Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Read more about Steve Zimmer
Want to know more about LAUSD Board Member Steve Zimmer -- the featured speaker at next week's Educational Forum sponsored by Marina Del Rey Middle School Booster Club and Teach For America? Click here.
Educational Forum Sponsored by Marina Del Rey Booster Club Press Release
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2009
“Stay or Go: Can Recent Reforms Save Neighborhood Schools?”
Featuring LAUSD Board Member Steve Zimmer
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 7:15 pm – 8:30 PM
Los Angeles, Calif. – The Marina Del Rey Booster Club and Teach For America are proud to announce an evening of educational dialogue featuring Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Steve Zimmer. Focusing on the recent school choice resolution passed by the Board, Mr. Zimmer, and several other key educational voices, will discuss how these reforms impact neighborhood schools in Del Rey, Venice, Westchester, Mar Vista and other westside communities. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Marina Del Rey Middle School and Performing Arts Magnet at 12500 Braddock Dr., Los Angeles 90066.
The event will begin with comments from Councilman Bill Rosendahl before Mr. Zimmer delivers an address on his vision for neighborhood schools. A veteran classroom teacher for 18 years, Mr. Zimmer, who won election to the Board in January 2009, will then join the evening’s moderator, Eric DeSobe, a former teacher in Compton and current chair of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council Education Sub-Committee, for a discussion on how local schools are handling budget cuts, charter schools, and state testing. Questions welcomed from the audience during this time.
Following Mr. Zimmer’s comments and answers, Mr. DeSobe will moderate a panel discussion with Tommy Chang, principal of Green Dot Animo Venice High School, Tory Toyama, veteran teacher at Venice High School, and Elizabeth Campos Layne, Playa Del Rey Elementary Booster Club President, mother, and homeowner, on the future of neighborhood schools. Questions from the audience welcomed during this time.
“Educational issues affect all aspects of a community,” said Eric DeSobe.. “I am looking forward to engaging so many different perspectives on the possible solutions to the ever increasing challenges facing neighborhood schools.”
The Los Angeles Board of Education authorized a school-control plan in August; it applies to low-achieving existing schools and to 51 new campuses set to open over the next four years in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The nation's second-largest school system will invite bidders from inside and outside the district to run low-performing and new schools next year through a proposal process that is still being developed.
The event is free and open to anyone interested. For more information about the event, call (310) 936-4905.
The Marina Del Rey Booster Club represents students and families through fundraisers, event planning, and financial support. The Booster Club meets monthly and welcomes all Marina Del Rey Middle School parents. Teach For America is an independent nonprofit organization that works to close the educational achievement gap in urban and rural public schools. For more information, go to www.teachforamerica.org.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2009
“Stay or Go: Can Recent Reforms Save Neighborhood Schools?”
Featuring LAUSD Board Member Steve Zimmer
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 7:15 pm – 8:30 PM
Los Angeles, Calif. – The Marina Del Rey Booster Club and Teach For America are proud to announce an evening of educational dialogue featuring Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Steve Zimmer. Focusing on the recent school choice resolution passed by the Board, Mr. Zimmer, and several other key educational voices, will discuss how these reforms impact neighborhood schools in Del Rey, Venice, Westchester, Mar Vista and other westside communities. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Marina Del Rey Middle School and Performing Arts Magnet at 12500 Braddock Dr., Los Angeles 90066.
The event will begin with comments from Councilman Bill Rosendahl before Mr. Zimmer delivers an address on his vision for neighborhood schools. A veteran classroom teacher for 18 years, Mr. Zimmer, who won election to the Board in January 2009, will then join the evening’s moderator, Eric DeSobe, a former teacher in Compton and current chair of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council Education Sub-Committee, for a discussion on how local schools are handling budget cuts, charter schools, and state testing. Questions welcomed from the audience during this time.
Following Mr. Zimmer’s comments and answers, Mr. DeSobe will moderate a panel discussion with Tommy Chang, principal of Green Dot Animo Venice High School, Tory Toyama, veteran teacher at Venice High School, and Elizabeth Campos Layne, Playa Del Rey Elementary Booster Club President, mother, and homeowner, on the future of neighborhood schools. Questions from the audience welcomed during this time.
