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Saluting our Graduates, Retirees, and You
Dear Juvenile Court and Community Schools (JCCS) friends and partners:
As the school year comes to an end, I cannot thank each of you enough for your ongoing commitment, support, and leadership. Our JCCS staff, students, and their families have benefited greatly from your efforts, and we are so appreciative.
It has been a wonderful year for JCCS thanks to each of you. I am pleased to announce the Class of 2023 includes students and staff who will transition via a rite of passage to a new chapter in their individual book of life. Beginning with teachers, I am honored to recognize my esteemed retiring colleagues Delia Pearsons, Tony Williams, Clifton Davis, Alex Long, and Penny McNeil. Combined, they have nearly 150 years of service in public education. Their contributions and sacrifices for the betterment of our students and JCCS program will be remembered forever.
The graduating class of 2023 includes students who have been with JCCS for as little as one month to some who have been with us for more than five years. All of our graduates from Monarch, San Pasqual Academy, Court, and Community Schools have satisfactorily completed all requirements prescribed by the California Department of Education and the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) in earning a high school diploma. Equally impressive, many of our resilient graduates have successfully completed a college course and/or career technical education certificate program. This was no small task given the numerous obstacles and challenges our students had to overcome.
Unlike most high school graduation ceremonies, we slow down our rite of passage to ensure each student is properly recognized, celebrated, and honored for their individual journey. Also unique is that each graduate is provided the opportunity to share some of their challenges and recognize the individual that stood by them during turbulent times by giving them a rose. It's during this rose ceremony, where regardless of the weather, I find myself sweating from my eyes. Fortunately, and as I glance over each shoulder, I find that I’m never alone as I see fellow SDCOE staff, leadership, and board members experiencing the same allergic condition. Albeit any good doctor would say, there is no need for Claritin when you know that your efforts have positioned a young person to thrive via the power of a high-quality educational experience.
I'd like to leave you with a poem rather than my traditional quote. This poem is from Tupac Shakur, titled The Rose That Grew From Concrete."
Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature’s law is wrong, it learned to walk without having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.
On behalf of the Class of 2023, all our students and their families, our staff, and the community at-large, I thank each of you for keeping our students’ dreams alive, and for caring. When a JCCS student graduates, we all graduate, so let’s keep on passing the roses!
With much admiration and appreciation,
Tracy E. Thompson
Executive Director
Juvenile Court and Community Schools
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JCCS Graduates Celebrated Across the County | |
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More than 80 students who attend SDCOE’s Juvenile Court and Community Schools graduated this year, and the milestone was celebrated with ceremonies across the county.
Each ceremony provided staff, students, and families the opportunity to offer words of wisdom, thanks, or congratulatory remarks. Several also featured a rose ceremony in which the graduates shared a rose with someone special in attendance, including parents, teachers, or siblings.
A dozen students from three community schools in East County celebrated their graduation June 15 with a ceremony at Cuyamaca College’s Water Conservation Garden. The bleachers were packed with well-wishing family members shouting “You did it!” and “I’m proud of you!” as students talked about how their parents and teachers helped motivate them to finish high school.
Read more about the graduation ceremonies and meet some of our Class of 2023 graduates.
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Meet Azaiah from Monarch School | | |
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“If someone is going through a difficult situation, I know it can be hard to push through and get your thoughts off of it, but you can hang out with friends or do something that you love to keep your mind blank. And never give up on yourself. Try to stay positive and never doubt yourself.” | |
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Azaiah is upbeat when reflecting on his years in high school, and says that despite some challenges along the way, he wouldn’t change anything.
“I am proud that I’ll be graduating this year. I never really doubted myself but seeing myself progress over the years has been nice,” he said.
Azaiah has attended Monarch School for about 10 years. He persevered and continued to dedicate himself to his education and maintaining his grades while taking care of his mom after she suffered a stroke. Read more about Azaiah's story.
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Meet Luis from North County Innovations | | |
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“It may seem hard right now but in the future it will all progress. Keep trying because it will pay off.” | |
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For Luis, it was the one-on-one help at Innovations Academy of Empowerment that helped him reach this important milestone of graduation.
“They made sure I was on track and didn’t give up on me,” he said of the teachers and staff at the school.
While at Innovations, Luis attended an automotive class at Palomar College and is looking to take additional automotive courses at Palomar after graduation. Read more about Luis's journey.
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Meet Kaitlyn from Monarch School | | |
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"To other students, I would say, it's OK to cry, you're never alone. There's always someone there." | |
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Like many graduates, Monarch senior Kaitlyn has mixed feelings about graduating.
“I feel nervous and excited at the same time. One thing I’m excited about is going to the real world and learning new things,” she said. “I’m nervous because I don’t know how I’m going to be on my own.”
Her last four years have been tough, she said, but things have improved over the past year after moving to a different environment where she has been happier and gained the skills and confidence to speak to people.
She credits her oldest sister and her friends with helping her overcome some challenges and stay on track. Read more about Kaitlyn's story.
