May 2004 News Archive
Friday, May 28, 2004
Personnel Changes in the Santa Barbara School Districts
Two new staff members have joined the Santa Barbara School Districts’ administration team:
Jan Zettel
Mr. Jan Zettel will begin work in the Santa Barbara High School District on July 1, 2004. He will serve as the districts’ assistant
superintendent of secondary education, replacing retiring Assistant Superintendent Michael Couch. Mr. Zettel will be
employed on a 225-day contract, earning an annual salary of $118,294.
"With more than 30 years in education, Jan Zettel has extensive training and expertise at the secondary level. We look forward to having him at the helm of our secondary district. At the same time that we welcome Jan, we bid a fond farewell to Assistant Superintendent Mike Couch, who will be enjoying some well-deserved time with his family. Mike served the district for 37 years and to say that he will be missed is an understatement," stated Superintendent Deborah Flores.
Mr. Zettel’s previous experience includes service as a director of curriculum and instruction, Shasta County Office of Education (2002-present); executive director of the North State School Leadership Center, California School Leadership Academy (2001-2002); principal of Carmel High School, Carmel, CA (1998-2001). Additionally, he has worked as an assistant principal/athletic administrator, secondary curriculum in a Shasta special education summer school program, high school English teacher, adjunct college professor, and teacher at the elementary and secondary levels. Mr. Zettel has district-level experience in professional development in assessment and date management. His site-level experience includes administrator and teacher training; block schedule reform; and curriculum and assessment.
Mr. Zettel received a bachelor’s degree in humanities/English and a master’s degree in education from United States International University in San Diego, CA.
Jeffrey Gabrielson
Bay area educator Jeffrey Gabrielson joined the districts on May 24, 2004, as the director of special education. Mr.
Gabrielson will be employed on a 225-day contract, earning an annual salary of $98,660.
Superintendent Deborah Flores said, "We are delighted to have Jeff Gabrielson on board. He comes to us with a range of leadership experiences in special education. A fluent Spanish speaker, Jeff is noted for outstanding classroom experience and expertise on inclusion. A thoughtful search for an outstanding candidate for this position was made easier because interim director Dr. Walter Olsen stepped in to temporarily fill the position and then stayed on until a replacement was found." Dr. Flores added, "We owe Dr. Olsen a debt of gratitude for providing his expertise during a longer-than-expected transition period."
Prior to joining the districts, Mr. Gabrielson worked as a SELPA program specialist in Mendocino County. In that capacity, his responsibilities included, but were not limited to, the development of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) forms, related policy, and procedural guidelines; county liaison for California Department of Education coordinated compliance and verification review; Riverside County Office of Education focused monitoring review leadership team member; assessment and support in developing programs for culturally and linguistically diverse students and English language learners; and ongoing district-level consultation and training in the areas of alternate assessment, standards-based goals and objectives, accommodations, modifications and differentiated curriculum, behavioral interventions, support plans, and functional analysis assessments.
Mr. Gabrielson’s professional background includes positions as an adjunct professor of education at both Sonoma State University and at San Diego’s National University as well as working as an educational consultant. In his consultant position, he worked with public school consortiums regarding program development, assessment, and staff training to address the unique needs of bilingual, English language learners, and students with special needs. Additionally, he served as a district inclusion/behavior specialist/resource specialist/interventions program supervisor at Redwood Middle School in Saratoga, CA, and bilingual teacher in San Jose, CA. Mr. Gabrielson’s experience includes classroom and online instruction in behavior management in education; the delivery of services and legal issues surrounding special education; staff development; procedural compliance and practical application of effective practices for teaching students with diverse and exceptional needs; and integration of California content standards into science and arts-based curriculum while meeting the needs of diverse students.
Mr. Gabrielson is in the process of completing a doctorate in education at the University of San Francisco (USF). He is currently enrolled in the Learning and Instruction and Special Education program at USF. He earned a master’s degree in fine arts in education-special education from San Jose State University and secured a bachelor’s degree in language studies from UC Santa Cruz.
