Educators to present success story at state summit

Educators from E.P. Foster Elementary School in Ventura and California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks will present information about their successful program at the Achievement Gap Summit in Sacramento on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

CLU counseling professor Diana Stephens, E.P. Foster counselor Marie Alviz and teacher Pam Hunter will present “A Collaborative Model in Closing the Gap: Best Practices that are Making a Difference” at the meeting hosted by State Superintendent of Instruction Jack O’Connell.

The local educators will explain the Lesson One program and how it addressed the achievement gap at E.P. Foster. The Title I site is the only school in California using Lesson One, a research-based curriculum that imparts life skills to children as a way to improve learning and transform school cultures. It was one of four schools in the country involved in a recent longitudinal study measuring the program’s impact.

Since E.P. Foster implemented Lesson One six years ago, academic achievement has increased and conflict and disruptions have decreased. The team of CLU and Ventura Unified School District educators is now working to expand the program to Lincoln, Sheridan Way and Sunset elementary schools in spring. They plan to begin it at De Anza Middle School in fall 2008.

The California Department of Education approved Lesson One for use in the state’s schools in September.

Boston educator Jon Oliver developed the curriculum more than 30 years ago and it has spread to schools in 20 states. Students take daily pledges and teachers, administrators and counselors integrate lessons about self-control, responsibility and cooperation throughout the school day.

Stephens will also present information on E.P. Foster’s program at the American School Counselors Association National Conference in Atlanta in July.

For more information, contact Stephens at (805) 493-3041 or dstephen@callutheran.edu.