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Teacher Job Shadow Day

While MDUSD students enjoyed their day off from school last Monday, dozens of Career Technical Education teachers from District high schools and middle schools took on the roles of students as they visited 13 local industry professionals to learn more about the jobs they are preparing their students to  tackle in the future. During the 25th Annual BEST (Business and Education Shadowing for Tomorrow) Day, the teachers got a chance to see how professionals who work in companies, organizations or public agencies do their work, ask questions, and get insights into what employers are looking for when they interview candidates, including MDUSD graduates.

The teachers educate MDUSD students in career pathways including hospitality, photography and digital arts, education, engineering, construction and wood shop, and sciences such as chemistry and biotech that can lead to healthcare careers. Teachers toured facilities including Alphagraphics, Berkeley Signs, Bertolami Engineering, Concord Child Care Center, Concord Police Department, CoStar, Donor Network West, East Bay Health, East Bay Times, Kindred Motor Works, Roof & Realm modular homes, and the Walnut Creek Police Department's Drone program. 

After the job shadowing, teachers shared their experiences with each other and discussed what they plan to tell students about what they learned. They also heard from Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark about the importance of their work with students, and from two guest speakers who stressed the importance of "soft skills" in their employees, such as being able to collaborate in teams and also to work independently, showing up to work on time, being enthusiastic, communicating well and meeting deadlines. The ability to think creatively, problem-solve, learn new skills, be resilient by learning from mistakes and being accountable were also common themes among employers interviewed by teachers, along with passion for their work.

This was the first time the program included middle school teachers in an effort to strengthen connections between career-focused classes such as wood shop in middle and high schools. Sequoia MS wood shop and Maker's Academy teacher Jim Bergmann was excited about his visit to Roof & Realm, where he saw how team members from Human Resources, Accounting and Permitting departments worked together and learned new skills as they transitioned from one job to another. Healthcare pathway teacher Dr. David Pintado said he learned about the need for organ and tissue donors at the Donor Network and found out people can donate tissue while they're still alive. 

Dr. Clark praised the District’s career pathways teachers for "thinking out of the box" to prepare students for college an careers. "I'm really appreciative of what you all are doing," he said, adding that career pathways classes help give students a sense of identity and motivate them to come to school. Guest speaker Claryzza Abille Arcala, who graduated from Mt. Diablo HS, said she was so inspired by Chef Kevin's cooking classes and mentorship that she had the confidence to buy a restaurant and now employs some MDHS students at  Papi Clary’s Kitchen  on Solano Way in Concord. She emphasized the importance of being kind to customers and relationship-building for both students and teachers, explaining that Chef Kevin's belief in her helped her to believe in herself.

Teacher Job Shadow Day
 
Read More about 25th Annual "BEST Day" for Teachers is a Professional Development Day Highlight
Friday Letter

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter highlights:

  • Spotlight on the 25th Annual BEST teacher job shadow day
  • MDUSD’s Teachers of the Year honored at a County reception
  • District News about upcoming school concerts and Spring Break
  • School News including Concord HS parent and student outreach and staff development;  College Park HS student art show at Pleasant Hill Library; and School Social Media Highlights from CARES programs; Diablo View, Oak Grove and Pine Hollow middle schools; and College Park, Northgate and Mt. Diablo high schools
  • and more!

You can read it here.

Read More about Friday Letter - March 15, 2024
choir concert

Back by popular demand, the 2nd Annual Elementary Honor Choir and Middle School Choir Concert expanded to a larger venue this year to accommodate the large crowd of parents and supporters who gathered to hear their memorable melodies. Sponsored by the Mount Diablo Music Education Foundation (MDMEF), the event took place in the Concord HS gym on Monday evening and included selected students from 11 elementary school choirs along with students in choirs from Pleasant Hill and Foothill middle schools.

"Mount Diablo Music Education Foundation sponsors this concert by purchasing music for the singers and providing event T-shirts for the elementary students," said elementary music teacher Bonnie Shea, who helped organize the event. "Many of our MDUSD schools at all levels - elementary, middle, and high school - do not offer a Choir experience for their students. This event serves as one way to bring attention to the benefits of choral singing, encourage more schools to make choral singing available to their students, and to provide a collaborative performing opportunity to our students."

MDUSD Board President Erin McFerrin and Vice President Linda Mayo attended the concert and gave it rave views during their Board meeting reports on Wednesday night. "The highlight of my last couple of weeks was going to the choir concert at Concord High," McFerrin said. "I am really quite impressed at the quality of those performances and I’m so grateful to our music educators that do really exceptional work. And it just really shows when our students perform." Mayo said: "That was fantastic to see all of the students vocalizing together!" 