“Educational issues affect all aspects of a community,” said Eric DeSobe.. “I am looking forward to engaging so many different perspectives on the possible solutions to the ever increasing challenges facing neighborhood schools.”
The Los Angeles Board of Education authorized a school-control plan in August; it applies to low-achieving existing schools and to 51 new campuses set to open over the next four years in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The nation's second-largest school system will invite bidders from inside and outside the district to run low-performing and new schools next year through a proposal process that is still being developed.
The event is free and open to anyone interested. For more information about the event, call (310) 936-4905.
The Marina Del Rey Booster Club represents students and families through fundraisers, event planning, and financial support. The Booster Club meets monthly and welcomes all Marina Del Rey Middle School parents. Teach For America is an independent nonprofit organization that works to close the educational achievement gap in urban and rural public schools. For more information, go to www.teachforamerica.org.
# # #
Thursday, September 24, 2009
DONE Grant Application
Click here to download the grant application that traditional public schools should use to apply for funds from the Del Rey Neighborhood Council.
Panelists Confirmed for Tuesday, Oct. 6th Educational Forum
I'm excited to announce our three educational panelists for the Tuesday, Oct. 6th event at Marina Del Rey Middle School. In addition to Steve Zimmer, LAUSD Board Member, and Bill Rosendahl, LA City Councilman, the evening will feature three distinct voices representing the key components of the public education debate.
Read their bios below:
Tory Toyama is a native of Los Angeles who joined Teach For America in 2001 after graduating from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Biology and a B.A. in Political Science. His initial placement was 7th grade Science/Health at Wilmington Middle School, while concurrently pursuing a Master's Degree in Secondary Education with the Loyola Marymount TFA cohort. After his first two years at Wilmington, Tory was elected to the School Site Council, serving as secretary, served as the Science Dept Chair, and Lead 7th Grade Teacher. He was also appointed as Chemical Safety Coordinator, providing mandated school-wide training. Tory taught regular, special education, honors, and English Language Learners at Wilmington for five years. Tory then joined the staff at Venice High School where he has recently started his fourth year of teaching Biology and ICS (freshman science). He is also helping to start up a new small learning community, CASAA (Culinary Arts and Sustainable Agriculture Acadamy) which joins the existing organic garden with the new cooking club.
As a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Tommy Chang was a 1997 Los Angeles Teach For America corps member who taught six years at Compton High School in Compton, CA. During his six years, Tommy created an AP Biology program at Compton High and succeeded in helping the first students in Compton Unified history to pass the exam. He also coached a year-round softball program that won its first league game in 27 years, and, moreover, graduated all nine of its 2001 seniors, six of whom attended University of California schools. During his six years in Compton, he continued his education at University of California, Los Angeles, first through the Teacher Education Master’s Program, and then through the Principal Leadership Institute. After receiving his administrative master’s and credential, Tommy joined Green Dot Public Schools, first teaching biology at Ánimo Inglewood Charter High School and in Fall 2004, took on the task of founding principal of Ánimo Venice Charter High School. Animo Venice is a comprehensive high school located in the Oakwood community of Venice that serves 525 students, 80% of which are free/reduced lunch and 95% ethnic minorities. In June of 2008, Animo Venice graduated the first group of seniors in June 2008 with 100% of graduates applying to a minimum of three 4-year universities and 79% of graduates being accepted into at least one university/college. Tommy continues to stay involved in the Teach For America movement in his participation in various alumni events, teaches a Loyola Marymount graduate class for current corps members, and Animo Venice serves as a school site for the Los Angeles Summer Institute.
Elizabeth Campos Layne was born in Mexico, grew up in Santa Barbara and came to Los Angeles to attend UCLA. After receiving a BA in Psychology she went on to pursue a Master’s Degree in social work and served as a licensed clinical social worker for a county hospital. In 1999 after buying a home in Del Rey, she realized her passion for real estate and became a realtor. Now married with three daughters, two of which attend Playa del Rey Elementary School, Elizabeth followed another calling and got more involved with her daughters’ local school. She was elected to School Site Council (SSC) and also participated in Compensatory Education Advisory Committee (CEAC). Both organizations supported Playa de Rey Elementary students and teachers and played a key role in the school’s signifcant growth on last year’s state tests. This year Elizabeth will continue with the SSC and will also serve as president of The Friends of Playa Elementary.
