Fifteen years ago, the Theatre Company performed

Peter Pan, an ambitious production for the then

two-year-old program. This year the beloved musical

returns to Tulare County, complete with elaborate sets

and costumes and an audience favorite – flying actors.

“While this is the first show we have ever repeated,

we felt like our current students would benefit greatly

from being around this classic material,” said Theatre

Company Director Brian Roberts. “The biggest

difference this time around is that we are creating our

own sets from scratch instead of renting the pieces.

Our shop folks have worked tirelessly to create the

most intricate sets we have ever constructed.”

Another advantage for this production of Peter Pan is the quality of the performers. “We now have the

great pleasure of working with and training many of

our students starting at a much younger age,”

explained Mr. Roberts. “As a result, their skills are at

a much higher level overall and their level of

professionalism is startling! Read more at tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

Theatre Company prepares a reprise of its popular 2000 production

Peter Pan soars back into Tulare County July 17

T H E N E W S L E T T E R o f T H E T U L A R E C O U N T Y O F F I C E o f E D U C A T I O N

newsgallerynewsgallery

July - August 2015

(photo above) Old nemeses Peter Pan and Captain Hook return to Tulare County in July. Peter is being played by Golden West High School senior Carly Caviglia with Hook played by Redwood High School senior Jack O’Leary.

PETER PANL. J. Williams Theatre, 1001 Main St., Visalia

Show TimesEvening shows (7:30 p.m.): 7/17, 7/18, 7/23, 7/24 & 7/25Matinee Shows (2:00 p.m.): 7/18 & 7/25

Neverland ExperienceChildren can meet the characters backstage before each show. Tickets: $10 per child, includes a gift from Peter. One adult permitted per family. Show Ticket Information $15 general admission/$25 VIP tickets available at Visalia TCOE locations: 7000 Doe Ave. Suite A and 2637 W. Burrel Ave., Monday-Friday during normal business hours. Cash or check only. For information, call the Theatre Company at (559) 651-1482.

Special Services’ Linda McKean retires, having boosted behavioral health services

McKean leaves legacy of cooperation, efficiencyMore than 30 men and women retired from the Tulare

County Office of Education during the 2014-15 school year.

Chief among them was Linda McKean, assistant

superintendent of the Special Services Division. “In her role

as assistant superintendent, I have appreciated her warm,

collaborative approach to working with districts and

parents,” said Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim

Vidak. “She brought a ‘can-do’ attitude to serving students

with special needs that will always be remembered.”

In 2000, Linda

McKean joined

the Tulare

County Office

of Education as

manager for

Special

Services Mild

to Moderate

Program. In

2012, she was

promoted to

assistant

superintendent

of the division.

In the three

years she has

served as

assistant

superintendent,

Mrs. McKean

has worked

hard to

consolidate

Special

Services’ itinerant staff to the TCOE Liberty Center, the

former site of the Liberty School District acquired in

2013. “The advantages of consolidating our programs to

the Liberty Center were many,” said Mrs. McKean. “It

certainly has been a cost savings for our division not

having to rent facilities. More importantly though, we

have been able to assess our equipment and resources,

and create greater collaboration between the programs

that serve kids with special needs.” Read more at tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

July - August 2015

(upper photo) Retired assistant superintendent Linda McKean poses in the Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy room at TCOE’s Liberty Center. Prior to the acquisition of the former Liberty School site, Special Services’ itinerant staff and their equipment were spread throughout the county in classrooms or rented facilities. (middle photo) In addition to Linda McKean, several other key staff members retired this year. Among them was former University Preparatory High School principal John Kelly, pictured speaking at the school’s commencement ceremony in May. (lower photo) At the annual retirees’ reception, hosted by the Human Resources Division on June 10, Dr. Guadalupe Solis (r) speaks about Kathy Johnston, who retired last month as administrator of School Health Programs.

Beginning in August, students and their families are

invited to view some spectacular celestial objects as part of

the astronomy field trip program at Circle J-Norris Ranch.

Under the supervision of a team of local amateur

astronomers, visitors will learn to work the telescopes and

guide them to view planets, star clusters and distant

galaxies. Visitors will also learn the ancient mythologies of

the constellations and how to identify the stars that they

contain. “We are excited to launch our popular astronomy

program for 2015,” said Circle J-Norris Ranch lead teacher

Nancy Bruce. “In Tulare County’s night skies this fall,

families will enjoy seeing the summer triangle, the Milky

Way, star clusters and the Andromeda Galaxy. On certain

nights, the moon, its craters and highlands are also visible.”