Santa Barbara High School District Congratulates 20 National Merit Scholars and Scholar Finalists
Twenty students from throughout the Santa Barbara High School District, as listed below, were identified as 2004 National Merit Scholar finalists in the 49th annual academic competition. Eight of those finalists received National Merit Scholar awards: Eric Bank, Santa Barbara High School; Michael Chung, Dos Pueblos High School; Alexander Colman, Dos Pueblos High School; Zhiyun Guan, Dos Pueblos High School; Sally Johnson, San Marcos High School; Jared Warner, Dos Pueblos High School; Lissa Yu, Dos Pueblos High School; and Karen Zaida, Dos Pueblos High School.
Last fall, some 50,000 commended and semifinalists were identified from a field of 1.3 million entrants who took the PSAT/NMSQT exam during their junior year. That exam tests students’ knowledge of verbal, math, and writing skills. From the group of 50,000 students, approximately one-third are identified as semifinalists and two-thirds are informed of their commended status. This year, 39 commended students and 20 semifinalists were from the Santa Barbara High School District.
In order to be considered as a finalist, the 16,000 semifinalists were asked to provide additional information on their academic records and other requirements. In the spring, approximately 15,000 students were notified that they had advanced to finalist standing. All 20 of the district’s semifinalists moved into the finalist category. Based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments, finalists were considered for Merit Scholarship awards. Eight district students, noted above, received corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships or National Merit $2,500 Scholarships.
In addition to the rigor of their studies, the National Merit Scholars and Scholar Finalists have been active in other facets of their education, as indicated below:
DOS PUEBLOS HIGH SCHOOL
Sara Bastomski is a four-year member of the school’s debate team, and served as the team captain for two
of those years. She participated in track and field in grades 9-11. A co-founder and co-president of the Outdoors Club,
Sara has been a member of the National Honor Society and National Scholarship Federation throughout her four years
at Dos Pueblos.
Sara has given more than 350 hours of service to her community. She was recognized for her community service by the Santa Barbara Foundation, which gave her the Fleischmann Award for community service and academics. Sara has donated time to the Santa Barbara City Youth Council, serving as treasurer her senior year; Santa Barbara Jewish Community Center; Young Israel of Santa Barbara Synagogue; Santa Barbara Community Environmental Council; Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Ridley Tree Educational Center and "Teens for Teens" program; and Resqcats, a local non-local non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing, caring for, and finding homes for stray/abandoned cats and kittens.
Sara will be attending UCLA, where she was admitted to the Honors Program. She is interested in majoring in political science, philosophy, or sociology.
Daniel Beal was the co-captain of the swim team during his junior year. He served as the captain of the team during his senior year. He is the school’s record holder in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, and 100 fly.
Daniel completed his community service by donating time to Trail Daze, which engaged in local bike trail restoration; Sousson Foundation, which is dedicated to Channel Islands cleanup; and Habitat for Humanity, where he was involved in housing construction in San Francisco.
Daniel will enter Stanford University in the fall. He has a strong interest in medical sciences and history.
Alexander Campbell is the founder and captain of the Dos Pueblos High School sailing team, which he’s been involved in for the past four years. Last year, he became an Eagle Scout. Xander participated in debate during his sophomore and junior year. He is a member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation. He participated in the ASAP Program at UC Santa Barbara, taking Japanese for two years.
Xander’s volunteer service took place at the school’s Career Center, St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, the Santa Barbara Seashell Association, the Santa Barbara Youth Foundation, and Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic.
Xander will be attending the US Naval Academy. He plans to pursue his interests in international relations, political
science, and engineering.
Michael Chung, a National Merit Scholar, is the recipient of a Unisys Corporation Merit Scholarship.
Michael’s extracurricular involvement includes four years in Math Club. He has committed a significant amount of time as a piano accompanist for the choir. This year, Michael has been a member of a jazz combo as well as an orchestra leader.
A classical pianist, Michael is frequently engaged in performances and competitions, and he has won state competitions for music composition. He also plays piano for his Korean church.
