6 EDCAL September 25 , 2017
High school students urged to register to vote
Secretary of State Alex Padilla made an appearance at Santa Maria High School last week as part of High School Voter Education Weeks . Padilla was joined by Santa Maria-are Senator Hannah Beth Jackson .
With the release of a back-to-school pre-registration toolkit , Padilla is promoting High School Voter Education Weeks , designated in the Education Code as the last two full weeks in April and September .
The toolkit includes a new “ Our Time is
Now ” PSA video urging 16- and 17- yearolds to pre-register to vote , as well as sample social media posts , downloadable posters , brochures , and useful links for school districts to share with students . Watch the video at https :// goo . gl / Kx1787 , and access the toolkit at www . sos . ca . gov / elections / back-school-pre-registration-tool-kit .
The pre-registration weeks provide an opportunity for high schools and their students to partner with elections officials to promote civic education and participation on campus and foster an environment that cultivates lifelong voters and active citizens , according to Padilla . Eligible 16- and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote online anytime at www . RegisterToVote . ca . gov , and have their voter registration automatically become active when they turn 18 .
In a joint letter to county and district superintendents , Padilla and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson declare , “ As we encounter local elections around the state in 2017 and prepare for the
2018 gubernatorial elections , it is important to ensure that our students are learning to become active and engaged participants in our democracy . It is never too early to motivate your students to get involved . That ’ s why we strongly encourage your schools to observe High School Voter Education Weeks on September 18-29 to put your students on the path to lifetime civic engagement and voting . And now , with online pre-registration … it ’ s easier than ever to get students prepared to cast their own ballots .”
ROBERTSON
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human resources in 2007 . Her desire to work in education stretches back to fifth grade .
“ I was inspired to become an administrator because of my principal ,” Robertson- Phillips said . “ She was an African American female in the late 1970 ’ s in a predominately White community . As my sister and I were two of only three or four African American students at the whole school , you can image that this principal was an incredible inspiration to us .
“ I saw in her who I wanted to be when I grew up . Given the fact that I was sent to her office by my teachers quite often – I wasn ’ t exactly a teacher pleaser – I know she would be surprised and proud to learn that I have become an educator and that she was my inspiration .”
Teacher pleaser or not , Robertson- Phillips has certainly pleased her colleagues at Redlands USD .
She “ is a pivotal member of our executive management team ,” said Redlands
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USD Superintendent Lori Rhodes . She calls Robertson-Phillips a “ leader among leaders ,” and continues , “ Under her watch , the ( HR ) Department implemented a new teacher hiring process that has made a positive difference in the quality of new teachers we bring into RUSD and has positively impacted instruction .”
The program made such a constructive impact , it was selected to be presented at CSBA ’ s 2015 statewide conference as a model hiring process . This is just one in an impressive list of Robertson-Phillips ’ accomplishments in her years at Redlands USD . Others include working collaboratively to form the RUSD / UofR Language Speech and Hearing partnership ; co-chairing the Redlands USD Future Ready workgroup to develop the district ’ s leadingedge Instructional Technology Department ; structuring management team trainings to ensure the highest codes of ethics are maintained ; and integrating the CSTP into Redlands USD evaluation systems , all in addition to the daily work of earning the trust and respect of all district staff .
“ I am most proud that as a division , we have successfully revamped our teacher hiring
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process ,” Robertson-Phillips said of her accomplishments . “ Moving from a single 20-minute interview to a multiple step process that spans two days – including a PLC activity , a writing activity , and two interviews – is such an accomplishment .”
As for the future , she continues to work to create impactful change for the students she serves . “ I hope to stay involved in continued efforts to collaborate with the universities in the Inland Empire to recruit high school students in our local area high schools ,” she said . “ It is my hope that these students will stay in the local area after college and give their talents back to our communities .”
Robertson-Phillips credits ACSA with being “ a support throughout my career ,” especially in her current position , “ Whether it has been workshops , trainings , newsletters or advocacy .”
