June 2002 News Archive
Friday, June 28, 2002
Nea Voss Jackson Recognized as a Santa Barbara County Distinguished Educator
Nea Voss Jackson is of four Santa Barbara County Distinguished Educators for 2002-2003. Ms. Voss Jackson has taught 7th and 8th grade science at Goleta Valley Junior High School since 1998. Prior to joining the Santa Barbara High School District, she taught math and science in Santa Paula and Ojai. Ms. Voss Jackson was the University of California-Santa Barbara’s Student Teacher of Year in 1993-1994.
Ms. Voss Jackson has served as the science department chair and faculty senate president at Goleta Valley Junior High School. She has also been active in AYSO soccer, the Community Environmental Council, Friends of Gaviota Coast, JASON Project, Sierra club, and Women Educators of Science and Technology.
"Projects and learning activities presented in her classroom provide an in-depth opportunity for students to explore those things they have just taken for granted in their daily lives. Nea’s warmth and caring for her students is clearly observed while she is working with them and they are so disappointed when the bell rings because they have been lost in the world of scientific discovery in her classroom," stated Dr. Kris Robertson, Goleta Valley Junior High School’s principal.
Diana Rigby Selected as ACSA’s South Coast Charter "Administrator of the Year"
Assistant Superintendent Diana Rigby was recently selected as the Association of California School Administrators-South Coast Charter "Central Office Administrator of the Year."
More than 25 years ago, Ms. Rigby began her career as a special education teacher. She joined the Santa Barbara School Districts in July 1995. Previously, she was the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in the Ventura County Education Office.
From 1995-2001, Ms. Rigby was the Santa Barbara Elementary and High School School Districts’ Director of Student Services then, on July 1, 2001, she began her service as the District’s Assistant Superintendent, Elementary Education. Throughout her many years of service, she has advocated for a safe, effective learning environment for all students.
Pledge of Allegiance
Yesterday, in a 2-1 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance is an unconstitutional "endorsement of religion" because of the phrase "under God." Congress added those words to the Pledge in 1954. The court has ruled that "The Pledge, as currently codified, is an impermissible government endorsement of religion." The court decided that the phrase violates the constitutional separation of church and state. According to news sources, if the decision stands, then children in the Western states covered by the court would not be permitted to recite the Pledge.
California Education Code 52720 states:
"In every public elementary school each day during the school year at the beginning of the first regularly scheduled class or activity period at which the majority of the pupils of the school normally begin the school day, there shall be conducted appropriate patriotic exercises. The giving of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America shall satisfy the requirements of this section.
In every public secondary school there shall be conducted daily appropriate patriotic exercises. The giving of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America shall satisfy such requirement. Such patriotic exercises for secondary schools shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations which shall be adopted by the governing board of the district maintaining the secondary school."
In the Santa Barbara Elementary and High School Districts, patriotic exercises, usually the Pledge, occur on a daily basis. We await clarification on this decision from District legal counsel, the California Department of Education, and the State Board of Education. Until we are notified that California Education Code 52720 has been changed, we will continue our current practices.
Seven District Schools Receive 2001-2002 Governor’s Reading Award
During a six-month period, which ended April 1, 2002, California students in grades K-8 read more than 1.5 billion pages as part of the Governor’s Reading Award Program. This year, 1,302 schools participated and 800 schools were selected to share the $4 million award. Seven schools in the Santa Barbara Elementary School District-Adams, Cleveland, Harding, McKinley, Monroe, Santa Barbara Community Academy, and Washington-qualified for the program and each school will receive $5,000. Together, these seven schools contributed 8,136,230 pages to the program’s total number of pages read.