Michael’s community service hours were amassed at the Goleta Public Library and with the Dos Pueblos instrumental ensemble.
Michael plans to attend Stanford University, where he will likely major in computer science and music composition.
Alexander Colman, a National Merit Scholar, is the recipient of a General Dynamics Merit Scholarship.
Alexander is currently serving as the ASB treasurer and member of the leadership class. He participated in the Stanford Summer Philosophy Discovery Institute. Alexander has been a member of the school’s varsity tennis team for four years; played frosh and soph basketball; was in the Male Ballet/Holiday Package this year; secretary in the Businesspeople of America Club; member of the Students Talking About Respect Club; Student Senator during his sophomore year; and member of the Dos Pueblos Model United Nations Club.
Alexander accumulated 224 hours of community service in the following ways: a house-building trip to Mexico; tennis instructor at Dos Pueblos Tennis Camp for underprivileged children; summer camp counselor at the Page Youth Center; volunteer in the United Way Day of Caring; and math tutor.
Alexander will be attending Yale University, where he expects to major in physics or engineering.
Jedidjah de Vries graduated a year early and is currently attending UC Santa Barbara. He is doing a double major in philosophy and political science.
During Jedidjah’s freshman year, he participated in Academic Decathlon. In his sophomore year he co-founded the Quite Dead Poets Society, and served as its president through his junior year. In his junior year, he was the president of Act Educate Organize Unite. During his three years at Dos Pueblos High, he fenced at UCSB, which he continues to do now that he is a student there. He was, and still is, a violinist.
Jedidjah’s community service was performed at the Goleta Public Library as part of their summer reading program.
He has also served as a tutor at the Isla Vista Teen Center.
Zhiyun Guan, a National Merit Scholar, has been awarded a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship.
Zhiyun’s club and extracurricular involvement include Math Club; Art Club; Poetry Club; and co-editor of a student literary arts magazine.
Her community service was as an assistant to professor Miriam Polne-Fuller in research on algae at the Marine Science Laboratory at UCSB.
Zhiyun plans to attend California Institute of Technology, majoring in biochemistry.
David Pursell’s club and extracurricular activities include participation in the Math Club; Westmont math competition; water polo; swim team; Youth Group; and leader of Youth Worship Band.
David’s community service has been through his volunteerism at Vacation Bible School, mission trip to Mexico, he helped coach girl’s water polo, and the Relay For Life Cancer Walk.
David plans to attend UC Davis, where he will major in computer science and engineering.
Jared Warner, a National Merit Scholar, is the recipient of a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship.
Lissa Yu, a National Merit Scholar, is the recipient of a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship.
Lissa has been active in cheerleading; Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir; president of the Math Club; Dos Pueblos Usherettes; and class treasurer during her sophomore year. Lissa is a member and president of the National Honor Society. She is a member of the California Scholarship Federation.
Music is an important part of Lissa’s life. She is a pianist, with 11 years of experience, and she has played the viola for four years. She teaches piano and serves as the principal viola in the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony. Lissa has served as a host of concerts and student representative to the Santa Barbara Music and Arts Conservatory. She is a founding member of Quartetto Giocoso, a classical string quartet.
Lissa’s community service has been as a volunteer with Goleta Library’s Summer Reading Program; manager of Goleta Tennis Camp for underprivileged youth; volunteered over 100 hours with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Oncology Unit Volunteer; and a member of the Santa Barbara Shelter Services for Women peer advisory training group.
Lissa has the unique distinction of being selected as a 2004 U.S. Presidential Scholar.
Lissa is headed to Yale University, where she will major in cognitive sciences.
Karen Zaida, a National Merit Scholar, received a $2,500 scholarship from General Dynamics.
Karen played soccer all four years in high school. She was the junior varsity team’s co-captain during her sophomore
year and co-captain of the varsity team during her senior year. Karen is a four-year member of the Interact, a community
service club, and served on the club’s board for three of those years.
