COMMUNICATIONS and Public Affairs
ACOE In the News: Archive
Airport workers fight to unionize, February 13, 2010, Oakland Tribune
Oakland--State and local political and labor leaders joined security workers at Oakland International Airport on Friday for a rally demanding union rights.
School Charter Extension, February 12, 2010, New York Times
The FAME charter school in Fremont appears to be heading toward a five-year renewal of its charter in March.
School arts fundraiser continues long tradition, February 9, 2010, Argus
Newark--Nearly two decades ago, local schools started to see an economic pinch that was inhibiting their ability to introduce students to performing arts.
Cumbre Educativa, February 6, 2010, Vision Hispana
Para cerrar la diferencia de rendimiento escolar de los estudiantes adolescentes Afro-Americanos y Latinos.
Fiscal adviser picked for schools, January 29, 2010, Daily Review, Argus
Hayward--"We are cutting into the bone" was the mantra repeated often last year during school district budgeting process.
Awards will honor those who help English Learners, January 29, 2010, Daily Review, Tri-Valley Herald, Argus
Hayward--Educators this weekend will honor colleagues who are dedicated to serving the state's large English-learning population.
Chief's goal: Improve Hayward Schools, January 25, 2010, Daily Review, Argus
Hayward--with three weeks on the job as interim superintendent of schools, Janis Duran is poised to present to the school board her plan to help the struggling district achieve its goals.
Oakland Teachers authorize strike, January 24, 2010 Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune
Oakland--State and local political and labor leaders joined security workers at Oakland International Airport on Friday for a rally demanding union rights.
Schools apply for Race to the Top, January 16, 2010, West County Times
Sacramento--Dozens of school districts have joined their county offices of education in bids to be part of the historic national Race to the Top education reform program.
Charter of Fremont School Extended, January 15, 2010, San Jose Mercury News
The Alameda County Board of Education on Wednesday extended for five years the charter of FAME public charter school, which operates two campuses in Fremont and one ine Alameda.
Renewal recommended for FAME charter school, January 12, 2010, Argus
Hayward--Despite audit findings last year that highlighted a number of questionable business practices by FAME Public Charter School, the Alameda County Office of Education is recommending that its board allow the school to continue to operate.
East Bay schools face insolvency, January 7, 2010, Oakland Tribune, Argus, Tri-Valley Herald, Contra Costa Times, Alameda Times Star, West County Times, Daily Review, Valley Times.
Struggling with state budget cuts, nearly half of East Bay school districts and educational agencies report that they may not be able to pay their bills in the next three years.
More Students Homeless, January 2, 2010, West County Times, Valley Times, Contra Costa Times
Local governments, school districts, nonprofits working to give youths much-need stability.
New Haven names interim business chief, December 30, 2009, Tri-City Voice
Jim O'Connor, a former middle school principal who has spent most of the past 25 years in school business management, has been hired on an interim basis to serve as Chief Business Officer of New Haven Unified School District.
School District's Business Officer to Resign, December 19, 2009, Daily Review
Chief Business Officer Ted Hood will resign after December 31, the New Haven school district announced Friday.
Beaming with Pride, December 18, 2009, Argus
Alameda County Superintendent of Schools Sheila Jordan signs a steel beam Wednesday at a ceremony held at the San Leandro High School's new Arts Education Center.
Report: Innovation in education is lacking, December 12-25, 2009, Vision Hispana
Innovation in education is lacking in many parts of the nation, thus undermining efforts to better prepare students for the workforce, according to a recent report by the U.S. Chamber Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW), the Center for American Progress, and Frederick M. Hess of the American Enterprise Insitute.
Mensaje de la Superintendente Jordan, December 12-25, 2009, Vision Hispana
Los ambientes seguros y sanos son críticos para el aprovechamiento académico de los estudiantes. Para este fin, el Departamento de Educación del Condado de Alameda (ACOE por sus siglas en inglés) trabaja muy de cerca en conjunto con el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Alameda (ACPHD por sus siglas en inglés) para asegurarse de que todas las escuelas en el condado reciban la información y los recursos más recientes para mantener a los niños a salvo, y en la escuela durante esta temporada de influenza.
School dropping anti-gay bullying lessons, December 11, 2009, Marin Independent Journal
The board blinked. Under the duress of a lawsuit and threats of recall, the Alameda Board of Education has voted to phase out an elementary school curriculum it adopted in May to prevent anti-gay bullying.
