SAN JOSE, CA – Santa Clara County teachers discuss making an impact on the world in the eighth installment of 'Why I Teach', a video public service announcement (PSA) series supporting the Santa Clara County Office of Education's (SCCOE) on-going efforts to increase qualified teachers.
For Rick Ellis II, a physical education teacher at Saratoga High School in the Saratoga Union High School District, teaching allows him to pass the torch on to the next generation.
"I had a college professor who was super influential in my life," he explains. "So that's something that I wanted to carry on and try to have a positive impact on their lives. Not just in the classroom, but outside the classroom as well."
Ellis is featured in the PSA along with Kerry LeCussan from Silicon Valley Adult Education in the Metropolitan Education District and Jessica DeAnda from Sunrise Middle School, a county-authorized charter school. All three teachers were voted 2018 "Teacher of the Year" by their respective school districts.
The SCCOE releases this series in support of its annual Teacher Recruitment Fair on March 30.
Credentialed candidates, individuals who will have a credential by fall 2019, individuals with a credential from outside of California, and candidates with at least one year of experience in a teaching intern program are all invited to network with and have questions answered by recruiters and credentials specialists. On-site interviews may also be offered.
For more information and to register for the Teacher Recruitment Fair, visit: https://www.sccoe.org/newsandfacts/TRF/Pages/default.aspx
The ten-part video PSA series continues next week. In addition to being posted to the SCCOE YouTube channel, the videos will also be provided to local cable access channels in various municipalities throughout the county.
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 22 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.