The Governor’s Reading Award Program is designed to promote independent, recreational reading. The program, now in its third year, helps foster a daily reading routine. "When my husband became governor, he challenged students to read more pages than they ever dreamed possible," said California First Lady Sharon Davis. Santa Barbara Elementary School District students accepted the challenge and, in year 2001-2002, students in the District’s award-winning schools read the following number of pages:
| Elementary Schools | Number of pages |
|---|---|
| Adams | 1,199,384 |
| Cleveland | 781,694 |
| Harding | 1,016,287 |
| McKinley | 1,433,790 |
| Monroe | 1,161,171 |
| Santa Barbara Community Academy | 769,884 |
| Washington | 1,774,020 |
A committee of teachers, staff, parents, and students will determine how the grant will be used.
Progress Report: California High School Exit Exam
A state graduation requirement for June 2004+ graduates is passage of the California High School Exit Exam (HSEE). The exam, first administered in spring 2001, consists of two tests: English-language arts and mathematics. Students who pass a test do not need to retake the test. Annually, there will be three opportunities for students to retake the High School Exit Exam: July, November, and March. The next testing opportunity for students who have not passed the High School Exit Exam is July 23 – 25, 2002.
The state has released the results of the California High School Exit Exam for Dos Pueblos High School, Santa Barbara High School, and La Cuesta Continuation High School. San Marcos High School administered the test later than the other high schools in the District; thus, their spring 2002 results will not be available until July.
The spring 2002 testing session was for tenth-grade students (Class of 2004) who did not pass the High School Exit Exam during the ninth grade. In spring 2002, 338 students took the English-language arts section of the High School Exit Exam and 179 students passed. During the same test period, 413 students took the mathematics section of the High School Exit Exam and 159 students passed.
| Class of 2004 | Number passed, spring 2001 | Number passed, spring 2002 | Number of students needing to pass the HSEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dos Pueblos High School | |||
| English-language arts | 448 | 55 | 58 |
| Mathematics | 388 | 71 | 89 |
| San Marcos High School | |||
| English-language arts | 410 | ** | ** |
| Mathematics | 316 | ** | ** |
| Santa Barbara High School | |||
| English-language arts | 356 | 98 | 85 |
| Mathematics | 283 | 78 | 136 |
| La Cuesta Continuation High School | |||
| English-language arts | 26 | 19 | |
| Mathematics | 10 | 32 | |
**San Marcos High School’s information will be updated by the state on or about mid-July 2002.
National Merit Scholarship Program Recognizes Ten Local Seniors
In September 2001, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of approximately 16,157 Semifinalists in the 47th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Then, in the spring, they announced the names of Semifinalists who had advanced to Finalist standing. Eleven students in the Santa Barbara High School District were identified as Semifinalists and ten went on to become Finalists in the 2002 Merit Scholarship competition. One of the ten students – Santa Barbara High’s Julie Tse – was offered, and accepted, a National Merit Scholarship.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, based in Evanston, Illinois, was established in 1955 to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship competition. This year, more than 1.26 million students in over 20,000 U.S. high schools participated in the program by taking the PSAT exam during their junior year of high school. Less than one-half of one percent of the students who took the exam were identified as Semifinalists. To be considered as a Finalist, Semifinalists had to provide a letter of recommendation from their school principal; submit SAT scores that reflected their earlier qualifying test results; and complete a detailed application that included information on their high school academic record, a personal essay, and information on the student’s leadership in school and community activities. Depending on their eligibility, Finalists are considered for various merit scholarships awarded by the program.
The Santa Barbara High School District’s nine Finalists and one Scholar are listed below:
Jason Flowers, Dos Pueblos High School
Jason has served as captain of the football and baseball teams. He has participated on the Dos Pueblos Athletic
Council. Additionally, he has been a member of the Junior Statesmen of America.
Jason is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. He is the recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence; Santa Barbara Athletic Roundtable Scholar-Athlete of the Year; Bank of America certificate winner in laboratory science; U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award; University of California-San Diego Jacobs Engineering Scholarship; Kenneth and Margaret Millar Scholarship; and Wendy Flowers Memorial Scholarship.
Jason plans to attend the University of California, San Diego. He will major in chemical engineering.
