Superintendent

As the 2008 - 2009 school year comes to a close I look beyond test scores, enrollment figures, and ending budget balances in search of the many great things occurring within San Joaquin County schools. To highlight just a couple of the milestones reached this year,

I would like to congratulate Tina Mercer of Lodi Unified School District for being crowned California’s 2009 Child Nutrition Classified School Employee of the Year, and Region 23 Migrant Education for celebrating 50 years of service.

Now, more than ever, schools are facing adversity in the form of funding, a result of the waning national economy. California already ranks 47th in the nation in funding spent per student, and schools are currently being required to make decisions that will result in the reduction of teachers, programs, and opportunities for students. As educators and parents, we all know that the concentration on our youth is essential to our future. In spite of this adversity, progress continues in San Joaquin County and we all should be proud!

This is substantiated by the outreach efforts of the community. The Cortopassi Family Foundation honored Lynette Lewis of Lodi High and Kirk Brown of Tracy High with the 2009 Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Awards. Each winner and their respective departments received $5,000 to enhance classroom materials

and activities. The funding for Outdoor Education, formerly known as Science Camp, was bolstered by fundraising efforts of various agencies and citizens within San Joaquin County. Approximately $40,000 was raised and used to send more than 150 disadvantaged students to camp. In the face of these tough economic times, the voice of the community supports the knowledge that diverse educational programs enrich the lives of students.

My hope is that this year’s publication will give you the opportunity to see for yourself what resources are available to provide students with a quality education. Please take a moment to review the successes of our programs and the achievements of our students. The priority lies in securing successful futures for our students. I hope the insights described in this report confi rm the message that progress continues in San Joaquin County and we all should be proud! I encourage you to visit our website at http://www.sjcoe.org/annualreport to learn more about each of the remarkable individuals found in the following pages.

Sincerely,



Fredrick A. Wentworth, Ed.D.
San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools