What’s Good in Education

Hart District Recognizes 20 Classified Employees of Year

Twenty classified employees from across the district have been recognized by the Hart School District at its annual Classified Employees of the Year luncheon at Robinson Ranch. The honorees were selected by their colleagues at each site and also received awards from the district’s Governing Board and local government leaders. Honorees include: Joe Garcia, Academy of the Canyons; Phil Rosas, Administrative Center; Kathie Loughlin, Arroyo Seco Junior High School; Heidi Levy, Bowman High School; Valerie Nelson, Canyon High School; Elaine Bingham, Career Visions; Randy Hurst, Golden Oak Adult School; Gilbert Castro, Golden Valley High School; Lorie Pecsi, Hart High School; Ana Valverde, La Mesa Junior High School; Peggy Zemansky,  Learning Post; Janice Dennington, Placerita Junior High School; Mary Lively, Rancho Pico Junior High School; Carol Scholl, Rio Norte Junior High School; Linda Mehl, Saugus High School; Rebecca Cheever, Sequoia Charter School; Debbie Dunn, Sierra Vista Junior High School; Heidi Czerniakowski, Transition Learning Charter; Anne Carpenter, Valencia High School; Christine Smith, West Ranch High School. Classified staff members are non-credentialed employees who provide everyday support to the district’s students, teachers and administrators. They include secretaries and clerical staff, maintenance and custodial staff, computer technicians, campus supervisors, instructional assistants and more. “These honorees were selected by their school or department for their outstanding service, hard work and commitment to the community, students and staff of our district,” explained Terri Shiner, director of classified personnel. “Through their invaluable contributions and specialized services, they provide instructional, technical, and administrative support, as well as a safe and healthy environment in which to work and learn.” (Photos: Principals and Classified of the Year Honorees.)

College of the Canyons Honors Assistant Superintendent Vicki Engbrecht

Vicki Engbrecht, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, was inducted into the College of the Canyons Hall of Fame at a luncheon in October. Over the years, COC has recognized outstanding Alumni and Friends of the community college and included them in this Inaugural Induction Ceremony. The Hall of Fame Induction Wall will be displayed within a new building on campus currently under construction. Vicki was previously honored as a Friend in 2007 and joined 22 others as honorees recognized during this special ceremony. COC stated that “Vicki has been integral in enhancing the partnership between COC and the Hart School District. She is a lifetime member of the COC Alumni and Friends group and enjoys volunteering for a variety of organizations in the community.” Congratulations to Mrs. Engbrecht on this honor!

Hart District Teachers Participate in Educators in Industry Program

Nearly 80 teachers from Hart District schools participated in Educators in Industry, a collaborative program designed to provide teachers and staff with a view of how classroom curriculum can be used in real world applications. This event, held in October, was coordinated jointly by the Hart District and College of the Canyons. It provided the opportunity for teachers to spend time visiting local business and industry and to learn first hand about the skills students will need to be successful in the global economy. Four teachers from each Hart District school started the morning with a welcome and morning address by Ken Pulskamp, City Manager, City of Santa Clarita. Then they were assigned to shuttle buses in groups, for two visits each, to local participating businesses. This rigorous program will require the teachers to discuss their findings and create an action plan to share with their department when back at their school site, so that teaching strategies can be developed which incorporate skills and training that are necessary for the future workforce to master. This program is made possible through a collaborative community college district grant awarded to COC for Career and Technical Education training programs. Local companies and agencies that trained the teachers and provided workplace tours included: AMS Fulfillment, B&B Manufacturing, City of Santa Clarita, Boston Scientific, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, WayForward Technologies, Hyatt Valencia, Facey Medical, Poole & Shaffrey, AMG & Associates, Six Flags Magic Mountain, National Technical Systems, St. Jude Medical and Westfield Valencia Town Center.

Bowman Students Volunteer at Homes for Heroes Project

At the Habitat For Humanity SCV Homes for Heroes event, people from different parts of the community came together to help make improvements to the home belonging to an Iraqi war veteran who suffers from a debilitating case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as a multitude of life-altering injuries sustained in his tour of duty in Iraq. Eleven Bowman students came to help, passing out water, removing sod, and cleaning up after the project. “I was so proud of them,” exclaimed ASB Advisor Jenny Dermody, who commented on the chilly morning temperatures they encountered when they showed up just after sunrise. “Many of the students stuck around in the afternoon, too,” she added.  “Helpers were needed to remove the sod in the front yard, and several of our students jumped right in and took charge of the project until the very end.” Still other Bowman students helped with the tear-down at the end, when all of the tools had to be put away, and the trash needed to be hauled to the dumpster. All in all, it was a rewarding experience for the students and a sobering reality check on the potential side effects of being a soldier. “Several of the kids commented that prior to this experience, they had no idea of the sacrifices that military families make when a mom or dad goes on active duty,” Dermody said.

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