LITTLE RIVER >> This summer, the Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE) hosted a retreat for several county offices of education to discuss educational trends and share best practices. Participants included county offices from Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, and Napa.
“We were pleased to bring people together here in Mendocino County,” MCOE Superintendent Warren Galletti said. “It can be really valuable to connect with colleagues and work through issues together.”
To address the teacher shortage in California, participants discussed ways to support teachers with provisional intern permits and short-term staff permits, as well as creating online intern programs to attract and train more teachers. In Ukiah, people interested in becoming teachers can pursue a teaching credential locally from Sonoma State University. In partnership with the Sonoma County Office of Education, MCOE serves as an extension for Sonoma’s North Coast Teaching Program.
Participants also discussed how to support local school districts as they navigate the challenges of ever-changing funding structures and the politics of providing education to diverse populations. Mike Fine of the California Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) provided participants with an update on their fiscal monitoring duties as required by AB1200, including specific methods of carrying out oversight responsibilities. Del Norte County Office of Education shared information about its Equity and Diversity Conference on October 2017, where speakers will address reducing implicit bias, intergenerational trauma, the migrant experience, LGBTQ voices, and more.
The group also reviewed ideas on how to help school districts implement state academic standards and establish a strengths-based approach to learning. Dr. Paul Porter of UC Davis presented information on the importance of focusing on people’s strengths, suggesting that both students and staff are more likely to realize their greatest growth when they try to improve on their innate talents rather than focusing their energy on improving their weaknesses.
Galletti said, “Overall, we learned a lot. It was great to build relationships with other county offices and to learn from the experts. We’re all in this to provide students with the best educations we can. As our country and our culture evolve and priorities shift, we want to stay ahead of the curve and give our students the tools they’ll need to be successful in the decades to come.”