The audience included Westwood Elementary Principal Nancy Klinker, who proudly posed with Shea and Westwood 4th-grade Choir students Pablo Cabrera, Aria Golden and Maddy Cordero for a photo taken by Aria's mother, Jennifer Golden, after the concert. "We were amazed how well they put this together," said Jennifer Golden, adding that this was the first time all of the students had sung together. Aria said she enjoys choir because she gets to sing with some students she doesn't know and feels like part of a larger school group. Holbrook Language Academy 5th-grader Delilah O'Hara received a beautiful bouquet from her mom in appreciation for her debut concert, which her father and grandparents also attended. She said that singing "makes me feel very free and it is very fun." 

Shea said the event brings MDUSD students together to celebrate and share the joy of singing. "Because we wholeheartedly encourage these singers to continue with Chorus as they move on to middle school, we are joined by Brendan Mosley and his Pleasant Hill MS Choir, and Sally Anderson with her Foothill MS Choirs," she said. "They will give our younger singers an idea of what to look forward to as they grow as students and musicians." Besides Shea, elementary music teachers who participated in the event this year included Michelle Hackel, Sabrina Myers, Ge Blind, David Wright (who also played flute on the closing song "Touch the Sky"), Stella Brown (who also performed as a collaborative pianist), and Danielle Haffner and Katherine Nash-Coan (who were also conductors during the concert). Mount Diablo Music Education Foundation Board Member Nick De La Riva (who is the Oak Grove MS Band Director), encouraged those who attended to consider donating to the foundation, which was established in 2009, and has given over $217,000.00 in grants and other financial support to music programs throughout MDUSD. 

The event provided teachers with a chance for meaningful collaboration, the families and community members the opportunity to see the value of choral music education, and the singers the benefit and challenge of participating in a large, high profile performance experience, Shea said. "We are proud of the level of musicianship and spirit of community that made the concert a success for all," she added. 

choir concert
Read More about 2nd Annual MDUSD Elementary Honor Choir and MS Choir concert highlights music education
Friday Letter

This week's Friday Letter spotlights:

  • National School Breakfast Week, and
  • School Social Worker Appreciation Week,
  • the 2nd Annual MDUSD Elementary Honor Choir and MS Choir concert and Concord Area Band and Orchestra Festivals at Concord High School;
  • District News about our Teacher Induction Support Program and No School Monday, March 11 for Teacher In-Service;
  • School News featuring Shore Acres Elementary hosts 1st Annual MLK Oratorical Festival to celebrate Black History Month;
  • Student News highlighting College Park HS student named a National Merit Scholarship finalist, two College Park HS students selected for county journalism program, Ygnacio Valley HS Robotics Club unveils new robot, and Northgate HS animation students honored in Winton Avenue Film Festival;
  • and more!

You can read it here: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/30325128

Read More about Friday Letter - March 8, 2024
Diablo View Middle School is named a California Distinguished School!

MDUSD is proud to announce that Diablo View Middle School in Clayton has been named a 2024 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education (CDE)! 

"Since its inception in 1985, the California Distinguished Schools Award remains one of the state’s most important ways to celebrate exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and classified employees for their innovation, talent, and success in supporting students," according to the CDE news release. The CDE identified 293 middle and high schools statewide for this honor, based on their performance on state indicators on the 2023 California School Dashboard, with a focus on demonstrating excellence and growth in academic achievement and ensuring a positive school climate.

"Diablo View Middle School is extremely honored and humbled to learn that we were selected to receive the Distinguished School Award from the State of California," said Principal Vicki Wilson. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our entire school community—students, teachers, staff, parents, and supporters alike. It reinforces our belief in the importance of providing a nurturing and empowering learning environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. This recognition affirms our dedication to fostering academic excellence, fostering a culture of inclusivity, and preparing our students to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens."

CA Distinguished Schools
Read More about Diablo View Middle School is named a California Distinguished School!
Teachers of the Year

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District is pleased to announce that Walnut Acres Elementary teacher Mia Carella and Bancroft Elementary teacher Ingrid Wright have been selected as the District's two 2024-25 Teachers of the Year! The pair were selected from 35 outstanding educators from preschool through grade 12 who were nominated and offered the opportunity to submit a brief questionnaire.

The questionnaires were scored by members of the MDUSD Teacher of the Year Selection Committee and the top-scoring individuals were interviewed. The MDUSD School Board plans to recognize the District Teachers of the Year, along with nominees and finalists, at its Wednesday, March 27th meeting. Carella and Wright will now advance to the Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year competition, which will name four finalists in April and two County Teachers of the Year in September.