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Reflecting on 30 Years in the Classroom | |
When you ask Delia Pearsons what she’ll miss most when she retires, the answer is not all that surprising.
“The kids, obviously,” she said.
Pearsons is retiring after spending 30 years in the classroom, all in SDCOE’s Juvenile Court and Community Schools, and was honored at this year’s Celebrating Excellence event on June 23.
During her teaching career, Pearsons worked in a variety of programs and schools. These included teen parent and special day class programming; working at the Ash Street facility, supporting students at the Hillcrest Receiving Home, the Polinsky Center, Father Joe’s, 37ECB, and the juvenile detention facilities. Her final stop was Monarch School, where she’s been a special education resource teacher for the past five years.
Pearsons says that assessing where the need was and moving sites kept her career very rich.
“I can’t believe how fast it went. I think that was the key to staying creative and motivated and engaged,” she shared. “In those 30 years, we had a lot of leadership transitions. But it was always about the kids. You think Juvenile Hall, that’s tough, right? But when you walked in, you knew it was going to be based on relationships and what you were going to do to make a difference.”
Looking back, she says some of her best memories are graduations, seeing students transition back to their districts, and seeing the students and families succeed. And those relationships Pearsons built have staying power. She said she is still friends with one of her first students who was part of what was an innovative program at the time - independent study.
She doesn’t have big plans yet for retirement but knows it will include spending more time with her husband, mom, and dogs, and focusing on some self-care.
“I’ve worked alongside some of the most amazing teachers, some I call dear friends” she said. “I’ve known them for 20, 30-plus years. We’re like family. I’ve been super blessed to work at SDCOE.”
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Student Artwork Displayed at Local Gallery | |
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Students from JCCS recently had the opportunity to exhibit drawings, photographs, and prints they created as part of a year-long program called the Art Works Fellowship.
The Art Works Fellowship is a partnership between Arts Education Connection San Diego (AECSD) and JCCS. Fifteen students from Lindsay Community School, Global Academy of California, and Victoria Community School celebrated what they've learned through developing a dedicated art practice. Their work was on display for two days at The Front Arte Cultura Gallery in San Ysidro.
This is the fifth year of the Art Works Fellowship with many students participating year after year.
“Through this long-standing partnership with AECSD, we have seen incredible growth in our students' academic performance, artistic skills, and personal development,” said Amanda Wallace, arts technician for JCCS. “JCCS students have gained so much by studying with professional artists and understand that they can also have a career in the arts."
The Art Works Fellowship program provides a pathway to an arts-focused education and career. Fellows enrolled in this program learn art skills, meet professional artists, and receive mentoring by teaching and practicing artists Diana Cervera and Lorain Khalil Rihan. Participants develop a capstone project that includes a portfolio of artwork, an exhibition, artist statements, a resume, and a public speaking presentation. They are also learning entrepreneurial skills, making their artwork available for sale to the public during the exhibition. The new skills can be included on a resume and support preparation for college-level arts classes, internships, and jobs. Students who complete the Art Works Fellowship program will earn five high school credits and a $200 stipend.
“We are so proud to partner with JCCS and see the incredible talent of these students on display in a professional gallery space," said Karah Lain, president of AECSD's board of directors.
The Art Works Fellowship program is funded by the California Arts Council. a state agency, County District Attorney's Office, and SDCOE.
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Highlights from Around the County | |
Kimberly and Austin, students at Innovations Academy of Empowerment, were recognized at the 2023 Innovative Video in Education Awards for their multimedia projects. Kimberly created a public service announcement to bring awareness to the impacts of drunk driving titled The Choice is Yours, and Austin created a how-to dirt bike video. They are pictured with their teacher Ms. Rice. | |  |
Students from SOUL Academy and Bayside Community School hopped aboard SDCOE’s Marine Science Floating Lab in San Diego Bay, where they had the chance to work with oceanographic equipment, make observations, and gather data and specimens from the ocean and sea bottom. | | |
JCCS welcomed parents/guardians for a day of learning at its end-of-year gathering. Many of the attendees actively engage in activities at their student’s school, serve on various committees, and participate in school events. This year’s event highlighted social and emotional learning in action at JCCS, and included activities supported by our arts partners. | | |
More than 45 students and 10 staff from Lindsay Community School visited the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture in Riverside, home to a large collection of privately owned Chicano art. The group toured the museum and had the opportunity to learn more about Chicano culture and art. | | |
For Educators, Students, and Families | |
If your summer activities include starting to prepare for the next school year, SDCOE has a variety of summer professional learning opportunities available to San Diego County educators at low or no cost this summer. Topics include career pathways, early education, and science. | | |
SDCOE is hosting the San Diego County Schools and Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 15 at CSU San Marcos. Families can learn about community resources and services, and access health screenings for COVID-19, blood pressure, vision, and cholesterol. | | |
Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at the San Diego County Office of Education and in school districts across the county. | | | | |
