Educators

Horton didn't hear a Who, but he was most certainly heard at Jefferson Elementary on Monday, as the school celebrated the National Education Assn.'s sixth annual Read Across America event. Educators read Dr. Seuss books to 450 Jefferson students brought together in two assemblies. Jefferson Principal John Burkholder and teachers Elizabeth Sanbar, Alicia Siegall and Craig Thompson read favorite yarns from the prolific pen of the famed children's author. Guest speaker Keenan Warner, a sixth-grade teacher from Santa Clarita and the husband of Jefferson Vice Principal Linda Edmond, enthralled an assembly of younger students with his recitation of "Horton Hatches the Egg."

Gary Moskowitz NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- Rebecca Angulo, a counselor at Clark Magnet High School, was the first of 10 siblings in her family to graduate from college. Angulo, one of many local educators, professionals and students who participated in an an informational meeting for Hispanic and Latino eighth-grade students Friday at Hoover High School, knows all too well the importance of o7 familiaf7 among Hispanic, Latino and Chicano students.

Gary Moskowitz NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- It was a true groundbreaking at the site of Glendale Community College's new science center Friday. As various project donors, educators and administrators took turns speaking to a crowd outside the Cimmarusti Science Center, banging and drilling noises in the background made for a more tangible groundbreaking experience. More than 100 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the school's Cimmarusti Science Center Friday.

Janine Marnien Twenty-five dollars might not sound like much, but to Elisa Kim, it was the source of much excitement. Kim is co-director of The Clubhouse Learning Center, a new educational center for children. The registration fee of $25 taken earlier this week was the first money the center has received. "We were trying to act all professional when she gave us the money," Kim said. She and Co-director Martha Kim started to celebrate after the parent left the center, she added.

Gary Moskowitz While Glendale Unified School District officials agree with California schools chief Jack O'Connell that improving high schools should be a priority in 2004, local educators say more resources are needed to get the job done. O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, delivered the first State of Education speech of his term Wednesday morning in Sacramento. The address outlined his vision for California schools in 2004, and highlighted at least three "critical priorities" for educators statewide.

DAN KIMBER The things that stand out in my memory from my own education are invariably moments when my teachers departed from their lessons and did something out of the ordinary: Mr. Mabbutt, who added a great sense of drama to history; Mr. Engstrom, who made science come alive with his crazy experiments; Mrs. Rook, who made English fun with the games she invented; and Mr. Sanchez, who injected his unique brand of...

GLENDALE — The percentage of the city's elementary school-age students who reported having at least a drink of alcohol in their lifetimes was higher than the state average, according to a survey published by the California Department of Education. The California Healthy Kids Survey, released on Nov. 8, asked a sample of students from almost all school districts questions on health, safety and substance abuse in the fall of 2005. Of the 1,490 Glendale fifth-graders questioned, 36% — 536 — said they have used alcohol at least once in their lifetime — higher than the 24% state average.

In an ideal world, Glendale Unified students would have an a la carte selection of academic courses to choose from. English, mathematics, social studies, health and guidance -- a full spectrum of classes would be there for the taking. Unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world. School administrators are handcuffed to the realities of finite space, finite time and finite funding. They are further restricted by the modern demands of standardized testing.

Gary Moskowitz After becoming the Verdugo Academy just a year ago, educators at the local alternative school anticipate earning the school's first state accreditation next week. Glendale Unified School District's Verdugo Academy offers a home-study program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and an independent-study program for students in grades nine through 12. The school serves about 120 students. On Tuesday, four state educators will conduct a site visit of the school, which is the final step in determining if the school will receive accreditation from the Western Assn.