Both Carella and Wright said they were honored to be chosen to represent the District and their schools. They are both passionate educators who strive to build strong relationships with their students and who enjoy working collaboratively with other teachers at their schools to meet students' needs. 

Carella teaches first grade at Walnut Acres, where she enjoys helping students learn to read and to express themselves in writing. Wright teaches 4th grade at Bancroft, where she stresses to her students that her classroom is a "safe space" in which she encourages them to ask questions, think critically, work together an inclusive ways, and to voice independent ideas.  

Mia Carella

Carella, 35, has taught for 11 years, including eight years at Walnut Acres Elementary and three years in San Ramon Valley Unified. Although she has taught several different elementary grade levels, she said first grade is her favorite. "Students are so fun and so willing to try anything," she said. "They just soak it all in and they’re so excited to be at school. It makes me happy. Also, they’re so kind to each other, which I love. I try to have a great classroom environment where they’re supportive and helpful to each other. We just did a kindness week at school, which was great."

Walnut Acres Principal Lauren Ashton nominated Carella for Teacher of the Year. “Mia is not only an all-around phenomenal teacher who cares about students’ growth both academically and socially, she is also an all-around huge cheerleader and advocate for our school,” Ashton said, adding that Carella stays in touch with students as they progress to higher grade levels, showing that she cares about them. “And when we have committees to join, she wants to be in those conversations about making changes to school curriculum or beautifying the school. She led a mural contest and organized the P.E. shed.” In addition, Ashton said Carella is very welcoming to parents and encourages them to volunteer in the classroom, which helps support students who are working at different levels. “She always has a positive intent, she always wants to problem-solve,” Ashton said. “And she’s a teacher who is also a member of the community.”

Carella said she loves teaching phonics and reading because these become students' foundation for enjoying reading. "They pick the new skills up and then they put the skills together and they find a book they love and it turns into that magical, ‘I’m so excited to start reading,' moment,'" she said with a smile. She has developed a system for helping students become independent learners working at four different levels of reading and writing, by creating "learning centers" that include several drawers with a variety of activities in them labeled "must do," "may do," etc. For example, students at the highest reading level participate in a nonfiction book club, and are practicing writing with quotation marks, reading poetry, listening to stories on an iPad and writing about them. At the other end of the spectrum, some students are still learning how to sound out words, focusing on blending the sounds of vowels and consonants together. 

As Carella works to meet each students' needs, she collaborates with other 1st grade teachers at the school to create effective, engaging lessons. These include the "Gingerbread City" that morphed from a simple gingerbread house-making activity to one that delves into literature and city planning and culminates with a visit from the Walnut Creek mayor and students' families to see the students' creations. "It's fun to build gingerbread housed," she said. "But we needed to make it more meaningful and make it a good use of our time." The Walnut Acres 1st grade teacher team was also ahead of the curve in realizing that "whole language" reading lessons that did not include phonics were not working, Carella said, explaining that they began integrating phonics to bolster students' ability to sound out words before the most recent trend. 

To really motivate students, Carella said one of her passions is teaching around themes. She is eagerly anticipating a South American theme she introduces to her students when the school begins studying different continents, which will include South American books and writing assignments, songs and chants. "Every aspect of the classroom - everything I can think of - I will bring into the classroom," she said. "Students are so engaged and they learn so much because it's all around them." She also engages students by challenging them to add descriptive words to their writing and to replace general or repetitive words with more interesting vocabulary words. During a writing lesson on Wednesday, she suggested that the ordinary word "buy" could be replaced with a more "fancy word that starts with 'p.'" A few students yelled out excitedly, "Purchase!" Carella patiently answered students' questions, complimenting them on their ideas, as they revised their stories. Her students said they appreciate her willingness to help them overcome obstacles. "I like how she helps me when I can't do stuff," said 7-year-old Harper Sill. Bailey Gagnon, also 7, added: "And she does really nice art projects with us." 

Carella said she expects to continue teaching for the foreseeable future. "I’ll keep doing it for as long as I’m having fun and willing to change things up," she said. "I do not want to get stuck being the person who’s always doing things the same way because it's always been done that way. I want to try new things."