Illana Goldflam, Dos Pueblos High School
Illana was one of four Dos Pueblos students who competed, and won second place, in the 2002 National Economics
Challenge in New York City. When she’s not immersed in economics and other studies, she finds time to perform
with the concert band.
Illana is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. She is the recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence; Music Teacher’s Association of California Certificate of Merit Senior Medallion; and the 200% Community Service Award.
Illana plans to attend Bryn Mawr College in the fall.
Jacob Harter, Dos Pueblos High School
Jake is a four-year member of Junior Statesmen of America and has been an officer for two of those years. He’s
a trumpet player, who serves as the first chair of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony. He is a four-year captain of the
varsity swim team and a three-year captain of the waterpolo team. He represented his school and community as a 2001
delegate to the Anti-Defamation League’s National Youth Conference in Washington, DC.
Jake is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. He is the recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence; Jay and Sally Smith Honor Scholarship; Governor’s Math and Science Scholarship; Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation Award for Academic Excellence; and Bank of America plaque winner in liberal arts.
Jake will be attending Princeton University in the fall. He plans to major in ecological and evolutionary biology.
Elizabeth Kim, Dos Pueblos High School
During her freshman year, Elizabeth was the president of the photo club. She has been an active member of the school’s
math club. Elizabeth is a talented golfer. She spent four years on the girls’ golf team and was selected as one
of the top 80 female golfers in the state. She took up the violin while in high school and served as the concert mistress
for the musical Bye, Bye Birdie.
Elizabeth’s community service includes time spent on the Santa Barbara City Youth Council, an advisory group which has been involved in projects such as the skateboard park, youth dances, and other activities. She has also been active in Get Oil Out and the Community Environment Council.
Elizabeth is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. She is the recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, B & B Foundation Scholarship, and the 200% Community Service Award.
Elizabeth will be attending the University of California, Los Angeles, where she will major in biology and minor in fashion.
Asher Kupperman, San Marcos High School
Asher is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. He has been on the San
Marcos varsity basketball team for four years and on the volleyball team for two years. He has participated in student
government as well as the school’s math club.
Asher volunteered one day each week at the Jewish Community Center, where he was part of the "Schmooze Room," sharing food and conversation with the elderly.
Asher is the recipient of the Robert Rossow Memorial Scholarship. He received a California Department of Education Honors Certificate. He was named the San Marcos Elks Student of the Year.
Asher will be attending Yale University. He plans to major in molecular biochemistry and biophysics.
David Trichler, San Marcos High School
For two years, David was a member of the varsity cross country team and the soccer team. He played trumpet in the
marching band, jazz band, and concert band. As a vocalist, he sang in the Men’s Chorus and also in the school’s
spring musicals. He was a member of the Mock Trial team.
David is the recipient of a Sons of American Revolution Scholarship, Bank of America Achievement Award in social studies, the San Marcos Social Studies Department Award, Kenneth and Margaret Millar Scholarship.
David graduated from San Marcos High School in January. He then enrolled in Santa Barbara City College’s study abroad program and – from January to May – studied art, Italian, and Western civilization in Florence, Italy and toured Europe.
David plans to major in international relations. We understand that he is on the wait list at Stanford but, if he doesn’t get in, he has several other offers.
Brendan Barnwell, Santa Barbara High School
During his freshman and sophomore years, Brendan was a member of The Forge, the school’s newspaper. In his
sophomore and junior years, he was involved in the theater program. He was in Mock Trial during his senior year. Brendan
participated in numerous math competitions throughout all four years.
Brendan is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. He is the recipient of an Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation Honor Scholarship and a Bank of American certificate winner in mathematics.
Brendan will be attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, as a Regents Scholar. He will be in the College of Creative Studies and plans to major in math.
Aruna Jammalamadaka, Santa Barbara High School
Aruna has been active with City @ Peace. She is a four-year member of the marching band, serving as the drum captain.
Aruna is a member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation Seal Bearer. She is the recipient
of an Engineers and Technicians Association Scholarship.
