SACRAMENTO >> Cindy Adams, a program director with the Lake County Office of Education, was recognized by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson during a ceremony on Thursday.
Adams was one of six educators from across the state to earn the California Department of Education (CDE) 2016 California Expanded Learning Award. She was honored as a recipient in the California Expanded Learning Visionary Leadership category.
The award recognizes professionals who have dedicated their careers to creating innovative expanded learning programs.
For almost 20 years Adams has worked to improve the lives of children and youths in Lake County. Her advocacy was apparent after the fires of 2015 left many families homeless and students without an afterschool program.
Adams successfully campaigned to secure funding so local kids have a safe place to learn and receive emotional support and nutritious meals.
The awards ceremony is part of Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide event celebrating the role of afterschool programs in keeping kids safe, inspiring them to learn, and helping working families.
Improving and expanding afterschool and other learning programs outside regular school hours has been a top priority for Torlakson since he entered public service. Torlakson has fought for adequate funding of these programs and created the CDE’s Expanded Learning Division.
“Expanded learning programs help students thrive academically and socially,” said Torlakson. “These awards acknowledge the daily work of those who foster environments that nurture, stimulate, challenge, and engage children.”
The awards are divided into two areas: California Expanded Learning Visionary Leadership and Emerging Leadership, with three winners selected for each category. The six recipients were chosen based on their outstanding commitment to improving and enriching the lives of young people through their Expanding Learning programs.
Joining Adams as recipients of the California Expanded Learning Visionary Leadership award were Randy Mehrten, Senior Directo of Safe and Healthy Kids, operated by the Fresno County Office of Education and Debe Loxton, Chief Operating Officer of LA’s Best.
The awards fpr California Expanded Learning Emerging Leadership went to Tiffany Knuckles, Program Coordinator for Oakland Leaf Foundation, Nate Houston, an Expanded Learning Specialist at Center for Fathers and Families and Jessy Tapia, Program Director with Oxnard Unified School District.
Expanded learning programs provide afterschool and summer learning to nearly 500,000 California students at almost 5,000 sites. The National Afterschool Network ranked California as the best in the country for the 2014—15 school year.
The CDE Expanded Learning Division oversees all of the expanded learning school sites for the state. The division started the award ceremony in 2013 and receives nominations from county education offices that have expanded learning services.