Ingrid Wright

Wright, 49, has taught for 27 years, starting off her career as a kindergarten teacher at Pleasant Hill Elementary, then moving to 3rd grade there, before taking on a job-share at Monte Gardens Elementary for 11 years teaching 3rd and 4th grades. She is now in her fifth year at Bancroft teaching 4th grade, which she calls the "sweet spot." "I love teaching 4th graders because they’re so independent - able to do so many things, to have higher level conversations back and forth, so I can teach them a strategy and they can work alone or in a group or one-on-one," she said. "They’ve got lots of skills and I’m teaching them how to read closely, how to ask questions about what they’re reading. That is something I’m passionate about - literacy - because I feel like we need to give kids tools to attack fiction and nonfiction so they're not passive readers, teaching them to be thoughtful. Reading should change them. The power in reading is how it can make us more compassionate, how it can inform us, and how we can question if there’s bias - I just think it’s such an empowering tool. If I can create lifelong readers, they can use these skills through college and life. What a way to equip kids to be successful!" 

Parent Darya Leverant nominated Wright for Teacher of the Year. “Mrs Wright is one of the best, kindest, loving and caring teachers I've ever known," Leverant said. "My daughter Francesca speaks highly about Mrs. Wright on a daily basis. Mrs. Wright has developed exceptional connections with each student. Her positive energy goes above and beyond to make each day memorable. Mrs. Wright is committed to students' success. Her patience, problem-solving and dedication to teaching has no limits. Mrs. Wright is a subject matter expert with interpersonal communication skills. I have volunteered in the classroom multiple times and witnessed how engaging and captivating Mrs. Wright's lessons are. She uses various methods and visual presentations to explain new material, encouraging kids to take ownership and lead studies during class. Students are allowed to share handmade crafts or findings related to the subject, which makes students feel special, highly involved and engaged. Our family is so grateful and appreciate Mrs Wright for everything she does for our child. Teachers like her are one in a million!"

Wright, who has a background in child development, is very intentional about creating a classroom environment that is safe, inclusive, welcoming and engaging, so students will be willing to ask questions. "Teaching the whole child is huge for me - taking into account their social emotional and academic cognitive skills and making sure those are honored," she said. "Different kids need different things, and that’s OK." She embraces words of wisdom she has learned from mentors, such as former Principal Linda Schuler, who said: "Love them first, teach them second." "That’s so important," Wright said. "If you're trying to teach them something, but your’e not paying attention to what they need emotionally, the train leaves the station." 

Students said Wright gently guides them in complex and creative tasks, while encouraging them to think about what they are learning and develop their own ideas. "She teaches very kindly," said Francesca. "I'm learning a lot of math. If you need help on an equation, you could ask her and she will tell you how to do it, but not give you the answer." Sarah Hemsley said Wright makes math fun by giving students hands-on activities such as learning about fractions by combining colorful plastic shapes to make half, quarter and full circles. “We get to do projects and actually learn,” she said, explaining that she could see that 2/4 = 1/2 by using the plastic shapes.

Wright said teaching is fulfilling because she gets to work with kids every day and see them keep trying. "I like to come along with each child in their journey," she said. "They're all different. I try to get them to be thoughtful about their own journeys and not compare themselves to others. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon."

Teachers of the Year
Read More about Congratulations to MDUSD's 2024-25 Teachers of the Year, who advance to the County competition!
Friday Letter

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter spotlights:

  • the District's two 2024-25 Teachers of the Year, and
  • recognition of Diablo View Middle School as a California Distinguished School;
  • District News about March recognitions and upcoming meetings and events;
  • School News including Rep. Mark DeSaulnier visits Ygnacio Valley HS, Mt. Diablo Adult Education program celebrates EMT graduation, and Sequoia Elementary beautification;
  • Student News highlighting two Northgate HS students are named National Merit Scholarship finalists, school spelling bee winners, Concord HS Leadership students host annual conference, and MDHS soccer player featured in Pioneer Athlete spotlight;
  • and more!

You can read it here.

Read More about Friday Letter - March 1, 2024
Valhalla Art Fair

Students in grades TK-5 at Valhalla Elementary in Pleasant Hill are proud to share their artwork with their families, the community and each other during the school's Art Fair held in the Multi-Use Room each year. The theme for this year's fair, which was open to families on Feb. 21 and visited by all classes on Feb. 22, was “The Sky's the Limit!" It showcased the creative talents of students in a variety of artwork, "including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and crafts, all created by our young artists under the guidance of our dedicated teachers," said Principal Theodora Pappas. "The Art Fair provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to exhibit their artistic accomplishments and for our school community to celebrate their creativity and hard work."