In the fall, Aruna will be attending the University of California, Santa Barbara as a Regents Scholar.
Julie Tse, Santa Barbara High School
Julie is a National Merit Scholar, having received a $2,500 scholarship award.
Julie is a 2002 Distinguished Don. She is the 2002 Salutatorian. She has been active in MESA and student government. She is the captain of the track team. Her community service hours have been done at the Santa Barbara Public Library and the Adams Elementary summer school program.
Julie is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. She is the recipient of a Santa Barbara High School Alumni scholarship; Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation Honor Scholarship; Bausch & Lomb Science Award; Howard Walters Excellence in History Award; Fleischmann Award; California Masonic Foundation Scholarship; Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship; Mel Clayton Ford Outstanding Scholarship; Bank of American certificate winner in science; and Robert C. Byrd Honor Scholarship.
Julie will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall. She will be majoring in chemistry, with a minor in biology.
Andrew Warner, Santa Barbara High School
Andrew is a three-year member of the Junior Statesmen of America. For the past two years, he has served as the
co-founder and president of the two-year-old Cricket Club.
During the past four years, Andrew has simultaneously volunteered community service hours as an assistant instructor of fencing at the YMCA (he is a nationally-ranked fencer) and worked with Alzheimer patients at the Friendship Daycare Center.
Andrew is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation Seal Bearer. Andrew has won several local and national poetry awards, including a recently received National Scholastic Arts and Writing Award in Poetry as well as the Pillsbury Foundation Creative Writing Award.
Andrew will be attending Cornell University in the fall. He has not yet decided on a major.
Shirley Wright to Retire after 43 Years of Service
After 43 years in the classroom, most of them in the first grade, Washington Elementary School teacher Shirley Wright is ending 43 years of service to the Santa Barbara Elementary School District. At this point in her career, Ms. Wright is teaching the grandchildren of some of her original students. Ms. Wright is a pioneer. She was the first Black American teacher hired by the Santa Barbara School Districts.
Raised in this community, Ms. Wright received a teaching credential at UCSB. In 1958, she joined the Elementary District and was assigned to Lincoln Elementary School, where she spent the first seven years of her teaching career.
In 1966, Ms. Wright began a 29-year assignment at Franklin Elementary School. At Franklin, she was known for her consistency in teaching, commitment to the music program, and dedication to her profession. In addition to her classroom work, she was the school’s choir director. Those who worked with her said she was a jack-of-all-trades who could be counted on to create and instigate Franklin’s talent shows and patriotic programs.
In 1995, Ms. Wright moved from Franklin to Washington Elementary School. At Washington, she is known for bringing music to the children by playing the piano and leading the school’s 100-member choir. Ms. Wright has been the chief organizer of the annual Washington talent show. "Shirley is a committed, relentless teacher. She is just an all-around amazing person," stated Principal Beatrice Cordeiro. Principal Cordeiro pointed out that Ms. Wright was instrumental in recently bringing Captain Bill Pickard to Washington School to address the entire student body. Captain Pickard was featured in Open Court’s first-grade anthology as the first Black American to circle the world, solo.
Pierre Claeyssens to Participate in Flag Day Celebration at Adams
From 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2002, Adams Elementary School students will gather in the lower field and will be waving 600 small flags during their hour-long celebration of Flag Day. [Flag Day is actually June 14, 2002, but the last day of school is June 13.] The celebration will include:
- Dos Pueblos High School Junior ROTC will conduct a presentation and recession of the colors;
- A Veteran’s Day address will be delivered by Captain Lawrence Wilson, Ret., United States Navy;
- Essay contest winners, one per grade level, will read their essays on the topic "What the American Flag Means to Me";
- The "Star Spangled Banner" will be sung by Mr. Gary Smith, a professional vocalist and vocal music teacher at Adams;
- "God Bless America" will be sung by Mr. Pierre Claeyssens, community resident who donated the flags given to students for this celebration;
- Adams children will sing patriotic songs, such as "You’re a Grand Old Flag," "Nifty Fifty States."
