classes started at 8 a.m. I might attend high school or college classes, but I usually arranged my schedule so I would have a regular schedule and be free at 3:00 p.m. Other students, however, might not have to start classes until 10 a.m. or leave school until as late as 9 p.m. due to the way they arranged their schedules. As you can see, Middle College students certainly have a lot of flexibility with their schedules.
Q: How does it feel to already have a college degree when most of the students your age do not?
A: I have to admit, I feel accomplished and somewhat odd knowing that I am two years ahead of most other students. At the Cal State Fullerton new student orientation, I was most certainly proud that I could concentrate on my major and not have to worry about spending two more years to complete my general education classes.
Q: What will you study at Cal State Fullerton? What are your career plans after college?
A: I am going to major in art, with an emphasis in animation and also get a minor in business or psychology. I have been planning to work in the animation industry for a long time, since cartoons have always brought me joy, and now I hope to do the same for others through my love of art. I’m not set on working in a specific studio yet, but I have always liked Disney and Nickelodeon. So I may end up in one of those studios someday.
Does anyone know how many students this school has? What about the rest of them? Did they at least get a high school diploma?
#1274
Your claims are disturbing. If your complaints have been ignored by administrators, I suggest you enlist a video-savvy parent to record this teacher’s alleged display of inappropriate disrobing and post it on YouTube.
After that’s done alert OJ about the posting and create some buzz. I’d also recommend you email Supt Russo, Dr. Bratcher, and the BofE and provide the YouTube link for their personal viewing.
An employee accused of sexual harassment will be the new teacher in a SH classroom at Saddleback High School. He was off on paid administrative leave and then quietly placed where they think no one is watching. Those students can