Ed roundup: Taft College to be honored for serving disabled students
| Friday, Jul 09 2010 06:00 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jul 09 2010 06:00 PM
A Taft College program that helps students with disabilities integrate into campus life will be recognized on Monday by Condoleezza Rice, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and representatives from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.
The Transition to Independent Living Program at Taft College will receive the Dr. John W. Rice Diversity and Equity Award, named after Condoleezza Rice's father, who served on the community college's office Board of Governors.
The award honors community college staff members, districts, colleges or programs that have made the greatest contribution toward faculty and staff diversity or student equity. This year marks the award's 10th anniversary.
The Taft program is the only residential community college program in the state that serves students with autism and intellectual disabilities, according to the chancellor's office. It has gained national and international recognition for the achievements of those who've completed the program.
Eighty-nine percent of the students complete the two-year program, and of those 95 percent live independently and 89 percent are employed, according to the chancellor's office.
Three seats on the Kern High School District school board are up for grabs this year and at least one person has announced plans to challenge for one of them.
Martha McCuen Miller said in a press release she will file on Monday. The terms of Bryan Batey, Joel Heinrichs and Ken Mettler expire this year.
Miller is a retired teacher of 37 years in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District. The election is Nov. 2.
"I am deeply concerned about the challenges that face our students in the future and seek to contribute to our community by ensuring the KHSD board adequately focuses on providing our children with a world class educational environment," Miller said in a statement.
For more information about Miller's campaign, go to marthamiller2010.com.
Jim Burke Ford will award Bakersfield high schools about $12,000 on July 22 for their efforts in the Drive One 4 UR School fundraiser.
In the fundraiser, Ford donates cash for every test drive students help gather. At Centennial High School recently, Ford donated $20 for every drive to the school's forensics, mock trial, virtual business and "We the People" teams.
The dealership will also unveil its new 2011 Fiesta car that gets 40 highway miles per gallon. Those who attend can enter their name for 100 gallons of free gas, and a chance to win the car.
Jim Burke Ford is at 2001 Oak St. For more information, go to www.burkeauto.com or call 328-3600.
Thirty-five local residents, many of them area-school representatives, will be honored Thursday for completing this year's Kern County Network for Children's leadership development program. The ceremony will include presentations from the class on their community team projects.
The program helps participants make a positive impact in their community or organization through a training program that teaches and enhances natural leadership skills, according to the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.
Classes teach public speaking, time management, strategic planning, conflict resolution and more. The honorees include: Cynthia Aguirre, Shelda Anglin, Lupe Arzaga, Babette Baier, Julie Brueggeman, Tammy Burns, Hilda Castellanos, Clara Castillo, Clauida Cervantes, Sabra Cesmat, Ricardo De Alba, Derrick Dodd, Linda Estell, David Fuentes, Freddy Hernandez, Sandra Hernandez, Gabriella Huizar, Bertha Jimenez, Raquel Lee, Evonne Martinez, Veronica Mata, Liz Mendoza, Lucina Mendoza, Veronica Munoz, Adriana Olvera, Danielle Pilkington, Veronica Recendiz, Rob Rephan, Dianne Rosso, Yolanda Rucker, Susan Stallone, Rebecca Stokes, Enriqueta Vargas, Hilda Vasquez and Ryan Wegis.
-- Jorge Barrientos, Californian staff writer
For more education news, go to The Californian's education blog, The Grade, at www.bakersfield.com/blogs, or follow The Grade's Twitter at twitter.com/TBCTheGrade.
