BALDWIN PARK – Baldwin Park Unified Superintendent Froilan N. Mendoza on Oct. 13 shared the District’s vision for student achievement, goals for securing its vision and recent program expansions with members of the Baldwin Park Business Association.

The breakfast gathering, held at the Baldwin Park Unified District Office, drew representatives of Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center, SCE First Federal Credit Union, Wells Fargo, the Boys & Girls Club, the City of Baldwin Park, Baldwin Park Historical Society and the American Cancer Society.

Mendoza stressed the importance of partnerships as a key element of the District’s focus on helping students achieve their greatest potential, an effort that requires a combination of academic and social/emotional support.

“We want to ensure everyone is college and career ready,” said Mendoza, a 16-year Baldwin Park Unified educator who assumed the role of superintendent in fall 2015. “It’s about the whole child, not just the academic piece.”

Baldwin Park Unified’s trio of goals advocate for providing rigorous academics, creating an environment of support, understanding and emotional safety, as well as promoting a culture of collaboration by strengthening communication and partnerships.

For the first goal, the District is converting its libraries from repositories of books into dynamic research and collaboration centers for students and expanding its focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) instruction. That includes an effort to create prototypes for multi-lingual learning environments.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Mendoza said. “We’re looking at integrating technology and our Dual Language program. There’s a lot of research that shows that in our global society this is one way to help students meet the needs of the future.”

For the second, the District is implementing Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions, a discipline system that seeks to reinforce positive behaviors, and expanding health staffing at all campuses.

For the third, District leaders are focusing on a shared mission to “ensure high achievement for all learners” and boosting teacher collaboration through professional learning communities.

“True collaboration is looking at the data and coming up with the solutions that will work for our kids. We’re investing in a process that will ensure our students succeed,” Mendoza said. “This effort is already coming up with a lot of good ideas for what we can do for our students.”

The District is also strengthening college and career pathways, an effort that includes partnerships with the business community. Mendoza thanked the business leaders for partnering in the effort to help students grow, and said those partnerships should benefit both parties.

Mendoza shared the District’s most recent accolades: 16 of 20 campuses designated as California Gold Ribbon schools in the last two years, North Park Continuation High School honored as a Model Continuation School, and the District’s Dual Language program recognized as one of two California recipients of the Multiple Pathways to Biliteracy Award.

Mendoza also introduced members of his cabinet: Deputy Superintendent of Business Services and Operations Lydia Cano, Assistant Superintendent of Student Achievement Dr. Randy E. Gray and Assistant Superintendent of Student Achievement Angela Salazar.

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101816_BPUSD_BIZ_1: Baldwin Park Unified Superintendent Froilan N. Mendoza speaks to members of the Baldwin Park Business Association on Oct. 13 about the District’s continuing efforts to strengthen student preparation for college and careers.