Karen exceeded 300 hours of community service during the past four years. She volunteered with Bunnies Urgently Needing
Shelter; coached two youth soccer teams through the Goleta Boys and Girls Club; refereed AYSO soccer games; and engaged
in various community service activities that were taken on by the Interact club.
Karen will attend UC Berkeley, where she will major in mechanical engineering.
SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL
Benjamin DeArmond has volunteered time serving on the theatrical stage crews. He has run shows at the Center
Stage Theater, Santa Barbara City College, and at San Marcos High School.
Ben is a member of the California Scholarship Federation. He will be attending UC Berkeley in the fall. Ben has not
yet decided on a major.
Sasha Hamdani’s extracurricular activities include Mock Trial; Key Club, Junior State of America; one year on the junior varsity swim team and one year on the women’s water polo team; founder of WorldHarmonyOnline.com, an non-profit organization dedicated to creating a non-violent world with access to technology, healthcare, and education for everyone; managed a Web site for Children’s Nuerobiological Solutions.
Sasha volunteered more than 300 hours at Cottage Hospital; gave 160 hours as a counselor to Camp Wheez, a free asthma camp; served as a research assistant at Burnham Institute dealing with stem cells; co-wrote a chapter on vascular trauma with Dr. Oszvath at the Albany Medical Center, which was published in the textbook Vascular Surgery; and has volunteered 100 hours of tutoring.
Sasha is planning to attend the accelerated 7-year medical program at Albany Medical College. She plans to become
a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon.
Sally Johnson, a National Merit Scholar, is the recipient of a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship.
Sally is a four-year member of Math Club. During 9th and 10th- grade, she was on the track and field and golf teams; during her junior and senior years, she participated in cross country.
Sally’s community service hours were focused on two important projects: (1) raising a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind and (2) volunteering with the National Charity League, where she participated in projects such as Safety Town and CALM.
Sally will attend Rice University. She has not yet declared a major.
Katherine Simon continues to combine a very rigorous schedule of Advanced Placement courses with activities such as sailing, Mock Trial, Math Club, Computer Club, concert choir, and vocal ensemble. She will be competing in the Mock Trial National Championship this weekend in Orlando, Florida.
Katie has the distinction of being a student who scored a 1600 on the SATs. She has completed every math course at San Marcos. She has already completed five science classes and is in the process of taking a sixth, AP-level course. Katherine is an AP Scholar with Distinction.
Katie has volunteered community service hours to the Santa Barbara Youth Foundation.
Katie will be attending Columbia University, where she plans to major in computer science.
SANTA BARBARA HIGH SCHOOL
Eric Bank, a National Merit Scholar, received a $2,500 National Merit Scholar award.
Eric’s extracurricular activities include participation in the Santa Barbara High School Madrigal and A Cappella Choir, where he is also the manager of both groups; boys’ varsity tennis; Mock Trial; three-year member and two-year treasurer of Junior State of America; and producer and performer in the "Music of the Night" production. Eric is a Santa Barbara High School Distinguished Don.
Most of Eric’s community service hours were spent helping the Friendship Adult Day Care Center. He received a school Community Service Star award for contributing more than double the required hours to the community.
Eric received early admission to Yale University. His planned major is molecular biochemistry and biophysics.
Zachery Beiley’s extracurricular activities include playing the alto sax or flute in the school’s advanced jazz band, marching band, and concert band; Zack played the alto sax in the Santa Barbara High jazz combo group that was awarded "festival champion" at the San Joaquin Valley Jazz Festival; performing in Santa Barbara City College’s "Good Times" jazz band and their concert band; four years in Mock Trial, serving as a team captain this year. Zach is a Santa Barbara High School Distinguished Don.
Zach accumulated about 130 community service hours by volunteering at the school’s jazz and marching band festivals
(in fact, he was the director/organizer for jazz festival); Santa Barbara Foundation’s Sand Castle Festival;
and AYSO referee.
Zach will be attending Brown University, where he plans to major in materials engineering or electrical engineering.
Nicole Kratz has been a flutist in the school marching band, concert band, and advanced jazz ensemble; served on the Mock Trial team; member of Junior State of America; and was a member of the orchestra in the school musical "Music of the Night."
