6 EDCAL June 24, 2019
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Transitions
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“We have a really strong LGBTQ
community,” Rio Americano High School
Counselor Meghan Wilson said. “And we
also hold meetings. And the kids are inclu-
sive. And I think he could be who he really
was here. And he knew he was accepted in
that way.”
That’s not to say everything was picture
perfect from the start. Jelan arrived at Rio
Americano broken and bitter. It took time
to build relationships with staff members
and students.
“Jelan definitely came in not trusting
anybody,” Rio Americano High School
Vice Principal Rob Kerr said. “So that is a
tough thing to build over time, and luckily
Jelan hung in there.”
Rio Americano High School Principal
Brian Ginter met Jelan when he first
arrived at the school. Ginter said he was
immediately drawn to Jelan and his poten-
tial.
“I kind of felt like he could make
something of himself and turn it around,”
Ginter said. “And I just stuck with him no
matter how mean or nasty he may have
been at the time. But he did turn it around
because he wanted to.”
Over time, Jelan embraced the people at
Rio Americano as they encouraged him to
live life as his truest self.
“I feel like I found a very supportive
RIBBON
Continued from page 1
care and education.
• Parents should be treated as experts
on their children’s care and education. No
new program should be implemented with-
out parent input.
• The ECE workforce should be sup-
ported in developing expertise and com-
pensated as their counterparts in the K-12
system are.
• Establish the Early Childhood Policy
Council to be the primary advisory body
on ECE for the Legislature, governor and
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
For two years, the California Assembly
Blue Ribbon Commission on Early
Childhood Education devoted substantial
time and attention to this topic, participat-
ing in eight public hearings and over 70
calls and in-person meetings.
“The Blue Ribbon Commission’s com-
prehensive recommendations resulted from
deep discussions and review of related
research on Early Childhood Education as
Jelan Gentry said the support he found at Rio Americano High School made him feel comfortable to be himself.
community here at Rio,” he said. “No
matter what I wanted to do. If I wanted
to wear nails one day, I could wear that. If
I wanted to wear wigs one day, I could do
that here.”
Jelan graduated from Rio Americano in
December and plans to attend college in
North Carolina this fall.
“Honestly, I would say I’m really proud
of who I am now,” Jelan said. “Yes, I still
deal with things to this day. But when
you’re happy with yourself, no one can tell
you what you can be and who you can be.
I’m so strong that no one can break me
down. I know that I’m always going to pick
myself up no matter what.”
“We sincerely hope
these recommendations
serve as a roadmap
to ensuring ongoing
improvements in the
ways California’s 0-5
year olds ... are served
and set for success ...”
Parvin Ahmadi
Superintendent of Castro Valley Unified School
District and member of Assembly Blue Ribbon
Commission
well as input from all stakeholders,” said
Parvin Ahmadi, Superintendent of Castro
Valley Unified School District and ACSA
board member, who served on the com-
mission. “We sincerely hope these recom-
mendations serve as a roadmap to ensur-
ing ongoing improvements in the ways
Paid Advertisement
“When you’re happy
with yourself, no one
can tell you what you
can be and who you can
be.”
Jelan Gentry
Rio Americano High School graduate
California’s 0-5 year olds, especially those
from historically underserved communities,
are served and set for success as they attend
kindergarten and beyond.”
Children from low-income families
often experience hard-
ships that adversely
affect their develop-
ment. ECE is proven
Read the full
to mitigate the effects
report at
bit.ly/BRC-Final-
of poverty and narrow
Report
disparities based on
income and race. In
California, 20 percent
of families with children under the age of 6
have incomes below the poverty line.
ECE comes at a critical period of child-
hood development that sets the stage for
a child’s capabilities and opportunities the
rest of their lives, while enabling family
members to work and obtain the training
and education to move out of low-wage
jobs. However, only 28 percent of the
900,000 California children under age 5
eligible for subsidized programs were able
to take advantage of subsidies, largely due
to a lack of state and federal funding.
FYI
Lawrence Homer Moore Jr., 83,
passed away Saturday, May 4, 2019 at
the Rehabilitation Centre of Beverly
Hills in Los Angeles. Moore and his
wife were an extraordinary team com-
mitted to improving the education of
children, especially those of color. They
were leaders in the National Council
on Educating the Black Child and the
Council of Black Administrators, which
in 2017 established the Dr. Lawrence
H. Moore Human Relationships
Scholarships. Moore’s career in the
Los Angeles Unified School District
spanned from 1961 to his retirement
in 2000. He served as a teacher and
principal and also held administrative
positions as Director of Instruction,
Cluster Administrator, Coordinator, and
Director of Professional Development.
In partnership with African-American,
Asian, Jewish and Mexican-American
associations, Moore organized the
Multicultural Coalition to pro-
mote better human relations within
LAUSD. Moore received numerous
awards, among others, the Charter
College of Education Distinguished
Educator Award, the Honorable
Augustus F. Hawkins Distinguished
Service Award, the Association of
California School Administrators
Outstanding Administrator and the
Diane E. Watson Award. In tribute to
his extraordinary education career, in
2011, the LAUSD Board of Education
named a new school in his honor —
Dr. Lawrence H. Moore Mathematics,
Science and Technology Academy.
nnn
Natomas Unified School District
is pleased to announce the promotion
of Angela Herrera from Associate
Superintendent to Chief Academic
Officer, Scott Fitzgerald from Director
of Student Affairs to Principal of Leroy
Greene Academy, Alana Cayabyab
from Middle School Assistant Principal
to Principal of Bannon Creek K-8
School and Jennifer Orosco from
Supervisor to Coordinator II of the
Nutrition Services/Warehousing
Department. In addition, the district
welcomes Paul Rosencrans, Executive
Director in Operations (Nutrition
Services, Warehouse, Transportation
and Maintenance and Operations),
and Deidra Powell as Director in
Communications.
Submit ACSA member job changes,
retirements and obituaries for Transitions
to Michelle Carl, [email protected].
Parnell, Kotamraju chosen to lead
divisions at California Dept. of Ed
State Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tony Thurmond announced
June 11 that he has appointed new
directors for the California Department
of Education Improvement and
Accountability Division and Career and
College Transition Division.
Denise Parnell, an expert administrator
of student support services, will lead the
Improvement and Accountability Division.
Pradeep Kotamraju, a nationally rec-
ognized researcher in Career Technical
Education, will head the Career and
College Transition Division.
“Dr. Parnell and Dr. Kotamraju are two
established and highly regarded educators
in their fields,” said Thurmond. “Both
bring extensive experience, knowledge, and
unique perspectives to their new positions.
They are welcome additions to the CDE
team, and their leadership will enable the
work that supports and improves educa-
tional opportunities for all of our students
to continue.”
Parnell was recently the Director of
Student Support Services and Federal
Categorical Programs at the Cajon Valley
Union School District. Parnell will assume
her new position on July 1. She replaces
former IAD Director Melanie Schoeppe.
Kotamraju is the former Iowa
Department of Education Bureau Chief,
CTE. At the CDE, Kotamraju will oversee
the state’s CTE Incentive Grant program.
In addition to CTE programs, Kotamraju
will support secondary education, adult
education, workforce development, and
technology-centric learning. Kotamraju
will start his new position on July 1. He
replaces former CCTD Director Donna
Wyatt.