From the ‘virtual’ desk of Dr. Linda Orozco

Manuscripts Published

By Tier II Candidates!

NOTE: All Tier II administrators/candidates are required to write a manuscript and submit for publication as part of the Tier II program for School Leaders with Dr. Orozco at CSUF.

We are proud to announce these manuscripts have been published. Congratulations to our Tier II administrators!

· KATE FARRAR [Graduate-Spring 2007]

Never Too Early Preparing Young Adolescents for College

Middle Ground, February, 2008

About the Author: katefarrar@hotmail.com Co-Principal, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, Burlington Campus /LAUSD Independent Charter School. Kate Farrar began her educational career with the Teach For America corps in 1994 after completing undergraduate degrees in both psychology and English at USC. She worked as a teacher and guidance counselor in the Compton Unified and Los Angeles Unified School Districts before returning to her hometown of Chicago to provide teacher support to K-12 TFA teachers throughout the city. Since 2003, Kate has been an administrative leader at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy. She earned her single-subject clear teaching credential from CSU Dominguez Hills and an MS in Counseling and Educational Leadership/Tier 1 administrative credential from CSULA. Kate is a passionate city-dweller and is the proud owner of a historic loft in downtown Los Angeles. Kate’s current favorite pastimes include knitting and playing tennis.

· BRENDA CORTEZ [Graduate-Spring 2007]

Creating a University-Going Environment at the Elementary Level

Principal Magazine, Sept/Oct. 2008

About the Author: bac6106@lausd.k12.ca.us Assistant Principal, Vermont Avenue Elementary School, LAUSD Local District 7
Brenda Cortez received her M.A. in Educational Administration from California State University Dominguez Hills in 2002. She received a B.A. in History from UCLA in 1997. She is the Assistant Principal at Vermont Avenue Elementary School. Her experience includes six years as a classroom teacher., one year as a LEAD Intern, and two years as a Reading First Literacy Coach. She enjoys outside activities such as camping and biking. She has ten cousins under the age of eight, who refer to her as "Cousin Brenda".travel.

· GINA CUNEO [Graduate-Spring 2007]

Equity Strategies in the Classroom

Leadership Magazine, May, 2007

About the Author: gcuneo@iusd.org Assistant Principal, South Lake Middle School, Irvine USD
Gina Cuneo received her Master of Arts in Administration from Alliant International University and her Bachelor of Arts, as well as her teaching credential, from UC Irvine. Gina taught for twenty years prior to becoming an administrator with authorizations in social studies, mathematics, French and Spanish, all of which she loved teaching. She also served as the activities director and curriculum coordinator before becoming an assistant principal, a job that she has enjoyed for three years. In her spare time, she travels, reads and enjoys spending time with her husband and teenage daughter.

· FRANCES HAMPSON STEARNS [Graduate-Fall 2007]

Common Myths of the IEP Process: Some Tips For All Team Members

Special Educator E-Journal (NASET- National Association of Special Education Teachers), Dec. 2007

About the Author: Stearns_F@alhambra.k12.ca.us Coordinator, Special Education and Principal, Alhambra Unified School District
Frankie has been in Special Education for over 30 years, serving as a speech/ language pathologist, a special day class teacher and an instructional specialist before becoming coordinator of special education and principal of the Moor Field Early Education Center. Frankie has a B.A. from the University of Vermont in Communication Disorders. Graduate work in special education earned her dual credentials as Resource Specialist and Speech and Language Pathologist. After raising two children, she returned to school to complete a Master’s in Educational Leadership. Frankie considers the honor of working at Moor Field to be the highlight of her career. She is a pretty good tennis player, an excellent cook and is addicted to fictional literature and world travel.

· KENDRA KECKER [Graduate-Spring 2007]
Environmental Education: What is Our Responsibility?
Principal Magazine (NAESP- National Association of Elementary School Principals), Nov/Dec 2007

About the Author: k_kecker@yahoo.com Principal, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy

Kendra Kecker completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1997 with a major in elementary education. She began her teaching career in Minneapolis Public Schools where she taught for two years before moving to California. While teaching in the Pasadena Unified School District, she began her graduate studies at USC, earning a Masters degree and Tier I administrative credential in 2002. Since June 2002, Kendra has been a principal with Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Los Angeles. She loves to read and travel and is rediscovering tennis.

· JULIE PORSLEY [Graduate-Fall 2006]
Disengaging from a Verbal Power Struggle
Middle Ground, February 2008

About the Author: sparecomp@adelphia.net

Vice Principal/Guidance Specialist, Brea Junior High School

Julie Porsley earned her Tier I credential from Calif. State University, Fullerton; her M.S. from Calif. State University, Dominguez Hills; and her B.A. from Cal Poly, Pomona. She currently serves as one of three Vice Principal/Guidance Specialists at Brea Junior High School in Brea, California. Ms. Porsley taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels before entering the administrative arena. Her passion is working with students who feel disenfranchised from the educational process. Bonnie, Clyde and Elwood, her three dachshunds, provide comic relief at the end of the day.

· JOHN ALBERT [Graduate-Fall 2006]

How Professional Learning Communities Respond When Students Are Not Learning and Diagram

Middle Ground, August 2007

About the Author: jalbert@tustin.k12.ca.us

Assistant Principal, Pioneer Middle School, Tustin Unified School District.

Mr. Albert received his M.S. from California State University, Fullerton in Educational Leadership; and his B.A. in Psychology and Government from the University of Redlands. His experience includes over 10 years in education as a teacher and Administrator at the High School level as well as a Middle School administrator at both Title 1 Program Improvement schools and high performing schools. He is currently the Assistant Principal at Pioneer Middle School where he splits all curriculum responsibilities and takes an active role in integrating Professional Learning Communities, and as a result of this implementation the API scores have risen an astonishing 50 points in the last two years. Mr. Albert also is involved in spreading his knowledge and experience with Professional Learning Communities as a public speaker and has recently given lectures for the Riverside Department of Education. Mr. Albert has served on the executive board of ACSA Region XVII for the last five years.

· MICHAEL KELLISON [Graduate- Summer Thai 2006]
Transforming a School From Me to We
Principal (NAESP), May/June 2007

About the Author: mjkellison@yahoo.com Principal, Brookside Elementary School, Ross Valley School District.

Michael Kellison received his administrative credential from Cal Poly Pomona and his M.A. and teaching credential from Claremont Graduate University, and his B.A. degree from Claremont McKenna College. He is in his third year as an elementary school principal, his first at Brookside School. He has been actively involved in gifted education, both as a teacher and as an administrator, and serves as the GATE Coordinator in his district. Michael's interests outside of school include tinkering around the house and playing basketball. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and three year old daughter.

· JULIE REHMER [Graduate-Fall 2006]
Family Reading Night: A How to Guide
Library Media Connection, April/May 2007

About the Author: jrehmer@cvusd.k12.ca.us
Learning Specialist, Barranca Elementary School, Covina Valley USD
Julie Received her M.A. in School Administration from Azusa Pacific University, and her B.A. from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. She is the Learning Specialist at Barranca Elementary School, where she manages the Library Media Center, coordinates and implements intervention programs, and oversees technology integration. She has been with the Covina Valley Unified School District for 11 years where she has also served as a teacher at the elementary level for 5 years and Assistant Principal for two years. Her professional endeavors include technology in education, K-5 literacy, and parent education. She enjoys gardening and working out at the gym.