Corcoran Unified School District October 10, 2019

CUSD NEWS

We take ownership! Our official state test scores were taken last spring by our 3rd - 8th and 11th graders.

The results provide a mixture of responses on our part. The inserted chart reveals significant growth and improvement since Corcoran Unified students have taken the CAASPP. However, the chart also shows the need and urgency to see more than a majority of our students to gain proficiency in both math and English.

We own the good news, and we own the challenges that come with the reality we have to get better. We take pride in the great work by our students and teachers in celebrating the growth we continue to see year after year. Yet, we also do not make excuses as we look at the data that tells us we have some distance to go to get all of our kids where they need to be. In any case, these test scores are one with what amounts to many ways we evaluate our performance and our student successes.

We are committed and dedicated to getting better and better; these are our kids and our staff members.

We are in it to win it!

Important Dates:

• Regular Board Meeting, October 22 @ 6 p.m.

• No School, November 11 - Veterans Day

• Regular Board Meeting, November 12 @ 6 p.m.

Corcoran Unified School District October 10, 2019

What is your work history, including at CUSD? My first job was at McDonalds, where I worked for one year then went to work for Mid State precast for another year. I left Mid State to attend nursing school and started working at Pizza Factory for about 4-5 years. I moved to AutoZone for about three years. I have been at CUSD since. What is most rewarding to you when working with students or in your job? It's always rewarding to put a smile on a kids face after you help them with any issue that they may have. What special project(s) are you working on with the students or in your job? My ongoing project is to maintain Google and stay current with everyone's email accounts and integrate Google with our web filter system. Who has been the biggest inspiration in your life? One of my biggest inspirations has to be my wife; she is a hard-working mother of 3 (4 if you include me) an awesome teacher and always has time to stop and help everyone. Tell us a little about yourself: I was born in Los Angeles, moved to Corcoran when I was nine years old, graduated from Corcoran High School in 2005, I attended nursing school, and attended College Of the Sequoias, where I got my ASE certification for Automotive Mechanic. I'm married to my beautiful wife; I have three kids, a boy, and two gorgeous girls. I love to cook and watch baseball (Dodger baseball). I have a passion for cars big or small from Hot Wheels to big trucks. If the world were listening, what would you say? To look up and put your phone down.

What is your work history, including at CUSD? I started subbing in October of 1995; in 2005 I taught for two years in Kettleman City as a 4th and 1st/2nd combo teacher; in 2007 I started teaching 5th grade at Mark Twain (5 years) and then I moved to 2nd grade at John C. Fremont (going on my 8th year). What is most rewarding to you when working with students or in your job? I think the most rewarding thing in my job is to be a mentor to the new teachers, and when the students' "light bulb" comes on is also very important to me! What special project(s) are you working on with the students or in your job? I just finished Achievement Team training with two others, and we are excited to bring it back and present it to our staff.

Who has been the biggest inspiration in your life? My mom is my biggest inspiration by being there for all five of her children. Now she gets to inspire Corcoran children by volunteering in my classroom and at Fremont's student store. Tell us a little about yourself: I grew up in Lemoore and graduated from Lemoore High School. I earned an Associates Degree at West Hills College and a Bachelors, and my teaching credential from Chapman University. I am married to my high school sweetheart, Chris, for 23 years, and together we have three adult sons, Christopher, Kyle, and Anthony. My hobbies are reading, going to the beach, and I recently started being crafty by making and selling bracelets. If the world were listening, what would you say? Life is better when you're laughing, so laugh every day!

Meet our Staff

RODOLFO HERNANDEZ

Corcoran Unified School District October 10, 2019

What is your work history, including at CUSD? My work history consists of working in medical factories in Salt Lake City, Utah, for about ten years. When my family and I moved to Corcoran, I began employment with Corcoran Unified School District as a Paraprofessional, then a Community Contact, a Librarian, and now the Attendance Secretary at John Muir Middle School. What is most rewarding to you when working with students or in your job? I enjoy interacting with the students who come to the school office for various reasons, not just attendance. I also enjoy working with the teachers, staff, parents, and administration.

What special project(s) are you working on with the students or in your job? For the past few years, I try to express to all students, especially the 8th-grade students, the importance of meeting all the requirements to promote on to the high school. This includes not only attendance — also, grades, behavior, and following the school dress code. Who has been the biggest inspiration in your life? My mother has been my biggest inspiration. She raised seven children, including myself, on her own when my parents divorced. She always provided a home, meals, and love to all her children. She would always tell us to "never let anyone put you down." She is 80 years old and continues to be an independent woman and a positive role model for everyone.

Tell us a little about yourself: I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, area. I met my husband after I graduated from high school. We were married for 38 years and had four children. Three of them (girls) were born in Utah, and when we moved to Corcoran, my last child (Boy) was born in Hanford, CA. I also have six grandchildren who keep me busy. I enjoy spending time listening to music, dancing and traveling.

If the world were listening, what would you say? Enjoy your life each and every day. Also, be positive in everything you do. There is too much negativity in the world that rubs off on you if you let it.

Meet our Staff

Corcoran Unified School District October 11, 2019

Congratulations to High School Junior

Herman Luna III for Winning

The Fresno Bee’s Football Player of the Week

For Week 6!

He accumulated 5,587 votes from Monday, September 23 until noon Thursday, September 26 for a percentage of 47%. 

4th Grade

Alejandro Wences Solis

Teyanna Thompson

Around the District

These patch designs will be voted on for consideration to go on a future space mission.

5th Grade

Grace Perez

Natalia Magana

Congratulations to Mark Twain's Apollo Patch Winners!

Corcoran Unified School District October 11, 2019

Queen Samantha Obregon King Damarcus Thompson

Homecoming Court Freshman: Sierra Ortiz and Gage Armbruster (not pictured) Sophomore: Brandi Valdez and Jason Guzman Junior: Laureen Estrada andChristian Navarro 

Corcoran Unified School District October 11, 2019

SOPHMORE CLASS OF 2022

FRESHMAN CLASS OF 2023

JUNIORS CLASS OF

2021

SENIORS

CLASS OF

2020

Corcoran Unified School District October 11, 2019

Cotton Festival Saturday, October 5, 2019

Corcoran Unified School District October 11, 2019

John Muir’s SSEP participants were honored as the parades Grand Marshals.Pictured right: Angelica Luz Medina and Jari Stokes

Principal Mike Anderson leads his “Soaring Eagles” in the parade!

Fremont Principal

Pearl Prins

Corcoran Unified School District October 11, 2019

Corcoran Unified School District October 11, 2019

Quotes & ProverbsBe a yardstick of quality.

Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.

~Steve Jobs

This quote reminds me of a story I recently heard about a volunteer who wanted to help a builder put together the new civic building that was being built in his community. The builder assigned him a task to cut 100 boards a length of 8 feet. The volunteer measured off an 8-foot board and then used that board to cut the next board. He then used the second board to cut the third and so on. As a result, the tiny 1/16 pencil mark that was struck in every board kept increasing board length. As a result, several boards were much longer than 8 feet in length.

The moral of the story is the standard for "excellence" changed with every new board. And, because the volunteer used a compromised standard from which to do his new work, the standard became watered down. The result was the builder did not get the results he wanted.

So it is with our work. When we look at our test scores, we are tempted to confuse good growth compared to how former students performed instead of looking at the number of students who have not met the standards. This is why our staff is more and more focused on the high standards of achievement as our comparison to how each and every student is performing. There is a culture that is developing that helps us focus on the accurate measure of how kids are doing, not comparing ourselves from student to student.