Various family/student astronomy events are offered on

select nights, August through November. Read more at tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

Construction on TCOE’s colorful new Planetarium and

Science Center, located on the Liberty Center campus at

11535 Avenue 264 in south Visalia, is substantially

complete. In late June, crews from the building’s

contractor, Oral E. Micham, relocated the planetarium’s

80-piece dome and theater seats from the current facility to

the new site. This month, planetarium supervisor Conan

Palmer and his staff will begin the process of relocating all

of the equipment and sound systems.

Once open this fall, the new planetarium will feature a

roomier 70-seat theater which will utilize the program’s

latest full-dome digital projector for greatly enhanced

clarity. The building will also feature a gift shop, a

recording studio, a workshop and the science center.

Initially the science center will be used to show programs

from the former History Theater, including the popular

What is America? and The First Americans. Mr. Palmer reports

that he and his staff will begin work to design and build the

interactive science exhibits that will be featured in the

science center. Read more at tcoe.org/NewsGallery.

Read more at www.tcoe.org

Planetarium and Science Center building nearing completion, fall grand opening expected

Staff prepares to move into new planetarium

Outdoor education program invites parents, students to astronomy, bird-watching programs

Stars, birds come into view this fall at Circle J

In addition to family astronomy field trips, Circle J will offer three bird-watching events this fall. Students and parents will learn the basics of bird- watching and how to identify 20 native species.

Planetarium Supervisor Conan Palmer (r) and Media Developer Travis Walters discuss potential positions for the digital projection system in the new planetarium theater. The program’s 40-year-old star projector has been retired, but will remain on exhibition in the theater.

spot l ight

Read more at www.tcoe.org

(photo 1) This summer, Lisa Veenendaal joined TCOE’s Educational Resource Services (ERS) as a mathematics staff development & curriculum specialist. Ms. Veenendaal comes to ERS from the Tulare City School District where she was a math instructor and a member of the district’s math standards writing team responsible for creating a curriculum guide and units of study based on California’s standards. In addition to assisting with ERS professional development trainings, Ms. Veenendaal will support instruction at Alta Vista, Buena Vista, Ducor, Fowler, Richgrove, Waukena, Woodlake and Woodville school districts. In June, Migrant Education wrapped up its nationally-recognized Summer STEM Program at school sites throughout Kings and Tulare counties. The program served over 800 students with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) lessons for students in grades K-8. ERS STEM curriculum specialists Michelle French and Jared Marr provided migrant teachers with training and helped develop assessments that will be utilized to measure the effectiveness of the summer program. (photo 2) Kindergarten, first- and second-grade students in the Woodville program learned about various bridge types and tested the strength of their own bridge designs using weights. (photo 3) Students in grades 3-5 learned some principles of electrical system design and are shown building a simple alarm system. For more information on Migrant’s Summer STEM Program, call Tony Velásquez at (559) 651-3035. May and June were busy months for La Sierra Military Academy, University Preparatory High School (UPHS) and Special Services programs as combined the programs graduated more than 130 students this year. (photo 4) Amber Kenison, La Sierra’s valedictorian, addresses the audience during the graduation ceremony, reflecting on her life-changing experiences at the school. (photo 5) Marisa Williams, a UPHS graduate, leads the school’s choir in a song during the commencement ceremony. Marisa was the first UPHS graduate to simultaneously earn her high school diploma and an associates degree from College of the Sequoias through the school’s dual enrollment program. (photo 6) Jeanne Croson, the longtime administrative assistant for the Human Resources Division, retired last month with 23 years of service to the Tulare County Office of Education. In addition to her day-to-day duties supporting the Human Resources director, Mrs. Croson was instrumental in organizing the division’s teacher recruitment fairs, longevity dinners, and retirement receptions.

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For more events, programs and meetings, visit our online calendar at www.tcoe.org/CalendarOfEvents

upcomingevents

Administrative Services Credential Program Information MeetingsTier I Meeting: July 1, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., Board Room2637 W. Burrel Ave., VisaliaTier II Meeting: July 9, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.Teleconference Room, 2637 W. Burrel Ave., VisaliaTier I Meeting: July 15, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., Redwood B Room, 2500 W. Burrel Ave., VisaliaFor information, call Donna Glassman-Sommer or Jesse Coronado at (559) 730-9956Register online to attend at tcoe.org/NTLD/iLEAD.shtm

IMPACT Intern Program Information Meeting6:00 - 7:30 p.m., Education Center2637 W. Burrel Ave., VisaliaFor information, call Marvin Lopez at (559) 624-1035Register online to attend at tcoe.org/NTLD/IMPACT.shtm

