Acknowledgements
The staff members of the Middle Grades Improvement Office of the California Department of Education wish to thank the following people for their insights, time, and ideas that contributed to the creation of Taking Center Stage—Act II (TCSII).
Middle Grades Improvement Office Staff Members
Ellen Ringer, Administrator—TCSII Executive Director and Editor
Carol Abbott, Consultant—Principal Author/Editor
Rina DeRose, Consultant—TCSII Creative/Technical Director, Editor
Joyce Hinkson, Consultant—Technical Producer, Editor
Chris Dowell, Consultant—Multi-media team
Marsha Robinson, Consultant— Author-TCSII Essays on Adolescent Development, Multi-media team
Jean Kelley, Consultant—Multi-media team
Johannes Troost, Consultant – Multi-media team
Ruben Contreras, Student Assistant—Video Editor
Dinorah Hall, Associate Governmental Program Analyst
Catherine McDonald, Staff Services Analyst
Jesse Duncan, Staff Services Analyst
Judy McQuary, Office Technician
Kathy Smith, Office Technician
Doug Jann, Consultant—Visual Producer, Editor
Jim Miller, Consultant—School Improvement Division
Mary Donnelly-Ortega, Consultant—School Improvement Division
Lorraine Jones, Associate Governmental Program Analyst
Phyllis Love, Office Technician
Rozlynn Worrall, Administrator—TCSII Executive Director and Editor (Emeritus)
Peer Reviewers
The following people dedicated countless hours of time reviewing TCSII content and videos for final production.
Arleen Burns, Professional Development and Curriculum Support Division, California Department of Education
Barbara Colton, Administrator, Elementary Education Unit
Deborah Franklin, Curriculum and Frameworks Division, California Department of Education
Caroline Hamilton, Executive Office, California Department of Education
Wendy Harris, School Improvement Division, California Department of Education
Diane Hernandez, Standards and Assessment Division, California Department of Education
Jill Larson, Special Education Division, California Department of Education
Pat Terry, School Improvement Division, California Department of Education
Jan Volkoff, Policy and Analysis Division, California Department of Education
Linda Zelinski, Serrano Middle School
Planning and design
Members of the California Middle Grades Alliance devoted more than two years to the design and implementation of the Taking Center Stage—Act II project and its contents.
Marcia Dains, California Middle Grades Partnership Network (CMGPN)
Shelley Davis, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)
Julie Elliott, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
Richard Foley, Formerly with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
Irv Howard, California Schools to Watch™ – Taking Center Stage (STW-TCS)
Kathy Kinley, California School Boards Association (CSBA)
Aneta Murphy, California League of Middle Schools (CLMS)
Peter Murphy, California League of Middle Schools (CLMS)
Creig Nicks, Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
Rob Phillips, Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee (CISC)
Sergio Quintor, California Teachers Association (CTA)
Jim Rogers, California Teachers Association (CTA)
Sharon Stys, California School Boards Association (CSBA)
Steve Van Zant, Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
Rozlynn Worrall, California Department of Education-Middle Grades Improvement Office (MGIO)
Technical Assistance
The following people provided invaluable technical expertise and assistance towards development of the Taking Center Stage—Act II Web portal.
Rosie Contreras, School Improvement Division, California Department of Education
Rodney Okamoto, Technology Services Division, California Department of Education
Marcus Chan, Technology Services Division, California Department of Education
Rachel Kwong, Technology Services Division, California Department of Education
Tammy Bacon, Technology Services Division, California Department of Education
Robert Farwell, Technology Services Division, California Department of Education
Alan Nakahara, Technology Services Division, California Department of Education
DeLena Robinson, School Improvement Division, California Department of Education
Kathi Marchiano, School Improvement Division, California Department of Education
Bev Silguero, School Improvement Division, California Department of Education
Thuy Tran, School Improvement Division, California Department of Education
Faye Ong, CDE Press, California Department of Education
Juan Sanchez, CDE Press, California Department of Education
Anne Jackson, CDE Press, California Department of Education
Patricia LaBrie, CDE Press, California Department of Education
Scott Eberspacher, CDE Press, California Department of Education
Anie Wilson, CDE Press, California Department of Education
Claudia Loomis, CDE Press, California Department of Education
Matika Rawls, CDE Press, California Department of Education
Jack O’Connell, Executive Office, California Department of Education
Deb Kennedy, Executive Office, California Department of Education
Ann Bancroft, Executive Office, California Department of Education
Rick Miller, Executive Office, California Department of Education
Anthony Monreal, Executive Office, California Department of Education
Loannis Kazanis, Executive Office, California Department of Education
Paty Munoz, Executive Office, California Department of Education
Rose Moonwater, Webmaster, Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership (TICAL), Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Michael Simkins, Administrator, Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership (TICAL), Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Input and ideas
While it is impossible to thank all of the people who contributed their ideas to the development of Taking Center Stage—Act II, we wish to thank the following people and groups who devoted time to sharing their ideas during input sessions held throughout California.
Members of the California Department of Education’s Taking Center Stage—Act II planning team:
Donna Bezdecheck, School Health Connections
Arleen Burns, Curriculum Leadership—Foreign Languages Education
Nancy Carr, Curriculum Leadership—Arts Education
Michael Donhost, Educator and designer of TCSII professional learning experiences
Deborah Franklin, Curriculum Frameworks
Jeanette Ganahl, English Learner Accountability
Diane Hernandez, Standards and Assessment Division
Rob Hoover, Educator and designer of TCSII professional learning experiences
David Kopperud, Counseling and Student Support
Jill Larson, Special Education Division—Assessment, Evaluation, and Support
John Merris-Coots, High School Initiatives
Lynda Nichols, Curriculum Leadership—Highly Qualified Teachers
Dan Sackheim, Educational Options
Karen Shores, High School Initiatives
Jan Volkoff, Evaluation, Research, and Analysis
Arturo Vasquez, English Learner Accountability
Greg Wolfe, Safe and Healthy Kids Program Office
Additional California Department of Education offices that supported the development of the TCSII Web portal and project
Intersegmental Relations
Intervention Assistance Office
Technology Services Division
Others that supported the development of the TCSII project and Web portal
ABC Unified School District: Kathy Frazier, Director of Curriculum, members of her staff, and teachers and administrators from the ABC district
Association of California School Administrators (ACSA): Members of the Middle Grades Council, regional leaders, and members of the regions who participated in a statewide web conference to provide input on TCSII content
California League of Middle Schools (CLMS): Members of the Board of Directors and leaders of the CLMS committees
California Middle Grades Partnership Network (CMGPN): Members
California School Boards Association (CSBA): Members of the Board of Directors
Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee (CISC), Secondary Subcommittee members
Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership (TICAL)
Vicki Alterwitz, School Assistance Intervention Team (SAIT) Provider
Bruce Braciszewski, San Diego County Office of Education
Karen Debrule, SAIT Provider
Mary Gomes, Educational Services Executive, Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
Irv Howard, California Schools to Watch™ – Taking Center Stage
Kit Marshall, SAIT Provider
Charles Palmer, Former member of the Middle Grades Task Force
Barry Vitcov, SAIT Provider
Bo Vitolo, SAIT provider
Bob Wells, Executive Director, Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
Districts and County Offices of Education
Brian Ausland, Program Administrator, Center for Distributed Learning, Butte County Office of Education
Rowland Baker, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Jaime Castellanos, Superintendent, William S. Hart Union High School District
Pam Crowell, Executive Assistant, Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Terry Deloria, Director of Special Programs, William S. Hart Union High School District
Osvaldo “Ozzy” DeLuna, Program Director, Madera County Office of
Education
Jim Dilday, Program Improvement Administrator, San Bernardino Unified School District
Abe Doctolero, Director, Curriculum and Instruction, Contra Costa County Office of Education
Julie Haff, Superintendent, San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
Linda Hauser, Assistant Superintendent, Clovis Unified School District
Cricket F. L. Kidwell, Director of Curriculum, Trinity County Office of Education
Jonathan Knolle, Partner, Instructional Design & Technology, LearningChange – Creative and Professional Services
Kelvin Lee, Retired Superintendent, Dry Creek Union School District
Tim McClure, Deputy Superintendent, Butte County Office of Education
Rob Phillips, Assistant Superintendent, Solano County Office of Education
Bob Price, Superintendent, Empire Union
Sue Stickel, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Intervention, Sacramento County Office of Education
Steve Van Zant, Superintendent, Dehesa School District
Tim Weir, Director, Educational Services Branch, Ventura County Office of Education
Joyce Wright, Assistant Superintendent, Instructional Support Services, Sacramento County Office of Education
Video production
Many school faculty members, their district office counterparts, and their students were instrumental in assisting the MGIO video team as they taped school scenes for inclusion in TCSII videos of school practices. Acknowledgements reflect staff present during the time frame of video production.