Charter school looks to boost capacity, December 4, 2009, Valley Times, Tri-Valley Herald.
Organizers of the Livermore Valley Charter School's high school expansion, already approved by the state to open next fall, are looking to double their capacity to more than 1,000 students.
A voice for county's troubled youths, December 4, 2009, Oakland Tribune, Daily Review, Alameda Times, Tri-Valley Herald, Argus
To get to Lauren Bishop's classroom, you first need to pass through a series of locked doors and security desks and into a sunlit, two-story hall lined with doors numbered 1 through 30.
Radio: Forum with Michael Krasny--Class Size Reduction, Friday November 20, 2009, KQED
A state program that has invested billions to shrink class sizes is coming apart, and the number of kids in many California classrooms is at the highest level in more than a decade. Supt. Jordan participated in the forum discussion.
Cantor to speak of the dangers of drugs at Las Lomas, November 19, 2009, Walnut Creek Journal
"This is your brains on drugs" may be an old slogan, but it will be the center of a talk given to Las Lomas students and parents the first week of December.
Television: Class sizes rising again in California schools, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, ABC11
A new survey shows how the economic crisis is having a serious impact on California schools. Most of the largest districts are increasing class size in kindergarten through 3rd grade, eroding the most expensive education reform in state history. This story was produced in conjunction with California Watch, a non-profit consortium of investigative reporters out of Berkeley. Supt. Jordan participated on the interview.
Wellness Center Helping Piedmont Youth, November 5, 2009, InsideBayArea.com
Lauren Alexander and her peers quickly went into action at a recent party when they saw a fellow Piemont HIgh School Student suffering from clear signs of alcohol poisoning.
Mock Trial Competition Named in Honor of Harley, November 4, 2009, Piedmont Post
The Alameda County Office of Education has renamed the annual high school competition in memory of the late Piedmont attorney Philip Harley, a partner at Kazan, McClain, Lyons, Greenwood & Harley, well known and respected for his many years of mentoring young attorneys...
Language is Everything: Charter School's Claim to Fame, November 3, 2009, San Jose Mercury News
It's 8.30 a.m. at FAME charter school in Fremont, and teacher Nahil Ireiqat is explaining to her Arabic I students like-sounding words, just one of the many ways the language can ambush learners.
Television: Schools on the Front Lines of the H1N1 Pandemic, Sunday November 1, 2009, NBC11
NBC Bay Area's Jessica Aguirre talks to Sheila Jordan, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools, and Marty Fenstersheib, Public Health Medical Director for Santa Clara County.
Berkeley Does Not Need a Charter School (Opinion), October 15, 2009, Berkeley Daily Planet
I agree with the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (BAMN) that Berkley does not need another charter school ("Activists Protest City's Proposed Charter School," Oct. 8-14).
Calendar Listing: Health, Book Fair, Blood Drive, September 15, 2009, Argus, Daily Review
The Alameda County Office of Education is holding its third annual Community Health Fair...
Math, Science get a boost at Cal State East Bay, September 13, 2009, Sunday Valley Times, Daily Review
$1.5 million grant will be used to help teaching hopefuls further their education
OpEd: No Time to Waste, September 9, 2009, Piedmont Post
An educator's approach to State governance reform
Cal State East Bay receives grant, September 9, 2009, Tri-City Voice
A $1.5 million grant from the national Science Foundation has been awarded to Cal State East Bay to support the university's expanding focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)...
Obama speech unnerving some parents, September 4, 2009, Tri-Valley Herald, Daily Review, Contra Costa Times, Valley Times
Schools get phone calls, e-mails, saving planned address to kids may be bid to 'indoctrinate' them.
Supplying for Education, August 27, 2009, Oakland Tribune, Valley Times, Alameda Times Star, Daily Review, Tri-Valley Herald
The county agency donated 150 backpacks stocked with schools supplies to area homeless shelters.
Schools may charge to play sports, July 30, 2009, San Leandro Times
School board commitee looks at 'donation' to balance budget.
Library fetes successful program, July 17, 2009, Daily Review, Argus
The Hayward Public Library hosted a celebration and recognition event in June to mark the first successful year of its new after-school homework centers.
Gov. wants texts online, June 11, 2009, Daily Democrat
Says making students, schools pay for textbooks not feasable today.
Supt. Jordan questions digital textbook initiative, June 9, 2009, KQED Radio (Click here to listen)
Sheila Jordan, Superintendent of Alameda County Schools discusses reasons why educators may find initiative challenging during an interview by Kelly Wilkinson.