Nicole accumulated 441 hours of community service by assisting with summer band, parades, and working at competitions. She has also worked with elderly Alzheimer’s patients at Friendship Center in Montecito.
Nicole will be attending UC Berkeley and she plans to major in English. She hopes to be a creative writer and an English
teacher, and to pursue jazz flute and photography in her free time. She also hopes to study abroad and learn new languages,
absorb new cultures, experience other parts of the world.
Portia Lombardo has been a four-year member of cross country and track and field teams, She served as varsity co-captain of cross country this year; co-captain/president of the Cricket Club; and chapter secretary of the Junior State of America. Additionally, Portia participated on the Mock Trial team and served as an Anti-Defamation League peer trainer.
Portia has more than 240 hours of community service, accumulated through many summers of work as a Santa Barbara Zoo Camp counselor-in-training and as a Santa Barbara New-Press Half Marathon volunteer.
Portia is an AP Scholar with Honor, Governor’s Scholar, Santa Barbara High School Distinguished Don, recipient of the Outstanding Community Service Star Award; and All Channel League Honorable Mention in cross country.
Portia will attend Dartmouth College, where she will major in chemistry.
A talented pianist, Jordan Teti was a captain and prosecuting attorney for the varsity Mock Trial Team; varsity tennis team. He has interned with the Cuban American National Foundation as well as with Bob Pohl’s candidacy for state assembly. Jordan is a Santa Barbara High School Distinguished Don.
Jordan has amassed over 200 hours of community service.
Jordan plans to attend Harvard, majoring in political science.
The National Merit Scholars and Scholar Finalists will be recognized by the Santa Barbara School Districts’ Board of Education at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2004.
DPHS Senior Lissa Yu Selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar
Dos Pueblos High School senior Lissa Yu has been selected as a 2004 U.S. Presidential Scholar. Established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President, the Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors up to 141 of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. It is not a scholarship program. According to the U.S. Department of Education, application for the program is by invitation only. Candidates are evaluated on their academic and artistic success, leadership and involvement in school and community affairs.
The identification of candidates is done by the Commission on Presidential Scholars. The selection is based on student SAT or ACT scores. All graduating high school seniors who are US citizens, had exceptionally high scores on the SAT or ACT exams, and authorized the release of their scores to outside agencies are automatically considered. Once identified, invited candidates must then submit essays, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
In early March, 500 semifinalists were selected (25 of the semifinalists were from California); the Commission on Presidential Scholars then begins work on determining up to 141 finalists. The Presidential Scholars were notified of their selection as finalists when they received a letter from the President of the United States. The finalists have been invited by the Commission to Washington, DC for Presidential Scholars National Recognition Week in June. During that week, Scholars will meet with government officials and dignitaries, visit museums and monuments, and participate in receptions and ceremonies in their honor. The final stop in the week-long experience is a White House-sponsored ceremony where the high school seniors each receive a Presidential Scholars Medallion.
Recipient Lissa Yu is an accomplished young woman. She is a National Merit Scholar and recipient of a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship. She has been active in cheerleading; Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir; president of the Math Club; Dos Pueblos Usherettes; and class treasurer during her sophomore year. Lissa is a member and president of the National Honor Society. She is a member of the California Scholarship Federation.
Music is an important part of Lissa’s life. She is a pianist, with 11 years of experience, and she has played the viola for four years. She teaches piano and serves as the principal viola in the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony. Lissa has served as a host of concerts and student representative to the Santa Barbara Music and Arts Conservatory. She is a founding member of Quartetto Giocoso, a classical string quartet.
Lissa community service has been as a volunteer with Goleta Library’s Summer Reading Program; manager of Goleta Tennis Camp for underprivileged youth; volunteered over 100 hours with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Oncology Unit Volunteer; and a member of the Santa Barbara Shelter Services for Women peer advisory training group.
In the fall, Lissa will be headed to Yale University, where she will major in cognitive sciences.