Special thanks to:
Reyburn Intermediate School, (Outside Source) Clovis Unified School District, Clovis
Stacy Dunnicliff, Principal
Elizabeth Alfheim, Teacher
Debbie Allee, Technology Coordinator
Clifford Badgley, Teacher
Grace Bennett, Teacher
Kim Blasingame, Teacher
Sherry Bongiorno, Office Manager
Brenton Boone, Teacher
Kimberly Buendia, Teacher
Douglas Burns, Teacher
Ginger Bushnell, Athletic Secretary
Karena Cantrell, Teacher
Scott Case, Teacher
Robyn Clark, Teacher
Noe Cruz, Guidance Instructional Specialist
Stacy Darter, Teacher
Toni DePrima, Receptionist
Melissa Dewey, Teacher
Ken Dias, Teacher
Lisa Dutrow, Guidance Instructional Specialist
Mignon Etcheverry, Teacher
Jim Feramisco, Teacher
Peggy Finch, Teacher
Randy Floyd, Teacher
Alison Gaede, Teacher
Patricia Garcia, Resource Teacher
David Guaglianone, Teacher
Susan Gulack, Instructional Aide
Joyce Hall, Teacher
Carla Heredia, Teacher
Jimmy Hicks, Campus Liaison
Mary Jacobs, Teacher
Aireal Jones, Teacher
Nina Jones, Teacher
Phil King, Teacher
Donna Kohlruss, Teacher
Tad Kroeker, Teacher
Indira Kumar, Teacher
Ray Lee, Teacher
Lauren Lopez, Teacher
Becky Noe Maldonado, Teacher
Jenny Mammen, Teacher
Melissa Margullis, Teacher
Linda McNiel, Instructional Aide
Butch Moua, Teacher
Tosh Nitta, Teacher
Dan O’Hara, Teacher
Sarah Omata, Registrar
Joe Panella, Teacher
Steve Perkovich, Teacher
Sally Peterson, Teacher
Denise Prickett, Library Technician
Ana Gabriela Raya, Teacher
Glenda Reynolds, Teacher
Jamie Richardson, Teacher
Richard Roach, Teacher
Madalina Romero, Teacher
Joseph Schey, Teacher
Janice Smith, Teacher
Linda Snow, Library Technician
Marty Swift, Teacher
Dave Tenney, 7th Grade learning director
Linda Tolladay, Teacher
Tammy Van Der Paardt, Teacher
Lussy Vang, Home School Liaison
Brian Vollhardt, Teacher
Kevin Westenhaver, Teacher
Christy Wilson, Teacher
Shannon woods, Learning Director
Teng Yang, Teacher
Special thanks to:
Richard Henry Dana Middle School, (Outside Source) Wiseburn School District, Hawthorne
Matthew Wunder, Principal
Aileen Harbeck, Vice Principal
Christine Carpenter, AVID Coordinator
Mary Nies, AVID Coordinator
Noelle Staal, Teacher
Deana Ableser, Teacher
Michael Bull, Teacher
Lori Croft, Teacher
Alyssa Feely, Counselor
Kathy Fennell, Teacher
Doug Foster, Teacher
Melissa Gevertz, Teacher
Veronica Hunter, Bilingual Aide
Sharon Jansta, Teacher
Pamela Spriggs, Teacher
Kris Torrey, Teacher
Pam Van Arman, Secretary
Kathryn Borrud, Mentor (Raytheon)
Jim Buckheit, Mentor (Vista Mar High School)
Jean Campbell, Mentor (Vista Mar High School)
Clyde Campos, Mentor (Raytheon)
Phyllis Glock, Mentor (Northrup Grumman)
Ramon Mergner, Mentor (Raytheon)
Jason Veneman, Mentor
Special thanks to:
Rio Norte Junior High School, (Outside Source) William S. Hart Union High School District, Santa Clarita
John Krinkel, Principal
Betti Sternberg, Assistant Principal
Rita Thomas, Assistant Principal
Sharon Amrhein, Teacher
Jackie Arnold, Teacher
Audrey Asplund, Teacher
Kim Atkin, Counselor
Sharon Ballard, Teacher
