21st Century Learning

Corcoran Unified School District

District Update

Click Here for More Information

PUBLIC HEARING

Notice of Public Hearing

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, a public hearing will be held with respect to the Corcoran Joint Unified School District intent to establish a schools facility improvement district and to incur bonded indebtedness to fund school facilities.

The hearing will commence at 6:30 P.M., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, and will be held at the offices of the Corcoran Joint Unified School District, 1520 Patterson Avenue, Corcoran, CA 93212.  Interested persons wishing to express their views on the District’s establishment of a schools facility improvement district may attend the public hearing and provide testimony on such topic.

The District has adopted the following Resolution of Intention, which states the District’s intention to establish a schools facility improvement district.

Resolution No. 1070 – Intention to Establish School Facilities Improvement District

SFID Map

Karen Frey

Board Member named Woman of the Year

Karen Frey, a CUSD Board member, was honored  at the recent Corcoran Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner as the Woman of the Year. A Corcoran native, Mrs. Frey graduated from Corcoran High School, as well as her two children. Currently, her two grandchildren attend Corcoran schools. All of them were present to see her receive her award.

Karen first served more than two terms as a Board member in the late 80’s/early 90’s. She returned to CUSD as a Board member in 2008. She has been clerk of the Board and currently sits on the Curriculum and Human Resources Sub-Committees. Additionally, Karen serves as Treasurer for the Kings County School Board Association and was recently appointed as a member of the California School Board Association Delegate Assembly where she represents the school districts of Kings County at the State level. During her first stint as CUSD Board member, she earned a Masters in Boardsmanship through CSBA. Read more

Mark Sanders Attends Civics

Mark Sanders Attends Civics Institute

This past summer Mark Sanders, John Muir Middle School teacher, attended the California on My Honor: Civics Institute for Teachers, which is a residential institute for K-12 teachers held at the Administrative Office of the Courts in San Francisco, and sponsored by the Judicial Council of California and California State University San Marcos. Teachers from throughout California became involved in deeper understandings of the judicial branch while working with judges, attorneys and fellow teachers. Read more

Quotes and Proverbs

“Any man who selects a goal in life which can be fully achieved has already defined his own limitations.”– Robert Cavett

It is not easy to challenge what we do and set goals that can even seem unattainable.  Our nature is to take the safe and easy route and “not create any waves.”  Many take the position of those who ask the question, “why take the risk?” This can be true in just about every facet of our lives.

Read more

Caught in the Act: George Schimpf

George Schimpf has been working for Corcoran Unified since 1975 (that’s 37 years) as the District’s electrician.  He maintains the sites’ bell/clock systems, replaces light fixtures, and installs power to wherever it is needed.  He also assists with programming thermostats, as well as servicing equipment and installation. Read more

Caught in the Act: Stephanie Gomes

1. What is your current position? I currently teach fifth grade at the same campus where I, myself, attended fifth grade.  It’s a pretty cool experience
2. What inspires you at work? My students and co-workers inspire me daily.  I enjoy watching my students progress, while they find the confidence to set higher goals for themselves.   The staff here at Mark Twain has been so positive, welcoming and helpful during my transition from first grade to fifth.  It is very apparent from the moment you step on to the campus that everyone here cares a great deal and is invested in these kids. Read more

Powerful Learning and Teaching

How to Measure Growth

What limits do we have when it comes to student learning?  How do we bring ourselves and our students to the next levels?  Can we grow and can our students grow to the next level?

Firstly, allow me to emphatically answer the last question.  We can go to the next level because growth is inevitable when we are doing the right things for the right reasons.  I will take it a step further and assert we will grow to the next level.

Read more

Weekly Challenge

These are challenge questions for each one of us after each and every week of school:

•After the first week of school are your students closer to meeting the goal of reading at grade level?

•If you do not know, how do you as the educator go about finding out? (How do you keep monitoring this, even weekly?)

•If you do know, what evidence do you use?

I fondly remember one of my high school football coaches who promoted the idea of me leading a chant after every game; win or lose:

“Every day in every way we get better and better and better!” I remember saying this especially after the few games we lost. The saying was even more meaningful. In order for us to help our students break the “reading barrier,” we have to be engaged in their progress weekly. We cannot afford to have a “wait and see” attitude because the task of improving reading works on a day by day basis. We ask the question, “how are my students doing today with their reading?” And, more importantly, “what am I doing about it if they are struggling?” Whether they are close to your goals or far, the day-by-day work is still the same: provide tasks where every day in every way, they get better and better and better!

Philosophy on Student Learning

The true gift of teaching is not in our inherited or developed talents; it is in student learning.

Why do hospitals focus a great deal on patient welfare?  Why do companies that create airline parts spend time and resources on quality control?  Why is it professional athletic coaches spend so much time analyzing the outcomes of their contests?  The answers are obvious.  They all have to do with the outcome of their work.  Why is it then education has been viewed in many cases so differently?

Here is a list of reasons I think why we have received a pass in this regard:

1. Students do not always want to learn.  We cannot force them to learn.
2. Students come from homes and backgrounds where education is not important.  They are not motivated to learn and they have too much ground to make up academically.
3. Students are not always responsible; they need to take responsibility for their education.
4. Learning is the responsibility of parents and students.  Teaching the material in a powerful way does not guarantee student success.

Read more

Powerful Learning and Teaching

Where would we be without teachers?  What would the world look like without adults who teach the younger generation the right things?  And more importantly, where would we be without adults who loved us enough to see we learned the truth?  This rhetorical question is not pondered enough.  Teachers are much like great leaders. They are influencers.  And, without the right influence, we are headed for disaster.  Teachers do not just convey knowledge.  They are motivators, inspirers, leaders, positive mentors, relationship builders, etc.  And among many others, I will add: positive prognosticators!  They help us create a framework for our future, they help paint the picture of our possibilities and potential, and they give us hope for tomorrow.  They are hope builders and dream instigators. This is why we continually remind ourselves and each other of one of the strongest principles (often ignored) about our personal vision:

Read more