SAN JOSE, CA – The Santa Clara County Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Korean American Day at its January 19, 2022 meeting.
Korean American Day, observed on January 13, commemorates the history of Korean immigration to the United States beginning on January 13, 1903. More than 100 Korean children and adults traveled from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland aboard the S.S. Gaelic.
The day honors the contributions made by those of Korean descent to our nation, state, and region. Korean Americans have laid deep roots in our community as educators, veterans, leaders, entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, actors, athletes, elected officials, and more, paving the way for younger Korean Americans to support and grow their vibrant culture.
Those roots and contributions extend deeply into Santa Clara County through various community organizations, such as Korean American Community Services, which provides services to approximately 10,000 Korean Americans, and the Santa Clara County Korean American Chamber of Commerce, which empowers and uplifts Korean business owners and entrepreneurs.
Korean Americans in elected office in Santa Clara County include County Board of Education Vice President, Victoria Chon.
“Seeing a resolution like this at the county board level and how much Korean culture has been popularized through our K-dramas, K-pop and our food is so amazing,” said Vice President Victoria Chon, who is of Korean descent and identifies as a Korean American. “I hope that educators in our classroom recognize Korean American Day and honor it for students in our community here in Santa Clara County.”
Korean American representation will also be part of the 2022 Silicon Valley Reads program. The companion book for elementary students is penned by second-generation Korean American author, Christine Paik, and illustrated by her mother, Jung Lin Park. In Paik’s book, “The Girl in the Gold Dress,” a Korean American girl demonstrates the power of kindness, resilience, and hope when she accepts, loves, and shares her heritage and culture with others. To find Silicon Valley Reads events and program offerings, please visit siliconvalleyreads.org.
“It is important that our students and staff see their heritage and cultures represented in classrooms and shared with their peers,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools. “As an inclusive learning institution, the Santa Clara County Office of Education recognizes and celebrates our county’s vibrant communities and cultures.”
The School Climate, Leadership, and Instructional Services Department in the Professional Learning Instructional Support Division of the Santa Clara County Office of Education recognizes the importance of Korean American contributions and history. In 2020, the California Department of Education adopted the “World Languages Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve” to provide guidance to educators and families on the “extraordinary linguistic diversity, vibrant cultural exchanges, and impactful learning opportunities” for students in California, including Korean. This framework provides an opportunity for educators to develop their students’ interculturality, communicative and global competence.
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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.
For more information about the Santa Clara County Office of Education, please visit www.sccoe.org and follow us @SCCOE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.