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April 2010 Newsletter

6th Annual Pioneers & Purpose

Please join us for Pioneers & Purpose on June 7, 2010 - the one event that brings together all of Silicon Valley in support of education. We are pleased to announce that John W. Thompson, Chairman of the Board of Symantec Corp., will be honored with our Pioneer Business Leader Award for 2010. Thompson is one of Silicon Valley's most prominent technology leaders who during his decade-long tenure at Symantec transformed the company into a major force in helping customers secure and manage their information.

John W. Thompson
2010 Pioneer Business Leader

When: June 7, 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Fairmont Hotel, San Jose

We look forward to celebrating with you on June 7th. For information on event sponsorship and ticket sales click here.

Event Wrap Up: Race to the Top Education Forum on 3/3

Upcoming Events

(Jeff Camp, Thomas Ezrin, Marc Liebman, Jim Russell, and Dean Vogel)

Almost 100 educators and corporate leaders turned out March 3 for an interactive discussion at Synopsys in Sunnyvale on President Obama's "Race to the Top" plan. The discussion focused on this federal stimulus funding, and the requirement that links teacher evaluation and compensation to student performance.

Speakers included Jeff Camp, Education Chair, Full Circle Fund; Thomas Ezrin, VP, Global Compensation Benefits at Flextronics; Marc Liebman, Superintendent, Berryessa School District; Jim Russell, Principal, Del Mar High School, and Dean Vogel, Vice President, California Teachers Association.

Click here to read an article from the Milpitas Post, download PowerPoint presentations, see photos, and read speaker biographies.

April 28, 2010
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Forum Three:
Time to Act: Developing Effective Local Policy Changes to Close Achievement Gap

May 19, 2010
11:00am - 1:00pm
State Budget Update

June 7, 2010
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Pioneers & Purpose

September 20, 2010
SVEF | Junior Achievement Golf Tournament

View Events Calendar

Event Wrap Up: Solutions for Closing the Achievement Gap

Achievement Gap Forums

(More than 100 community leaders attended the second forum)

The second in a series of three forums exploring causes and solutions to California's troubling achievement gap drew more than 100 participants to Google's Mountain View campus March 17.

The forum, which focused on solutions for closing the gap – also called the racial gap – was jointly sponsored by SVEF and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Keynote speaker Dr. Edwin Javius, founder and CEO of EDEquity, was joined by Harold Asturias, Director of the Center for Mathematics Excellence at Lawrence Hall of Science; David Foster, Executive Director of Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative; Steve Waterman, retired school superintendent; Manny Barbara, VP, SVEF, and Emmett D. Carson, CEO & President of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Click here to learn more details, see photos, and read the biography of the speakers.

Forum Three:
Time to Act: Developing Effective Local Policy Changes to Close Achievement Gap

Date & Time
April 28, 2010
1:00pm - 3:00pm

Location
2440 West El Camino Real
Suite 300
Mountain View, CA 94040

Keynote
Jack O'Connell
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Click to learn more

Sponsored by

Partner Corner

Scholarships

SVEF is pleased to partner with the Krause Center for Innovation. This partnership allows us to provide technology training for school administrators who want to advocate for the use of technology in K-12 teaching and learning, and assesses teachers' use of technology in instruction. This training explores reasons to use technology, strategies for technology integration, and factors that influence the use of technology by teachers.

We are offering scholarships for qualified students attending Yerba Buena High School or Andrew Hill High School in San Jose, California. Thanks to the generosity of Bertha and Carl Ward, these scholarships of $500 - $1500 will be awarded annually to the most qualified students in need of financial aid. Click to learn more.

High Five Member Corner

Education Forum

Tom Zazueta
President, Chief Strategy Officer
Coakley Heagerty

"For a little more than one fancy espresso drink, I'm able to contribute to the programs that serve students across Silicon Valley. That's a win-win in my book."

For more information about the High Five Program or to see more supporters click here.

State Budget Update
The state budget once again appears to be in flux. Our panelists will address the impact of the budget on education from multiple perspectives.

Date & Time
May 19, 2010
11:00am - 1:00pm

Location
Cadence, Building 10
2655 Seely Avenue
San Jose, CA 95134

Click to learn more

National Lab Day

Teacher of the Month

"Our children deserve a world class science and math education that includes exciting, hands-on lab experiences," said Jack D. Hidary, Chairman of National Lab Day.

National Lab Day is a program that connects students in grades 6-12 to hands-on learning experiences and promotes tinkering in laboratory settings.

Dr. Francis Eberle, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association, said that "bringing together scientists, engineers and teachers in this nationwide volunteer initiative to improve labs and inquiry-based science experiences for middle level and high school students will have immediate effects on the classroom and instill a passion for and an appreciation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in our nation's young people."

President Obama has applauded the education initiative as a great collaboration between government and more than 200 public - and private- sector organizations.

Silicon Valley should lead the way in participating in National Lab Day. If you are a teacher, you should submit a project. If you are an engineer, parent, or other professional, you should volunteer.

National Lab Day's system will match projects with mentors. With your help our students will be inspired in new ways. Get involved today at www.NationalLabDay.org.

Susan Fernandes
Union Middle School
Union School District

This is Susan's 10th year as a sixth grade Language Arts and Science teacher. She says, "Education has always been a part of my life! I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in second grade. While attending Monta Vista High School, I tutored my history teacher's children. During college, I worked as a respite worker taking care of developmentally disabled children and taught clothing construction for Singer. I received my AA Degree at De Anza College and then... Click to read more

Sponsored by

Stay Connected with SVEF

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www.SVEFoundation.org