The public is welcome to attend this Flag Day celebration. Adams Elementary is located at 2701 Las Positas, Santa Barbara, CA.
Principal Paul Serka to Retire
Paul Serka, principal of San Marcos High School and longtime employee of the Santa Barbara High School District, will retire at the end of June 2002. He began that assignment on Monday, November 16, 1998, first as an interim principal and then, in 1999, as the school’s principal.
Mr. Serka joined the Santa Barbara High School District in 1972. He taught computer programming and accounting at Santa Barbara High from 1972-1973; accounting and keyboarding at Dos Pueblos High from 1973-78 (and was the Business Department Chair during that time); business and economics at La Cuesta Continuation High School from 1978-90. During his years at La Cuesta, he was the head teacher who set up each of the school’s four satellite sites and programs. From 1990-1993, Mr. Serka served as an assistant principal at Santa Barbara High School. Then, from September 1993 to November 1998, he served as the principal of La Cuesta Continuation High School.
"When you mention Paul Serka’s name in this District, the words ‘wonderful,’ ‘compassionate,’ and ‘dedicated’ inevitably enter into the conversation. Of course, we understand and support his decision to retire, he has certainly earned it. But, his absence will be felt in many ways. The best interests of his students have always been at the heart of every decision he makes. His leadership, wit, problem-solving abilities, and team approach have made working with him a pleasure. With his many years of service, Paul is part of our Districts’ institutional memory. He will be missed," stated Superintendent Deborah Flores.
The District is currently recruiting for the new principal. The application period will close on July 5, 2002. An interview committee – comprised of an identified team of parents, teachers, and District administration staff – will interview prospective candidates in mid-July. The goal is to have a new principal in place in August.
San Marcos High School, a California Distinguished School (1994), serves the needs approximately 2,000 students. The school is located at 4750 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA.
Dr. Lynne Ruegamer to serve as Principal of Roosevelt Elementary School
Dr. Lynne C. Ruegamer will soon be leaving her current position as principal of J. L. Bowler Elementary School, in Las Vegas, NV, to become the new principal of Roosevelt Elementary School. Her contract period will begin July 1, 2002. Dr. Ruegamer will replace Sally Kingston, who will be the assistant superintendent of human resources at the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
"Sally Kingston served the District well during her five years with us," said Superintendent Deborah Flores. "She provided outstanding leadership, first at La Colina Junior High, then as a principal at Franklin, and most recently as Roosevelt’s principal. Sally has done a wonderful job and we wish her well." Dr. Flores continued, "We are very fortunate to have Dr. Ruegamer join us. She has excellent credentials in regular and special education. She will be an asset to Roosevelt and to the entire District."
"I am very excited about serving as the principal of Roosevelt. I’ve done a lot of research on the school and I understand that it has a tradition of excellence. I’m committed to maintaining that tradition," said Dr. Ruegamer.
Prior to her current work in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, NV (1999-current), Dr. Ruegamer served as a consultant with the Nevada Department of Education working as a hearing and mediation officer (1985-1997) and in compliance monitoring and complaint investigations (1985-2000). She was an elementary school principal in the White Pine School District, Ely, NV (1997-1999). Dr. Ruegamer was an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), teaching special education (1973-1997). She served as chair of the Department of Special Education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1984-1992) and Director of Federal Programs/Special Education, Pullman, WA (1970-1973). She was a special education teacher in Montana and Washington (1966-1970).
Dr. Ruegamer received her doctorate in special education from the University of Idaho and her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Montana.
In 1999, Dr. Ruegamer received the Board of Regents Emeritus Award (1999) for outstanding service to the University of Nevada. Roosevelt students are likely to take a special interest is a different part of her life at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas: Dr. Ruegamer lead the UNLV rodeo program for eight years. In that capacity, her responsibilities included coaching, fundraising, and program oversight.
As the principal of Roosevelt Elementary School, Dr. Ruegamer will earn $95,861 annually.