October 14, 2004

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Prize Patrol
Bret Harte teacher receives surprise award

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

The prize patrol was in Almaden last week—only it’s not what you think and they weren’t after the lucky soul who decided to renew his TV Guide subscription. But for unsuspecting Bret Harte Middle School language arts teacher Jim DeLong, it was just as surprising as the winners they show on television.

Since 1997, the National Semiconduc-tor [NSC] prize patrol has dropped in on up to 10 classroom teachers each year to award them for their use of technology by creating original Internet projects—part of their Internet Innovator Awards program that recognizes the work of teachers, students, and schools in Maine, Texas, and California.

“There’s no way the site would have looked as good as it does without the help of students,” admitted DeLong. “This is everyone’s award.”

For his ongoing efforts with the growing “Ann Frank Wall” project (first featured in the May 13, 2004 issue of the Almaden Times Weekly), DeLong was presented with the 2004 Suneil Parulekar Internet Innovator Award, along with a check for $10,000.

“The extraordinary Ann Frank Wall project was truly a collaborative project,” said NSC VP of Analog Products Suneil Parulekar. “It is a tremendous work. Jim is definitely demonstrating leadership in bringing the Internet to schools.”

The project began humbly following the study of Ann Frank’s diary in class, where DeLong gave his students an assignment to find copies of the book in a language other than English, and then take photographs holding it in other cities or countries. His goal was to help them discover how alive her spirit remains almost six decades later. Today, the “virtual” wall contains 568 photos in 26 languages from 29 countries and continues to grow.

“There is so much I’d like to do with this,” he admitted. “It will allow me to do some of the things I think we still need to do to take this project even further. That’s the exciting part.”

National Semiconductor VP of Analog Products Suneil Parulekar presents Bret Harte Assistant Principal Karen Heverling with a plaque and $4,000 certificate for eighth grade social studies teacher Jim DeLong’s Ann Frank Wall Internet project.

Ironically, DeLong had just charged another year of service access to his credit card one day earlier.

“I remember thinking as I put it on my card, I just hope I get something,” he exclaimed, as he held up the giant check turned to his wife and fellow teacher Denise. And, with both our birthdays in October, these are great birthday presents.”

“Hours and hours of time went into this project,” Denise added. “There was always more to be done on the project. It’s gratifying to know that you think so highly of him.”

“The Internet has opened up so many things for all of us,” added Parulekar. “Students have access to knowledge all over this global community that we live in. That’s why we are taking an active role in the community to encourage technology and recognize teachers like Jim, who are truly passionate and focused in betrothing that enthusiasm and bringing this wonderful technology to his school.”

The award was selected by an independent panel of judges and experts in education technology, who followed a 69-point grading system based on creativity and originality, as well as the project’s ability to be duplicated in other classroom settings—one part of National’s Internet Training Initiative, which has allocated more than $6 million toward training and encouraging teachers to use the Internet in their classrooms since 1998.

JoAnn Yamani Huang, congressional assistant for Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren then issued a citation commending DeLong for “stretching the aspect of universal human condition” and using technology to facilitate “greater understanding in the project.”

Additionally, Kathryn Nation, field representative for Sen. Bruce McPherson, presented DeLong with a certificate praising his work and Vice Mayor Pat Dando followed with a commendation from the city that recognized DeLong for his “innovative teaching techniques.”

“This is such an honor for you and the school,” said Dando, who praised both DeLong and his wife Denise for being a family committed to education. “You are truly one of a kind in our community.”

According to the judges’ comments, “The expansion from writing and history standards to a set of activities that involved, empowered, and taught students a vast array of important skills for eighth graders is very impressive. There is a lot to see on this site and it was designed very thoughtfully.”

For DeLong, it’s about much more—especially when former student Jon Erickson became the teacher.

“It’s one of those things where you have a student actually teach you,” he explained. “Don’t look at me. A lot of it was John teaching me how to do all this stuff and helping me through it. There’s no way the site would have looked as good as it does without the help of students. This is everyone’s award.”

“Someday, you’re going to remember this,” Dando said to the students. “Not only because of the award, but from being in his

class, you will be better, brighter, and far more successful as adults.

For its management and leadership in driving passionate teachers like DeLong, the school was also presented with a plaque and $4,000 toward further education and related programs that will help them further integrate the Internet and technology into their classroom activities and put their ideas into practice.

By definition, Internet Innovators are educators who have gone above and beyond the basics—inspiring students by leveraging technology to make the learning experience richer, more collaborative, and more connected to their communities.

“There are a lot of business in our country that talk about public/private partnerships,” noted Dando. “But National is one that really walks the talk.”

For more information on the NSC Internet Innovator Awards, visit http://www.nsawards.com/. To view the award winning Bret Harte Ann Frank Wall, visit www.annefrankwall.org.