“ I am fortunate to teach in the ACSA Principals Academy , which has been a huge growth opportunity for me ,” she continued . “ It has allowed me to network with current and future administrators and to become a mentor to administrators who have come through the academy .
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“ I truly appreciate all that ACSA does on behalf of school administrators . I have been inspired by so many people I have worked with throughout my education journey . The common thread that is woven through each person is their belief that creativity , high expectations , out-of-the-box thinking , and dreaming are limitless .
“ I have been mentored by creative leaders who believe in keeping students at the focus of all decisions and finding ways to make meaningful change happen .”
The theme of the 2017 Leadership Summit is Leading Beyond Limits , something Robertson-Phillips can certainly speak to .
“ I believe that we redefine what is possible by refusing to accept status quo ,” she said . “ We lead beyond limits because while we accept that limits exist , we surround ourselves with educators who see beyond the limits – and we do not let the limits define us or the impact we want our organization to have on students and the communities we serve .
“ I keep these thoughts at the forefront of all I do .”
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VIVIANA
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Her new life in the United States brought new expectations . Viviana became an extension of her parents to her three younger siblings , Gustavo , Alejandro and Emily .
“ When they brought us here , they brought us with the intention of receiving a better education than they received ,” Viviana said . “ I wanted to make them feel proud of all their sacrifices and set the standard for my siblings .”
A typical day for Viviana includes rushing home from school to help her brothers and sister with their homework . She must also assist her parents with various appointments and meetings as their translator .
“ At first , I thought , like , ‘ Why am I the one who has to be doing all this ?’” Viviana said . “ Because it was a lot at once . But now that I look back , it ’ s only a small portion of what my parents had to sacrifice , and so doing this for them makes me feel good . And I ’ m glad to be doing it .”
In some ways , Viviana is giving up a part of her childhood . But her sacrifice is not lost on her parents .
“ I ’ m very proud of her because she ’ s a good student ,” Viviana ’ s father Arnulfo Patino said . “ She helps her siblings with everything . If they need something they don ’ t know with their homework , she ’ s the one who tells them how to do it .”
Much has been asked of Viviana Patino . She grew up fast because she did not have a choice . But she accepted the added responsibility with open arms .
“ I ’ m just so proud of her ,” Roseville teacher Debbie Sidler said . “ I ’ m proud of her for not giving up when giving up was probably the first thought in her mind . She ’ s opening that door for her family to follow in her footsteps . And I believe that they will by the example that she ’ s set .”
Viviana understands she is a role model to her younger siblings . This spring , she became the first member of her family to graduate from high school . And now she ’ s off to college .
“ I feel proud of myself for everything I ’ ve done and for , I think , the good example I ’ m setting for my siblings ,” Viviana said . “ I ’ m showing them that no matter where we started you can always get better . And challenging yourself is a good way to prove that .”
WEATHER
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dated by Congress in the Global Change Research Act of 1990 to “ assist the nation and the world to understand , assess , predict and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change .” Acknowledging the impact of climate change as a significant threat on human health in the United States is only the first step .
How climate change will affect human health in the future is what is most important . Educating our children practically goes without saying . Yet , the U . S . Department of Education is not among the agencies participating in the USGCRP , whose motto is “ One Vision : Empower the Nation with Global Change Science .” The agencies that are participating include the Departments of Agriculture , Commerce , Defense , Energy , Health and Human Services , Interior , State , Transportation , the Environmental Protection Agency , the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , National Science Foundation , Smithsonian Institution , and the U . S . Agency for International Development .
If you are as curious as I am about why the U . S . DOE is not among this interagency collaborative , please contact the Global Change program at www . globalchange . gov and DOE at www . ed . gov and ask why . Your involvement and shared interest in your child ’ s education and the world he or she is about to inherit is another reason why it ’ s a great time to be a student in the Duarte Unified School District .