Teachers chose artists to study and more specific themes to explore, such as nightscapes, aliens, outer space, hot air balloons and birds. First-graders in Katharine King's class painted nightscapes that featured silhouettes of trees under a full moon and multi-colored sky dotted with shooting stars. Proudly pointing to his painting, student Owen Clark said he added glitter to the moon and stars "to show where it's lighter." His classmate Kyla Cooney, whose painting was mounted below Owen's, said she painted the trees darker to lighter from left to right, a technique she learned from her older sister. She said she enjoyed the fair, but would like it even more if students could create whatever they wanted instead of everyone in the class doing essentially the same thing. Their classmate Charlotte Huang said she liked the fair because she loves to paint and to see the creativity that all the students put into their work.

Kindergarten teacher Christine Botting said her students created replicas of "The Starry Night," by Vincent van Gogh, using finger paint, dropping yellow dots to create stars using popsicle sticks. They cut paper to create the town beneath the stars and colored the chapel, while also focusing on creating the "wiggly, wavy lines" in the sky, Botting said, as her class toured the exhibits on Thursday. She said she would encourage other schools to host similar fairs, if they don't already. "It's great," she said. "It's really fun for the kids to see everyone else's work and the artists they studied."

Valhalla Art Fair
Read More about School-wide Art Fair at Valhalla Elementary teaches students about artists' work
Friday Letter

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter highlights:

  • Spotlight on Valhalla Elementary Art Fair;
  • District News including upcoming meetings and events;
  • School News including PG&E CEO posts social media shout-out to Ygnacio Valley HS robotics club and teacher, and Northgate HS Girls and Ygnacio Valley HS Boys Basketball Teams head to NCS Championships, plus Elementary and Middle School Social Media Highlights;
  • Student News highlighting Northgate HS student creates new organization to help others, Oak Grove MS celebrates students reclassified as Fluent English Proficient, and Northgate HS freshman is youngest and first female NCS wrestling champ in school history, plus HS Student Social Media Highlights;
  • Staff News featuring East Bay Times story about Valley View MS teacher's efforts to revive school wood shop program;
  • Community News including Free tutoring available and Pride Prom tickets on sale;
  • And more!

You can read it here.

Read More about Friday Letter - February 23, 2024
DVC/ULV partnership

MDUSD is pleased to announce our participation in a new partnership with Diablo Valley College (DVC) and United Latino Voices of Contra Costa to help Latinx high school students transition to the community college. Called the DVC/ULV Latinx High School Partnership Project, the effort aims to inform Latinx high school students and their families about the programs available at DVC, help them with applications and answer questions, in English or Spanish. 

During a kick-off event for the partnership held Feb. 8 at DVC, program organizers and supporters said many people don't realize that community college in California is free for two years and that DVC accepts everyone who applies. The college also has a Puente program to help students transfer from DVC to four-year colleges and universities, participates in federal programs including Upward Bound - which supports low-income, first generation students, and has a DVC Dreamers Alliance and student Dreamers Club to provide support for undocumented students. 

To help get the word out about opportunities for Latinx students at DVC, the partnership is enlisting the assistance of current Latinx DVC students to provide presentations to MDUSD students and their families at the following high schools: College Park HS, Concord HS, Mt. Diablo HS, Ygnacio Valley HS; Olympic, Crossroads, and Prospect continuation high schools; Glenbrook Academy; and Horizons Center for Independent study.

Mt. Diablo HS alum Marlene Gomez, who currently attends DVC, is working as an intern for the partnership. "We’re here to make a difference," she said, adding that she is a first-generation college student. "I came to DVC looking for a brighter future, I knew I wanted to go to college, but because of finances, I couldn’t go to a 4-year university" after high school graduation. She is eager to tell others about how the Upward Bound and Puente programs have helped her navigate college.

And Ygnacio Valley HS alumni Katherine Guzman Sosa and Jose de Jesus Ochoa (who graduated in 2020 and 2022 respectively) said they helped to form Dreamers Club at DVC and are advising students at their alma mater about how to form a club there. They have presented information to YVHS parents about DVC and are excited about the partnership because it also offers mentorship to Latinx DVC students like them.

MDUSD's Multilingual Education Director Carmen Garces said she would like student interns to give a presentation to the District English Learner Advisory Commitee (DELAC). "I think that it's wonderful," she said. Mt. Diablo HS counselors Leidi Arias and Yaretzie Amaya said the new Latinx outreach would bolster the work that is already being done by the school's College and Career Advisor Erika Ramos to inform students about college opportunities. They said DVC is convenient for students who work part-time or want to continue living at home and that it is inspiring to hear directly from DVC students about how the community college is helping them to follow their dreams. (Please see this Fact Sheet for more information.)

DVC/ULV partnership
Read More about New partnership between MDUSD, DVC and United Latino Voices of Contra Costa helps Latinx high school students transition to DVC

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