Teaching tolerance

Simonds and Pioneer teachers receive Anti-Defamation League Awards

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

The Fairmont Hotel’s Regency Ballroom was filled to capacity Monday night as members of the Anti-Defamation League [ADL] acknowledged eight local teachers as recipients of the 2003-2004 IDEA Awards during its “Partners Against Hate” annual dinner.

According to ADL, the increasingly diverse student body in San Jose Unified School District [SJUSD] represents both incredible strengths and enormous challenges. While different backgrounds, races, religions, and ethnicities remain one of this nation’s greatest assets, research shows that prejudice and bigotry take hold at an early age.

Realizing that prejudice is not inherent, ADL says if it can be learned, it can be unlearned through their A World of Difference Institute, where hands on training and resources help school communities achieve harmony and honor educators who demonstrate extraordinary efforts in achieving that goal.

In 2002, ADL and Applied Materials launched the Innovative Diversity Education Achievement [IDEA] Awards to recognize and award the contributions of teachers who actively promote tolerance, understanding, and respect for diversity in their classrooms. Each prizes includes $2,500, $1,500 toward a staff development workshop, and $500 in ADL materials and resources.

Simonds Elementary School teachers Eric Rise, Terry Bermudez, and Christine Hawkins received IDEA Awards for their work on the Simonds Significant House of Opera, which unites special and general education students.

Superintendent Don Iglesias, SJUSD spokesperson Karen Fuqua, Pioneer Principal Barbara Lepiane, and Simonds Elementary Principal Linda Kakes were among the hundreds who attended the $100 per plate event to honor four of their own—Terry Bermudez, Eric Rise, Christine Hawkins, and Peter Glasser.

“I’m extremely proud of all the teachers who had the courage to tell our students that there is another world that can be constructed when we respect each other, regardless of religion, language, culture, diversity, or sexual preference,” said Iglesias. “Our generation has done a lot, but there’s lots to do to take it to the next level.”

Now in its third year, the Simonds Significant House of Opera is a collaborative effort of special and general education students that culminates in a full opera production.

By uniting the music skills of Terry Bermudez with Christine Hawkins’ special education students and Eric Rise’s fourth/fifth grade combo class, students work together to write, direct, and produce an opera for the entire school community.

“One of the things the opera does is build communication between different kinds of groups,” explained Bermudez. “When we include kids who need special help and have language disabilities in the opera, it brings them all together.”

“It was a great experience for my class,” added Hawkins. “It enabled them to do things that made them equal to the other students, like the hammering and creating. It gave them a different perspective of themselves and gave the general ed students a different perspective of them. You could just see them exploding when it was all over with.”

“I’m so lucky to be able to work with these people every day and see the wonderful things they do for kids,” observed Kakes. “It is well deserved.”

For eleventh grade American history teacher Peter Glasser, creating Pioneer’s Gay-Straight Alliance [GSA] serves as a testament to his commitment to diversity. By encouraging students to discuss bias, equity, and identity in American history, Pioneer has become a safer school community.

“There were two incidents involving kids in my class,” he said. “In both cases, they chose to come to me. I think because GSA exists, they knew there were safe places to raise issues when unsafe things happen.”

Now in its third year, GSA’s goal is to foster education and create safe environments. Last year’s traveling photo exhibit titled “High Contrast” raised student awareness of gay, lesbian, and bisexual kids, along with other types of diversity by allowing students to step into other people’s shoes and understand the various challenges they face on a daily basis.

“You can’t browbeat someone into not using certain words,” Glasser added. “It has to come through a natural process.”

Harvard Law Professor and civil rights activist Alan Dershowitz issued the keynote speech, where he acknowledged the convictions of California High School senior Matthew Gentz, who was suspended for tearing down terrorist, hate posters on his campus.

“This young man had the guts to stick up for what was right,” Dershowitz said. “That’s just as much a manifestation of free speech as it was to put it up. If anybody ever gets into trouble for pulling down a sign like that, call me!”

According to ADL Associate Director Nina Simone-Grotch, teachers and parents could play a significant role by encouraging kids learn about their own identities and backgrounds, which generates pride and the realization that although different, memories and love for family remain constant.

“It’s important to build allies in communities and work with students to talk how we’re all impacted by religion, sexism, homophobia, and racism,” she said. “It’s really about fighting hate of all kinds.”

Since 1913, ADL has been exposing, challenging, and eradicating prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination. They have learned that teachers play a powerful role in the fight against hatred.

“This program highlights the good work of San Jose Unified teachers who promote respect and understanding,” declared ADL Regional Director Jonathan Bernstein. “By recognizing their contributions, they will serve as examples for everybody in this school community.”

For more information on ADL, including IDEA Awards applications (due Dec. 17), contact Nina Grotch at (415) 981-3500 x227.