DoE Encourages Early Entry Into K-20 Pipeline
Home Gardens Elementary First Grade Students
DoE Director of Teacher Education Susan Meyers, Multiple Subjects Coordinator Christina Giguiere, and Counselor for the Minor in Educational Studies Gisela Verduzco journeyed to Home Gardens Elementary School in the City of Corona to formalize the adoption of Teacher Analia Oliver's 1st Grade Class and Teacher Lupe Mendoza's kindergarden class.
Home Gardens Elementary is part of a network called "No Excuses University,” which provides students with early exposure to potential college attendance and structures academic work to promote post-secondary access. In order to join this network of schools, a classroom needs to be adopted by a college or university. Mrs. Oliver’s first grade classroom and Mrs. Mendoza’s kindergarten classroom chose UCI's Department of Education for their sponsor.
During the morning visit, the UCI guests were presented with a Home Gardens Eagles tee-shirt and a certificate of appreciation by Principal Cassandra Willis, and each child received a UCI Writing Project tee-shirt. Children also engaged in a question and answer session, asking their UCI visitors about life at the university.
As a 2005 graduate of UCI's Master of Arts in Teaching with Credential program, Mrs. Oliver shared her experiences and encouraged each child to consider what academic subject he or she might like to explore in the future.