Death highlights teen-drinking issue, June 2, 2009, Oakland Tribune
When Roni Melmed was raising three children in Lafayette, she knew that just because her house was a "no-drinking zone" didn't mean her kids weren't consuming alcohol elsewhere in town...
Your Special-needs Child, June 2009, Bay Area Parent monthly magazine
Parenting resources offered in the Bay Area
Clean Comedy cre brings funnies, May 25, 2009, The Argus
Clean comedy and cofee will highlight the recession buster Free Comedy Show on Thursday night.
Credentialing Fair, May 16, 2009, Community Calendar, The Argus
For those considering becoming a credentialed teacher in California, already working in a classroom as a paraprofessional or substitute teacher, recently graduated from college, or considering changing careers. Learn about single subject, multiple subject and special university programs....
District kicks off 'master plan' process, May 9, 2009, The Oakland Tribune
Alameda School Officials have kicked off their effort to develop a "master plan" for the district, setting a framework for its operations for up to the next 10 years...
A New School Garden for Portola Elementary, May 7, 2009, The Independent
Students at Portola Elementary School can hardly wait until the corn, squash, beans, strawberries, carrots, herbs, and other fruits and vegetables in their school garden begin growing...
School Stimulus: Nearly $1.2 billion, May 6, 2009, Alameda Times Star and West Contra Costa Times
California schools are preparing for their share of nearly $1.2 billion in federal stimulus money to be released this month for special education and low-income campuses...
Nasa funds new education program, April 22, 2009 San mateo County Times, Tri-Valley Herald, The Daily Review, InsideBayArea.com
Area high school students next school year will begin seeing a different approach to how teachers deliver science education, thanks to a $1.4 million grant from NASA...
Celebrate 20 years of creative kids, April 19, 2009, The Oakland Tribune
The Museum of Children's Art or MOCHA, in the historic Sswan's Marketplace in Old Oakland is celebrating it's 20th anniversary with exhibits showcasing artwork by local young artists...
'Silent Night' prompts complaint, April 17, 2009, The Argus, The Oakland Tribune, Contra Costa Times, Alameda Times Star
San Leandro--"Silent Night," the traditional Christmas carol about the birth of Jesus christ, doesn't inspire heavenly peace in Margarita Lacabe, wife of school board president Mike Katz-Lacabe...
NASA awards $1.4 million to high school project, April 10, 2009, The San Francisco Examiner
The Alameda County Office of Education was awarded $1.4 million by NASA to implement a new project sesigned to transform the presentation of science in California high schools...
Dealing with the School Budget, Guest Commentary, April 9, 2009, San Leandro Times
By Superintendent Christine Lim, San Leandro Unified School District, like other districts throughout the state, is experiencing deep pain as we struggle with the painful education cuts due to the state financial crisis...
Marijuana and the teen brain--tips for parents, April 9, 2009, Mendocino Beacon
About 60 residents and 20 police and volunteers sat scattered around Cotton Auditorium March 11 to hear Ralph Cantor speak about the effects of marijuana on the adolescent brain...
School District To Receive $2.4 Million in Stimulus Funds, April 9, 2009, Berkeley Daily Planet
Berkeley Unified School District is set to receive a healthy chunk of change next month. The district is going to get its share of $44 million in federal stimulus funds that the Obama Administration made available April 1 to states and schools for education reform, district officials said.
Students Rally for Change, April 8, 2009, Tri-City Voice
"I have a dream!"- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; "Si Se Puede!"- Cesar Chavez, "Yes We Can!"- President Brack Obama. John Muir Middle School's third annual peace rally kicked off with students cheering the catchphrase of three great leaders. Linking the legacies of King, Chavez, and Obama was a key theme of 'Season of Service, Period of Peace"...
An Advocate for Creativity, March 24, 2009, The Argus, The Daily Review, Tri-Valley Herald
Alameda County Schools Superintendent Sheila Jordan, talks with art teacher Linda Chittle about her classes' artwork at the opening of a new gallery at Newark Memorial High School...
A brilliant and beautiful beginning, March 19, 2009, Tri-City Voice
Students have worked hard to create artwork from ordinary to extraordinary. Practical or decorative, simple or intricate, even deceptively uncomplicated artwork reflects often complex thoughts of the artist...
Newark Memorial photo project being showcased at county education offices, March 23, 2009, The Argus
It all startet with an assignment. Newark Memorial High School teacher Mark Narciso instructed each of his beginning digital photography students to bring an old damaged family picture to class...
