State Superintendent Jack O’Connell to be honored at National GEAR UP Day event at Valley High School
September 18, 2009
On Friday, September 18, Valley High School will celebrate the first National GEAR UP Day by honoring State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell for his commitment to education, followed by activities highlighting GEAR UP programs at Valley from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
"National GEAR UP Day is a celebration of students, families and school communities throughout California and across the country,” said Shelley Davis, director of California GEAR UP. “The occasion marks ten years of support from congressional, state and local leaders and recognizes collaborative success towards equity and access for ALL students."
The celebration kicks off with a press conference at 8:10 a.m. where State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell will be honored for his commitment to education and guests will hear remarks from California GEAR UP Director Shelley Davis, EGUSD Superintendent Steven M. Ladd, Ed.D., Valley High School Principal Keven MacDonald and Valley students and their family members.
“We are delighted to celebrate the success our students and staff enjoy as part of the GEAER UP program,” Superintendent Ladd said. “It is an honor to join GEAR UP in recognizing Superintendent O’Connell for his support of student achievement and his ongoing leadership for public education in California.”
Following the press conference at 8:45 a.m., guests are invited to take a campus tour where they will visit the Valley/GEAR UP Family Center, the Leadership Skills Initiative and Valley High School classrooms. After the tour at 9:20 a.m., students will participate in a question and answer session with O’Connell. The event will conclude with visitors participating in a dialogue led by MacDonald about closing the achievement gap.
“The partnership with GEAR UP has contributed greatly to the success of Valley High School,” said Keven MacDonald, principal at Valley. “The next step in the process of closing the achievement gap is working directly with the students who encompass the sub groups in the achievement gap. National GEAR UP Day is a celebration of our partnership and the next stage of looking at students as the informational source for improvement.”
The goal of California GEAR UP is to develop and sustain the organizational capacity of school communities to prepare ALL students for high school and postsecondary education through the establishment of a statewide network of support. The state model is designed to create a self-sustaining college-going culture by working with whole schools through the adults that have the greatest impact in student life and experience – principals, teachers, counselors, families and community leaders.
For more information about National GEAR UP Day in California, visit www.castategearup.org.