Edie Bertoldo, Registrar
Daryl Bibicoff, Teacher
Jim Blankenship, Teacher
Annalee Bretthauer, Teacher
Jenny Bretthauer, Teacher
Cathy Brown, Teacher
Nancy Brown, Administrative Assistant
Aaron Burleson, Teacher
Nadia Cotti, Counselor
Cassandra Cross, Teacher
Paula Davidson, A.P. Secretary
Sharon Eineke, Attendance Technician
Dawn Ferrier, Teacher
Robert Fiero, Teacher
Jeff Gilbert, Teacher
Kim Givens, Teacher
Kimberly Grandbois, Teacher
Stacy Haggart, Teacher
Susan Hubbell, Health Assistant
Ron Ippolito, Teacher
Nancy James, Teacher
Anne Johnson, Teacher
Vickie Kaplan, Teacher
Connie Kautianinen, Receptionist
Jeanette Kratofil, Teacher
Don Marziani, Teacher
Wendy Massetto, Teacher
Gary Mast, Teacher
Elizabeth Meddaugh, Teacher
Nicholas Milasich, Teacher
Christine Miffitt, Special Education Assistant
Cindy Molacek, Special Education Assistant
Steve Morgan, Adaptive Physical Education
Catherine Nicholas, Teacher
Jane Norton, Teacher
Jill Osovsky, Teacher
Gina Painter, Teacher
Lesa Petrovich, Teacher
Nancy Phillips, Teacher
Alice Pilkey, Teacher
Chad Powell, Teacher
Meg Putman, Teacher
Karen Ratfliff, Teacher
Kathryn Reiche, Teacher
Amy Reinhold, Teacher
Julie Schneider, Teacher
Darren Stieff, Teacher
Jase St. Peter, Teacher
Roxann Straub, Librarian
Darryl Stroh, Teacher
Elizabeth Sullivan, Teacher
Erin Swanson, Teacher
Tommy Sziklay, Special Education Assistant
Elena Taing, Teacher
Patty Tucker, Associated Student Body Secretary
Lisa Van Dyke, Teacher
Dan Vincent, Teacher
Stacy Wade-Robb, Teacher
Kullen Welch, Teacher
Travis Wiese, Teacher
Special thanks to:
San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, (Outside Source) San Lorenzo Valley Unified, Felton
Chris Mercer, Principal
Jeff Calden, Vice Principal
Tina Andes, Teacher
Keri Billings, Teacher
Judy Billings, Teacher
Rebecca Bing, Teacher
Linda Breeden, Teacher
Wendy Childs, Campus Supervisor
Kimberly Clark, Director of Child Nutrition
Jennifer Lahey, Teacher
Erin Mongiello, Teacher
Bonnie Morrison, Administrative Assistant
Cindy Nowell, Teacher
Curt Olin, Teacher
Martin Rasmussen, Teacher
Daniel Richey, Teacher
Jacklyn Sacco, Teacher
Phyllis Shreve, Secretary
Special thanks to:
Silverado Middle School, (Outside Source) Dry Creek Joint School District, Roseville
Kevin Kurtz, Principal
Priscilla Rasanen, Assistant Principal
Gary Edwards, Teacher
Joan Orcutt, Teacher
Jill Pickett, Counselor
Michele Risse, Teacher
Special thanks to:
Sutter Middle School, (Outside Source) Sacramento Unified School District, Sacramento
Nancy Mathews, Teacher
Special thanks to:
Toby Johnson Middle School, (Outside Source) Elk Grove School District, Elk Grove
Patrick McDougall, Principal
Jack Dapkewicz, Vice Principal
Kay Adams, Secretary
Melanie Dopson, Vice Principal
Tracy Emison, Teacher
Chandra Gukeen, Teacher
Kathleen Tijan, Teacher
Elizabeth Wollbrinck, Teacher
Members of the Middle Grades Task Force that created the original Taking Center Stage (2000).
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