January 15, 2009

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

SJUSD board elects Reynolds president

San Jose Unified School District recently announced that Almaden resident Leslie Reynolds has been elected president of the district’s board of education for 2009.

Constituents in Trustee Area 5 first elected Reynolds to the SJUSD board of education in 2004. She ran unopposed in November and was elected president during the district’s organization meeting in December.

Leslie Reynolds

Reynolds began her work with the district as a volunteer. She and husband Bruce are the parents of two children that attended Williams Elementary, Bret Harte Middle and Leland High Schools. She served in various elected positions within the PTA and believes in public education and the right for all children to develop to their full potential.

Among the offices in the PTA include past PTA Council president, vice president and historian as well as historian on the Santa Clara County PTA board. She has volunteered as the County PTA board’s treasurer and was School Site Council president and PTA vice president for Williams Elementary. In October, she was elected as Santa Clara County School Boards Association president and is a delegate and governmental relations chair to the California School Boards Association.

“This economic recession places an immense burden on so many of us. In these difficult financial times, the board and I will not compromise on our commitment to ensure a quality education for all of our students in a safe atmosphere where everyone is respected and welcomed to a learning environment where we are preparing our students for a global economy,” she said in a release.

Reynolds recently obtained her master’s degree in governance from California School Boards Association and continues her education through West Valley Community College and San Jose State University. Prior to marriage, children and her role as a trustee, she held several managerial positions at a software subsidiary of General Electric.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation hosting Chinese delegation

A delegation of 17 educators from China visited the San Jose offices of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation on Wednesday to learn about the special academic programs it sponsors and its work focusing on closing the student achievement gap in math and science.

The group met with president and CEO Muhammed Chaudhry and other staff members from the office, located at 1400 Parkmoor Ave., Suite 200, San Jose.

The delegation chose to visit SVEF to learn how foundations in the U.S. can be effective in supporting education programs. Members also are eager to gain more overall knowledge about California’s K-12 education system.

The group is called China K-12 Education Management and Innovative Talent Education Delegation. Delegation members are interested in learning about the working relationships between K-12 school districts and universities. They will spend four days in Silicon Valley, including a visit to San Jose State University and one day visiting the East Bay with visits to UC-Berkeley campus and the Alameda Office of Education.

“We are excited to welcome the delegation and showcase our success in providing special programs for schools, especially our STEM program addressing math and science needs,” says Chaudhry. “In turn, we also hope to learn more about the Chinese education system.”

A key focus of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation is its $3 million STEM Initiative, which provides academic programs aimed at improving student performance in science, technology, engineering and math. Many students in Silicon Valley lag in the STEM subjects, and programs that SVEF provides are helping to bridge the knowledge gap. The foundation partners with numerous Silicon Valley tech companies to offer the programs.

About SVEF
The SVEF advocates for the needs of all 34 school districts in Silicon Valley. SVEF seeks to improve public education through delivery of literacy and academic enrichment programs to public school students in partnership with the private sector and the education community. It focuses on the needs of our constituents: students, families, teachers, community and education leaders. We listen to their needs and seek to understand their challenges by providing innovative solutions.

Pioneer High School to present ‘The Caine Mutiny’

Pioneer students will present “The Caine Mutiny” at the high school located at 1290 Blossom Hill Road Jan. 22, 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the school's Performing Arts Center.

For those who wish to see an exciting bonus, the all-male cast is getting haircuts in the school quad on Friday, Jan.16 from 11:30-12:30 so their hairstyles fit the military flavor of the show. Professional hairstylists will be on campus to do the shearing.

Tickets are $ 5 for students and seniors over 65 and $10 for adults and are available at the door.

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