Expanded Vaccine Availability is Good News for Schools

The recent approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as five is another important step forward in getting life back to normal in Ventura County schools.

Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, shares his thoughts about the importance of vaccination in a column that appeared in the Ventura County Star, which you can read at this link.

Answers to Parents’ Questions about Vaccinating Kids

It’s understandable that some parents have concerns about getting their children vaccinated against COVID-19. That’s why Ventura County healthcare providers are sharing their expertise in a series of videos that answer common questions and clear up some harmful misconceptions. You can see the videos at www.vcoe.org/covid-videos.

There’s also been a lot of talk about the State of California’s upcoming requirement that students be vaccinated against COVID-19. The mandate is not yet in effect but is expected to begin sometime during the 2022-2023 school year. The Ventura County Office of Education has prepared an FAQ about the mandate, which is available in English and Spanish.

Free Digital Library Now Available for All Students

All K-12 students in California now have free access to a huge library of digital books to help improve literacy and build a love for reading.

The California Department of Education has partnered with Renaissance Learning to make their myON digital library free for the months of December and January. The myON library has thousands of books for all grade levels in English and Spanish that can be read on computers, tablets and phones.

To sign up, visit www.myon.com. For the school name, enter Gift of Literacy and use myon for the username and read for the password.

Pay Rate Increased for VCOE Substitute Teachers

The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) recently increased the daily pay rate for substitute teachers who work at our schools. The daily rate for the first ten days of substitute teaching has increased from $135 to $200. For day 11 onward, the rate went up from $155 to $220.

VCOE operates special education schools throughout Ventura County that serve students with disabilities and behavioral issues. Anyone interested in working as a substitute at one of our schools should complete the online prescreening process at www.vcoe.org/subs.

Find a Rewarding Career in Education with VCOE

From project specialists to physical therapists to bilingual translators, the Ventura County Office of Education is now hiring for a variety of positions.

If you want the great feeling of knowing your work is benefiting students in your community, we invite you to check out our current openings. We have various opportunities now available at our main office in Camarillo and our schools located across Ventura County.

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

Arleigh Kidd Joins Ventura County Board of Education

Arleigh Kidd has been appointed as the newest member of the Ventura County Board of Education. The longtime Simi Valley educator will fill the Trustee Area #4 seat that was left vacant when Rob Collins stepped down due to health reasons.

As a former classroom teacher and former member of the Simi Valley USD school board, Kidd will bring a wealth of relevant experience to his new role. Learn more about Mr. Kidd by clicking here.

SAVE THE DATE: 2022 VCOE Equity Conference

Parents and guardians, students, educators, support personnel, and community members are invited to join us for the 2022 VCOE Equity Conference. This free virtual event will include workshops addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion practices for marginalized students. There will also be opportunities for community networking plus door prizes.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 22, 2022, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Online registration will be available soon at www.vcoe.org/equity22.

Million Dollar Grant to Expand Career Education for Students

Local high school students will have new pathways to rewarding careers thanks to a one-million-dollar grant that was recently awarded to the Ventura County Office of Education.

The funding from the California K12 Strong Workforce Program will be used to help high school students prepare for career-oriented programs at local community colleges. The areas of study include biotechnology, computer network systems engineering, electronics engineering technology, and mechatronics.

Student Logo Contest Winners Selected

We’re happy to announce the winners of the annual logo design competition for VCOE’s popular student competitions. This year, all three of the winning entries come from students at La Reina School in Thousand Oaks.

Ruth Tackett designed the winning logo for the Academic Decathlon, Anna Pollon for Mock Trial, and Nareen Choulian for the Science Fair. Congratulations to these talented student artists!

For more information about the upcoming student competitions, visit www.vcoe.org/competitions.