Nothing exorbitant, just deft spelling, March 18, 2009, Tri-Valley Herald, Contra Costa Times, Sunday Valley Times, The Argus
The winner of last weekend's Alameda County spelling bee, an Oakland fifth grader, attributes his stellar spelling books to his interest in books...
'A' for effort; 'B' for bee; 'C' for Oakland champ, March 17, 2009, Oakland Tribune, Alameda Times Star
When it began saturday morning, 37 Alameda County elementary school students buzzed with anticipation, hoping to be crowned the county's best speller...
Castro Valley teacher honored by county, February 28, 2009, Valley Times
Lots of gold stars for Castro Valley this week. First up, the Alameda County Office of Education has named Canyon Middle School teacher Lee Ann Chinn as the English Learner Teacher of the Year...
San Leandro schools budget cut by $4 million, February 26, 2009, The Argus
Elementary schools will take the brunt of $4 million in proposed cuts for the 2009-10 year, with school district trustees reluctantly deciding Tuesday to increase class sizes from 20 students to 28 students per teacher...
Exquisite dishes--with a side of character, February 23, 2009, The Argus, The Daily Review, The Sunday Times-West Contra Costa edition, Sunday Valley Times, Contra Costa Times, Tri-Valley Herald, Oakland Tribune, Alameda Times Star
Kevin and Julio are teenagers trying to beat drug and alcohol addictions at Thunder Road, a substance abuse treatment center on the outskirts of downtown Oakland...
Email was down, February 12, 2009, The Independent
At about 4 p.m. Monday, Pleasanton Unified's internet providers, The Alameda County Office of Education and At& T, experienced an issue with their equipment...
In Light of State Budget Mess, School Board says 'Prepare for the Worst', February 12, 2009, Berkeley Daily Planet
With the Berkeley Unified School District facing nearly $9 million in cuts over the next two years from California's worsening economic crisis, the Berkeley Board of Education cautioned the public last week that the time has come "to prepare for the worst."...
Canyon's 'Teacher of the Year', February 11, 2009, Castro Valley Forum
LeeAnn Chin, an English Language Development teacher at Canyon Middle School in Castro Valley, recently received the prestigious "Teacher of the Year" award from the Alameda County Office of Education...
Alameda County's school chiefs appeal to lawmakers, February 5, 2009, Oakland Tribune, Alameda Times Star, Valley Times, The Daily Review, Tri-Valley Herald
Public schools in California will suffer if the state slashes education funding to help balance its $40 billion deficit, a group of Alameda County superintendents told reporters at a Wednesday news conference at East Oakland's Roosevelt Middle School...
Alameda County Superintendents Urge Reform for Education Funding, February 4, 2009, NBC News, Channel 11 (Click here to view)
Public education is critical for California’s economic recovery. Unfortunately, at a time when we should invest more in our schools, the Governor proposes nearly $10 billion in both mid-year reductions as well as cuts for the 2009-2010 budget...
Sign up by Friday for dental screening, February 4, 2009, The Argus
The Southern Alameda County Dental Society will offer free dental screenings to low-income children ages 4-14 Saturday as part of the national 'Give Kids a Smile" campaign, which coincides with National Children's Dental Health Month...
Speaking Their Language, February 3, 2009, The Daily Review
For Roxanna Ghassemi of Washington Elementary School, helping students and their immigrant families bridge English language and culture barriers isn't limited just to the classroom...
Teacher Scores with English learners, January 31, 2009, The Daily Review
LeeAnn Chin has spent her life residing in the East Bay. She was raised in san Lorenzo, graduated from what was then Cal State Hayward and has spend a mojority of her longtime teaching career in the Castro Valley school district...
County to honor Blacow teacher, January 30, 2009, The Daily Review, The Argus
A teacher from Blacow Elementary School is among sic educators who will be honored Saturday for their work with students who are learning English...
Stimulus Plan Will Net berkeley Unified School District $4 Million Over Two years, January 29, 2009, Berkeley Daily Planet
The $819 billion federal economic recovery package that the House approved Wednesday will inject California public schools with nearly $10 billion in federal aid over the next two years, providing funds for scholarships, childcare development, at-risk children, Head Start, school renovations and other programs...
End Education Budget Uncertainty, January 28, 2009, Oakland Tribune, The Daily Review, Alameda Times Star, Tri-Valley Herald, The Argus
People around the country are celebrating a historic event and a demonstration of the power of individuals united in a vision for hope and change. This is not about one man, President Barack Obama, but in what his daring to do the seemingly impossible represents for us...
