HIGHLIGHTS
From El Rancho Unified
A seasonal publication of the EL RANCHO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT § Fall / Winter 2013
ERUSD is answering to the demands of the 21st Century by Martin Galindo, Superintendent We are in the midst of an amazing transformation in public education as the power of technology is embraced and integrated into every part of our daily life. It is not uncommon to see three and four year old students interacting with cellphones, iPads, tablets and other technological devices. The Common Core Standards have increased expectations for student learning that prepares them to thrive in the 21st century. As a result our district must create conditions for our students to engage and adapt by providing numerous learning opportunities to be creative, collaborate, communicate and think critically. Their future success will depend on how we plan and develop learning environments across our district for students as well as adults that incorporate these four areas. Technology will be a vehicle to help create those learning environments, but that technology will not be used to the fullest for the benefit of our students without teachers, instructional aides and administrators working together in learning environments to learn how to incorporate technology and develop rigorous lessons focused on student learning. In addition to powerful instruction, we will need to align our preschool, elementary, middle and high school curriculum and learning environments focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics that incorporates higher reading and writing skills. The 21st century demands that our workforce have understanding, experiences and key learning in these areas that provide a critical foundation as they prepare to go to college or enter the workforce. Our country and world need individuals with these STEAM characteristics to address our future challenges in the 21st century. Continued on the back cover
h
El Rancho High School senior awarded $30,000 science scholarship Juan Navarro, a senior at El Rancho High School, took a big step toward college in October as the Whittier Narrows Nature Center Association awarded him a $30,000 scholarship. Juan was chosen by his Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher, Mr. Marcelo Leonardi, to Congratulations Juan! receive the inaugural Grace Holtz Memorial Scholarship award. The scholarship, which will be paid in four annual $7,500 installments, is earmarked for graduating high school seniors who will be declaring a science major at an accredited college or university. Funds may be used for tuition, fees and lodging. Juan is aiming for a degree in environmental science. Grace Holtz, a former San Gabriel Valley resident, named the Whittier Narrows Nature Center Association as one of her beneficiaries, designating funds to go toward environmental science education.
Meet our new Superintendent Mr. Martin Galindo brings 31 years of experience and learning to the El Rancho Unified School District. He began his career in 1981 as a bilingual teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He was an assistant principal for two years and served as a principal for ten years at two different schools. He was an Operations Administrator for two years serving over 150 schools. For six years, he supervised various high school complexes in the southeast area of LAUSD. In Welcome Mr Galindo! 2006, he was selected as the Superintendent of Local District 6 serving 63,000 students in the southeast cities of Bell, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Maywood, South Gate and Vernon. He was unanimously selected as the superintendent of the Bassett Unified School District from 2010-2013. He was unanimously selected as the Superintendent of the El Rancho Unified School District beginning July 1, 2013. Martin Galindo was born and raised in Pico Rivera and is excited to return home to his roots. He has been happily married for 29 years to his wife Diane who is a special education teacher and has four amazing children.
in this issue School News . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 4-5 Rio Vista’s API soars to 827! El Rancho High is looking forward to a great year! The Class of 2013's Matriculation District News . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 6 Common Core Standards Update Employee Spotlight The District is re-hiring! A farewell to longtime Boardmember Rita Jo Ramirez