Say Thanks to School Employees

Ventura County education employees are going above and beyond to keep schools operating during the pandemic. And “thank you” is something they don’t hear often enough.

That’s why Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. César Morales, is encouraging everyone in the community to send a message of thanks to a school employee and email it to news@vcoe.org. We’ll highlight some of the messages on our website and social media. So please take a minute to write a note to that special someone who’s making a difference for kids.

You can also read Dr. Morales’s own message of gratitude to school employees at this link.

COVID-19 Test Kits and N95 Masks Provided to Local Schools

Truckloads of COVID-19 test kits and N95 masks recently arrived at the Ventura County Office of Education in Camarillo for distribution to local schools.

The State of California provided 132,000 test kits – with two tests per kit – that families can use to test students for COVID-19 at home. The state also supplied 514,000 N95 masks for voluntary use by staff and older students at Ventura County schools.

At-home testing is an important tool to help slow the spread of the virus. All US households can now order four free COVID-19 test kits from the federal government by completing a simple online form in English or Spanish.

Equity Conference Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for the 2022 Equity Conference presented by the Ventura County Office of Education. Everyone is invited to attend this free virtual event that will include workshops addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion practices for marginalized students. There will also be opportunities for community networking plus door prizes.

The conference is Tuesday, March 22, 2022, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. To register, visit www.vcoe.org/equity22.

Call for Student Artwork

We will be kicking off the Equity Conference by showcasing artwork created by students from throughout Ventura County. Students of all grade levels are invited to create a piece of art illustrating what diversity, equity and inclusion means to them.

Teachers are encouraged to tell their students about this opportunity and then submit photos of the artwork at www.vcoe.org/art.

Computer Coding Event

for High School Students

Ventura County high school students are invited to participate in the 2022 Hackathon by the Sea. Students will team up to create apps, games and other high-tech projects with guidance from professional mentors.

The Hackathon begins in person in Camarillo on March 11, when students will form teams. Over the next week, they’ll work together virtually on their projects. Then they’ll be back in person on March 19 to present their work and compete for prizes.

The Hackathon is a great way for students to learn about programming while making friends and having fun. Registration opens on February 1 at www.vcoe.org/hackathon.

Make a Difference with a Career in Education

If you want to put your skills to use to make a difference in the lives of students, a career at the Ventura County Office of Education could be a perfect fit.

VCOE is now hiring for a variety of positions in both classroom and office settings. Whether you want to work directly with students or have a knack for business and finance, VCOE has an opportunity for you. We offer competitive pay, great benefits and the rewarding feeling of knowing you’re helping students in our community.

Find all of our current openings and apply online at www.vcoe.org/jobs. You can also sign up to receive our job alerts by email by clicking here.

Upcoming VCOE Workshops

The Ventura County Office of Education and its partners present a wide variety of workshops and trainings for educators and community members. Some of our upcoming offerings are below, and you can browse the full calendar of events at vcoe.k12oms.org.

Introduction to Restorative Practices for Teachers in Elementary Grades

02/02/2022 • 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm • Free

Walking the Path Together: The Road Back to School – For families of children 0-5 with disabilities

02/05/2022 • 8:15 am – 11:30 am • Free

Helping Students Cope with Perceived Racism, Prejudice and Bias – For K-12 educators

02/08/2022 • 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm • Free

Google 101 for K-12 Educators

02/10/2022 • 9:00 am – 12:00 pm • Free

safeTALK – Suicide Alertness Training – For anyone 15 or older (permission required for minors)

02/23/2022 • 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm • Free