Read their bios below:
Tory Toyama is a native of Los Angeles who joined Teach For America in 2001 after graduating from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Biology and a B.A. in Political Science. His initial placement was 7th grade Science/Health at Wilmington Middle School, while concurrently pursuing a Master's Degree in Secondary Education with the Loyola Marymount TFA cohort. After his first two years at Wilmington, Tory was elected to the School Site Council, serving as secretary, served as the Science Dept Chair, and Lead 7th Grade Teacher. He was also appointed as Chemical Safety Coordinator, providing mandated school-wide training. Tory taught regular, special education, honors, and English Language Learners at Wilmington for five years. Tory then joined the staff at Venice High School where he has recently started his fourth year of teaching Biology and ICS (freshman science). He is also helping to start up a new small learning community, CASAA (Culinary Arts and Sustainable Agriculture Acadamy) which joins the existing organic garden with the new cooking club.
As a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Tommy Chang was a 1997 Los Angeles Teach For America corps member who taught six years at Compton High School in Compton, CA. During his six years, Tommy created an AP Biology program at Compton High and succeeded in helping the first students in Compton Unified history to pass the exam. He also coached a year-round softball program that won its first league game in 27 years, and, moreover, graduated all nine of its 2001 seniors, six of whom attended University of California schools. During his six years in Compton, he continued his education at University of California, Los Angeles, first through the Teacher Education Master’s Program, and then through the Principal Leadership Institute. After receiving his administrative master’s and credential, Tommy joined Green Dot Public Schools, first teaching biology at Ánimo Inglewood Charter High School and in Fall 2004, took on the task of founding principal of Ánimo Venice Charter High School. Animo Venice is a comprehensive high school located in the Oakwood community of Venice that serves 525 students, 80% of which are free/reduced lunch and 95% ethnic minorities. In June of 2008, Animo Venice graduated the first group of seniors in June 2008 with 100% of graduates applying to a minimum of three 4-year universities and 79% of graduates being accepted into at least one university/college. Tommy continues to stay involved in the Teach For America movement in his participation in various alumni events, teaches a Loyola Marymount graduate class for current corps members, and Animo Venice serves as a school site for the Los Angeles Summer Institute.
Elizabeth Campos Layne was born in Mexico, grew up in Santa Barbara and came to Los Angeles to attend UCLA. After receiving a BA in Psychology she went on to pursue a Master’s Degree in social work and served as a licensed clinical social worker for a county hospital. In 1999 after buying a home in Del Rey, she realized her passion for real estate and became a realtor. Now married with three daughters, two of which attend Playa del Rey Elementary School, Elizabeth followed another calling and got more involved with her daughters’ local school. She was elected to School Site Council (SSC) and also participated in Compensatory Education Advisory Committee (CEAC). Both organizations supported Playa de Rey Elementary students and teachers and played a key role in the school’s signifcant growth on last year’s state tests. This year Elizabeth will continue with the SSC and will also serve as president of The Friends of Playa Elementary.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
API scores for 2008-2009
Here are the Academic Performance Index (API) score links for Del Rey Schools. Remember,the state goal is 800 out of 1000. While state tests are not the end all be all for learning in our schools they are an indicator I think is worth noting. As you can see, lots of growth for many of our schools and plenty to celebrate.
Short Ave. Elementary
Braddock Drive Elementary
Stoner Elementary
Playa Del Rey Elementary
Marina Del Rey Middle School
Ocean Charter School
ICEF Vista Elementary School
ICEF Vista Middle School
Short Ave. Elementary
Braddock Drive Elementary
Stoner Elementary
Playa Del Rey Elementary
Marina Del Rey Middle School
Ocean Charter School
ICEF Vista Elementary School
ICEF Vista Middle School
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)