Statewide Educational Honor Recognizes Outstanding Program and National Initiative
SAN JOSE, CA – The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) was selected as one of 40 recipients of California’s leading educational honor, the Golden Bell Award. Celebrating their 41st year, the Golden Bell Awards are presented by the California School Boards Association (CSBA) to promote excellence in public education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices. The awards reflect the entire scope of education programs and the governance decisions supporting these programs that are necessary to address students’ changing needs.
The SCCOE received its award through a pre-recorded ceremony during CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show, held virtually from Thursday, Dec. 3 to Friday, Dec. 4. The conference is the premier continuing education event for California school boards and the largest education leadership conference in the state.
The SCCOE was awarded the Golden Bell this year for the initiative, My Name, My Identity: Advocating & Celebrating Bilingual/Multilingual Learners. The initiative recognizes the cultural contributions of Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) that ensure equity in district policies and support bi/multilingual language. At least 27 LEAs have adopted at least one board resolution that supports developing academia, multilingual, and/or socio-emotional skills for students; impacting over 231,000 students in Santa Clara County.
“Receiving the Golden Bell Award for this important initiative is a bright spot during a time when support for bi/multilingual students and acknowledgment of the value and importance of equitable education is ever-crucial,” said Santa Clara County Superintendent Dr. Mary Ann Dewan. “We are humbled to accept this award and honored to be responsible for facilitating this initiative in practice throughout our county for years to come.”
The first Golden Bell Award the SCCOE received was in 2011 for the A Look at Learning (A.L.L.) Collaborative. In 2014, SCCOE received the Golden Bell Award for the Seal of Biliteracy and Pathway Awards Initiative in Santa Clara County, and received the Golden Bell for the My Name, My Identity Initiative in 2019.
A judging panel composed of experts from school districts and county offices of education across the state reviewed written entries and made initial recommendations. Validators then reviewed the recommendations and virtually assessed the programs in action. This year’s Golden Bell winners demonstrated that they are addressing student needs through areas such as equity and access, school climate and safety, technology and wellness.
“Now more than ever is a time to acknowledge and celebrate innovative and impactful programs that make a difference in the lives of our young people,” said CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy. “This year’s Golden Bell winners truly serve as beacons of success as we work to more fully and equitably serve all of California’s public school students.”
To learn more about the Golden Bell awards and all the winners, visit the program’s website at http://awards.csba.org/golden-bell/.
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About the California School Boards Association
CSBA is a nonprofit education association representing the elected officials who govern public school districts and county offices of education. With a membership of nearly 1,000 educational agencies statewide, CSBA brings together school governing boards and district and county office administrators to advocate for effective policies that advance the education and well-being of the state’s more than 6 million school-age children. Learn more at www.csba.org.
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 21 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.