Esperanza y cambio: Darle fin a la incertidumbre de presupuestos para la educacion, Vision Hispana
Alreadedor del pais, la gente celebra un evento historico y una demonstracion del poder que tienen las personas cuando se unen en nombre de una vision de esperanza y cambio. No se trata de un hombre, el Presidente Barack Obama, sino de lo que representa su audacia al hacer lo que parecia imposible...
Taste of College Life, January 25, 2009, The Sunday Review, Tri-Valley Herald, The Sunday Times-West Contra Costa Edition
Apriring college students and their parents packed the classrooms and halls of Cal State East Bay in Hayward on Saturday to get a heads-up on higher education during the ninth annual Latino Education Summit...
Cumbre para la Educacion Latina; Informa e inspira, January 31, 2009, Vision Hispana
Cerca de 700 estudiantes de preparatoria junto con sus padres llegaron el sabado pasado al plantel Cal State East Bay en hayward para aprender acerca de sus oportunidades para asistir a la Universidad...
Hayward summit to help Latinos to prepare for college, January 23, 2009, The Argus
Education officials will try to attract more Latino students to higher education this weekend by providing information on what is needed to attend college...
Berkeley Students Celebrate as President Obama Takes Office, January 22, 2009, The Daily Review
For the 3,500 Berkeley High School Students who watched the presidential inauguration unfold Tuesday morning, the steps of the Community Theater could not have very well been those of the U.S. Capitol--their solemn expressions and sporadic bursts of laughter capturing one of the greatest moments in the nation's history...
Latino Students urged to aim higher, January 22, 2009, Tri-Valley Herald
Education officials will try to attract more Latino students to higher education this weekend by providing information on what is needed to attend college...
Impulsando a futuros profesionistas, January 21, 2009, El Mensajero
Con la finalidad de acercar a mas jovenes a la educacion universitaria se llevara a cabo el proximo sabado 24 de enero en la ciudad de hayward una cumbre educativa gratuita.
Students seek to continue legacy of peace, January 20, 2009, Oakland Tribune
Monday may have been a school holiday, but 80 san Leandro School students spent five hours in classrooms on a quest for peace...
Latino Students urged to aim higher, January 20, 2009, The Daily Review
Education officials will try to attract more Latino students to higher education this weekend by providing information on what is needed to attend college...
Civil rights leaders paved the way for Obama, January 18, 2009, The Argus, The Sunday Times-west Contra Costa Edition, San Mateo County Times, Oakland Tribune
Barack Obama was just 3 years old when the Rev. Joseph Lowery helped lead the second march from Selma, Ala., to Montgomery, Ala., in one of the era's most violent bloody battles against legal segmentation...
CAR past presidents install Bay Area association presidents and officers, January 10, 2009, Tri-Valley Herald, Alameda Times Star
Every major real estate market has it's own real estate organization. In december and january, from the island of Alameda to the still open spaces surrounding Tracy and Stockton and on the peninisula as well, each of these organizations has their own unique Inaugural...
San Leandro woman charged in fatal crash, January 9, 2009, The Daily Review
An 18-year old San Leandro woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges resulting from a New Year's Eve van crash that killed her 14-year old brother and injured five others---including another San Leandro resident and two Oakland residents...
Happy New Year! Latino Ed Summit, January 5, 2009, Katy Murphy's Education Blog
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m Saturday Jan. 24, California State University, East Bay is holding its annual Latino Education Summit, open to everyone.
Bikes put smiles on homeless students, December 24, 2008, West County Times, Constra Costa Times, Valley Times, Tri-Valley Herald
Being homeless in high school is tough. But a new bicycle will help lessen the sting for 90 Alameda County youngsters this holiday season, said education officials who handed them out at 16 homeless shelters Monday.
News: Holiday Bikes for Kids, December 23, 2008, Berkeley Daily Planet
Claudia Medina of the Alameda County Office of Education smiles Monday as she looks over the bikes her agency arranged as holida gifts...
Escogiendo el exito (Cal Safe), December 19, 2009, Vision Hispana
Madres adolescentes deciden tomar un camino alterno...
East Bay school districts have dire financial reports, December 14 and 13, 2009, Tri-Valley Herald, Valley Times
A number of East bay school districts are reporting that if the state education budget doesn't improve, they soon may not have enough money to meet their budget obligations.
