As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s a good time to thank our teachers in Fresno County

Know someone who also cares about these important education topics?

Forward this newsletter to a friend or colleague - and they can sign up.

• • •

Hey Ed Lab readers, it’s Lasherica! Today is Tuesday, Nov. 15, and this is our weekly newsletter.

It’s less than a week until Thanksgiving break, most likely meaning students, teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and administrators — anybody who’s been going to school since August — are weary and eager for the week off. (Us parents are too!)

With that being said, let’s all take the time to thank our educators!

Why? No. 1, they deserve it.

Like I said, it’s also the week before Thanksgiving. Why not give those thanks now?

But if you need another reason, it’s American Education Week, a week meant to celebrate the people who work in public schools. And I mean the team of people who make every day possible for our students to learn in a safe environment.

Over the years, those people – those educators – have been the bus drivers as the first and last people who see kids. They’ve been the cafeteria workers who ensure kids are fed so they’re able to learn mentally. They’ve been the administrative staff who keep things running behind the scenes. They’ve been the classroom teacher on the frontlines.

So thank you! Thank you for doing more than required, being more than your job duty entails and loving as if those kids are yours.

Come on. Tell an educator thank you. It can be someone who educated you, someone who’s making a difference in your child’s life, or someone on the journey to be a part of the education system. Or maybe, you need to look in a mirror and say, “You’re appreciated.” Because you are.

I’ll start with the thanks: thank you, Mrs. King, from Bruce Upper Elementary School; Mrs. Long, Mrs. Rogers, and Mrs. Brower from Bruce High School; Professor Steele, Professor Boyd, and Professor Wickham from the University of Mississippi, to name a few.

Who are you going to thank?

As you’re thinking about it, read our latest education stories.

Stories range from election night coverage to updated election results later in the week to stories on the impact of elections. In the mix of our latest stories are articles on Bullard’s cellphone policy, a longtime board member retiring and UC Merced employees on strike.

HERE’S THE LATEST FROM THE EDUCATION LAB

‘This is ridiculous.’ Unhappy Bullard High students criticize new classroom cellphone ban

Yondr pouches — where students’ phones will be locked during the school day — were distributed last week.

Clovis Unified’s longest-serving school board trustee retires after nearly four decades

Clovis Unified School Board Trustee Elizabeth “Betsy” Sandoval is retiring after 38 years on the board, first serving from 1981 to 1993, then again from 1996 until now.

‘Big changes’ coming to this controversial school board in Fresno County after election?

“The voters decided that they were ready for a change.”

Thousands on strike across University of California schools, including UC Merced

Hundreds were expected to go on strike at UC Merced.

MORE FRESNO-AREA EDUCATION NEWS

Thousands of Central Unified students received winter clothes last week as part of a partnership between the Foundation For Central Schools, Granville Homes and the Assistance League of Fresno.

The district distributed school clothes, sweaters and jackets during its 18th annual Warm For Winter Event, a media release said. Due to the growth of the program over the last decade, Central Unified will also install three clothing closets at Houghton-Kearney K-8, Steinbeck Elementary and Central East High School.

“This success would not be possible without the continued support of Granville Homes and Assisance League of Fresno,” the district’s release read.

Granville Homes, owned by developer Darius Assemi, has contribute to the program since its inauguration, providing over 20,000 sweaters and jackets since then, according to Central Unified.

The Assistance League of Fresno is in its second year of incorporating its project, Operation School Bell as part of Warm For Winter. Through the project, the student body at a selected school receive outerwear and 130 identified students get new school clothes.

Fresno Unified School District will feature students and staff in a biannual “Faces of Fresno Unified” digital magazine.

In its first edition last week, the magazine included the legacy of H. Roger Tatarian, Hoover High School students, Gaston Middle School, Centennial Elementary School and a “beloved” King Elementary School library technician as well as how a timid Sunnyside High School student joined the district’s first class of the Doctors Academy, became a Fresno physician and now mentors future medical professionals from her alma mater, the district detailed.

“Our new ‘Faces of Fresno’ is a people-centered publication that gives a glimpse into the outstanding students and staff who make up Fresno Unified,” Superintendent Bob Nelson said in a media release. “I love their stories.”

Monday, Greenberg Elementary pre-k through eighth grade students received a pack of five grade-level, culturally diverse books, which were available in English and Spanish. The packets included a student literacy skills journal and “Family Guide to Literacy” for parents to support reading at home, a media release said.

Scholastic partnered with Fresno Unified School District to provide the more than 100,000 books, making it the fourth Scholastic book giveaway that’s put over 730,000 books in students’ homes.

“One of our district goals is to provide more ways for our families to engage in their students’ education,” Superintendent Bob Nelson said. “Thanks to Scholastic’s partnership, we are not only helping our students expand their home libraries but encouraging the entire family to read together.”

Clovis Unified School District will swear in nonprofit executive and parent Clint Olivier, teacher and parent Deena Combs-Flores, who were both elected last week, and board president Tiffany Stoker Madsen for another term next month, according to board agenda materials.

Madsen’s name wasn’t on the Nov. 8 ballot because no opponents challenged her for the Area 3 seat.

Olivier will take the vacant Area 1 seat, which Trustee Susan Hatmaker left empty when she resigned following her move to another area. Combs-Flores said she “has big shoes to fill” as she takes longtime board member Elizabeth “Betsy” Sandoval’s seat after two stints totaling 38 years on the CUSD school board.

STILL WANT MORE EDUCATION NEWS? HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING

Julianna’s List

MacKenzie Scott donates $16 million to Escondido school district

“Gift surprised district; foundation said it liked the work the schools were doing” | The San Diego Union-Tribune

GOP school boards: How Republicans fared in school board elections all over the country

School board candidates advocating for parental rights, who were largely backed by conservative groups and the GOP, saw mixed results in elections around the country this November. | USA Today

Lasherica’s List

Special Report: Effective Communication for School Leaders

“‘How you say what you say matters.’ That’s the driving idea behind this new special report exploring what good communication looks like for school and district leaders.” | EducationWeek

Educators Are Deeply Conflicted on Teaching Heated Cultural Issues, Survey Finds

Many teachers won’t discuss race, sexuality due to fear of consequences | EducationWeek

Thanks for reading our newsletter! Wait! Don’t forget: tell an educator thanks!