Schools

Clayton Valley Charter Looks Back On Its First Year

Executive Director David Linzey shares the school's successes in the past 10 months since it became a charter. What do you think of its progress? Share your thoughts.

Has Clayton Valley High's transformation into a charter school been a successful one?

Executive Director David Linzey has written a summary of the school's accomplishments, stating that "school and community pride has soared" during the school's first year.

Do you think Clayton Valley Charter High School has been a success so far? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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"We have clearly achieved 3-5 years of work in just one short year, wrote Linzey in a public letter, which can be found on the CVCHS website.

Linzey says he will deliver an end-of-year report to the Contra Costa County Office of Education, highlighting the school's move "from good to great!"

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Financially, Linzey says that the budget has been under his "close watch."

"CVCHS has a solid budget balance for 2013 and will be able to post a strong financial reserve as required by the state," he writes in the letter. "This is exceptional for a first year charter high school! This, in part, was due to the passage of Proposition 30. Thank all of you who supported that measure."

Linzey's list of the school's achievements follows below.

In its first year, according to the executive director, Clayton Valley Charter High School has: 

  • Hired and trained a new administrative team with a ferocious work ethic
  • Hired approximately 15 new teachers, plus additional staff members
  • Developed a cohesive governance team working hand in hand with the Executive Director
  • Implemented a comprehensive guidance program that included hiring two new academic counselors to monitor transcripts, credit recovery, graduation progress, career guidance efforts, etc.
  • Developed and implemented quality intervention programs beginning last summer, extending throughout the school year to insure struggling academic students were provided additional support
  • Implemented the Rigor/Relevance/Relationships framework for effective instruction in the classroom
  • Implemented Curriculum Guides utilized by teachers
  • Implemented Quarterly Benchmark Assessments utilized by teachers and administrators
  • Implemented policies for teachers to post assignments online, have office hours and return communications to parents within 24 hours
  • Developed and implemented the freshman transition program
  • Developed and implemented a quality professional development program to support teachers
  • Implemented effective instructional software programs to support student learning
  • Successfully acquired the Measure C facilities improvement project for modernizing facilities, improving technology infrastructure and replacing old technology
  • Developed a powerful parent volunteer program. Much thanks to one of the key leaders of CVCHS - April Winship, an avid supporter who has overseen our parent volunteer program. And thanks so much to Deanne Carlson, PFC President and Karen Carman, PFC Vice-President, for their tremendous leadership in supporting CVCHS!!!
  • Improved the athletic programs of CVCHS with significant support from our athletic boosters (thanks so much Matt and Michele Hill) and all of the dedicated parent supporters!
  • We have improved our maintenance and operations to where action is taken when problems exist to repair facilities
  • We have implemented a clean and safe campus program to insure that eagle pride and a positive school climate and culture prevail
  • Hired a full time School Psychologist
  • Hired and trained a full time Dean of Students
  • Hired a full time technology coordinator to improve computer technology and operations for the teachers, staff and administrators
  • Created a more dynamic, informative school website
  • Hired a full time College and Career Counselor
  • Implemented evening and weekend security program -after hours/night time security guards to reduce crime and vandalism on campus
  • Implemented PowerSchool student information services program
  • Kept our library open five days a week
  • Above all, our motto which has gained traction is "students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." We are a high school committed to keeping students at the forefront of decision-making


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