Theatre Company Summer Musical, Peter Pan7:30 p.m. evening performances July 17-18 and 23-252:00 p.m. matinee performances July 18 & 25L. J. Williams Theater, 1001 W. Main Street, VisaliaTickets available July 1 at TCOE’s Visalia offices: 2637 W. Burrel and the ERS office at 7000 Doe Ave.General admission: $15, preferred seating: $25 (cash or check only). “Neverland Experience” tickets also available for children to meet the characters backstage before the show. Tickets are $10 per child and include a gift from Peter. One adult permitted per family. For information, call Brian Roberts at (559) 651-1482

Administrative Services Credential Program Information MeetingsTier II Meeting: July 12, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Teleconference Room, 2637 W. Burrel Ave., VisaliaTier I Meeting: July 18, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Teleconference Room, 2637 W. Burrel Ave., VisaliaFor information, call Donna Glassman-Sommer or Jesse Coronado at (559) 730-9956Register online to attend at tcoe.org/NTLD/iLEAD.shtm

Circle J-Norris Ranch Family Astronomy Night (for Families with Students Grades 3-5) For reservations, please contact Nancy Bruce at circlej@ocsnet.net or (559) 539-2263

Circle J-Norris Ranch Family Astronomy Night Sept. 4, 7:00 p.m. (for families with fifth-grade students) Sept. 18, 7:00 p.m. (for families with high school students) For reservations, contact Nancy Bruce at circlej@ocsnet.net or (559) 539-2263

Tulare County College Night6:00 - 8:30 p.m., Visalia Convention Center For information, call Joy Soares at (559) 651-0501

Friday Night Live T.U.P.E. Leadership Training8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Visalia Holiday InnFor information, call Tony Cavanagh at (559) 651-0155

Annual Confucius’ Birthday/Educators of the Year Awards6:00 p.m., Central California Chinese Cultural Center 500 S. Akers, VisaliaFor information, call Marlene Moreno at (559) 733-6302

17-1823-25

July ‘151, 9

& 15

8 & 22

August ‘1512 & 18

September ‘154 & 18

24

21

15

16

Tulare County Board of Education

News Gallery CommitteeEditor: Robert Herman, Public Information OfficerContributors: Marlene Moreno, Jennifer Fisher, Lorena White, Shelly DiCenzo, Ermelinda Ozuna, Tony Velásquez, Myrna Garcia, Brian

Roberts, Conan Palmer, Travis Walters and Dianne Shew.

The News Gallery is published monthly with the exception of double

issues printed for July/August and December/January. If you would

like to receive The News Gallery, visit www.tcoe.org/GetTheGallery or contact Jennifer Fisher at (559) 733-6172, or at jenniferf@tcoe.org.

The Calendar of Student Events for the 2015-16 school year will soon be online at tcoe.org/StudentEvents. The booklet contains dates and information on nearly 50 student events and programs, including several new ones. This year, the Instructional Services Division is introducing three new events: Cardboard Challenge (October 10), Poetry Out Loud (February 10) and FIRST LEGO League (date to be announced).

In June, the Special Services Division announced staff promotions and other personnel changes. As Linda McKean retired June 26, Tammy Bradford became the division’s new assistant superintendent. Sarah Hamilton, former administrator for Severely Handicapped Programs in Tulare has been promoted to administrator of Severely Handicapped Services, with responsibility for overseeing all programs that provide services to students with severe needs. Within the division’s Severely Handicapped Program, Jill Santivanez became administrator for the Visalia-area programs, as Dr. Mike Stephens retired. Bob May remains in his role as administrator for Porterville-area Severely Handicapped Programs. Carrie Stephens joins the Special Services Division as program manager for the North County Severely Handicapped Programs. Ms. Stephens comes to the Tulare County Office of Education from Visalia Unified, where she has been a teacher and, most recently, a program specialist. Cathy Machado was named the program manager of Tulare-area Severely Handicapped Programs. Ms. Machado comes to Special Services from the Sutter County Office of Education. Previously, she had been the principal for Shelly Baird School, a program for students with special needs in Kings County. Bright Future director Ron Pekarek gained responsibility for overseeing the Bright Start Parent/Infant program due to the retirement of program manager Lou Ann Lubben.

Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim VidakPresident: Joe Enea, Trustee Area No. 5Vice President: Chris Reed, Trustee Area No. 6; Trustees: Celia Maldonado-Arroyo, Trustee Area No. 1; Debby Holguin, Trustee

Area No. 2; Tom Link, Trustee Area No. 3; Judy Coble, Trustee Area No. 4; and Patricia Hillman, Trustee Area No. 7

gal lerynotes