He started his educational career in Poway Unified as a math and computer programming and computer science teacher. Should Richmond shelter unhoused people in hotels during severe weather. Ive been looking over the trend data over the past several years and Ive seen that, especially our Black students and our Latinx students have struggled in especially mathematics and English language arts, but also a number of suspensions, expulsions; we have a high chronic absenteeism rate. Richmond Confidential welcomes comments from our readers, but we ask users to keep all discussion civil and on-topic. Thats the kind of role model I want to be. This is not a warm-body job.. So some students may define success as being able to get into Stanford or USC or Berkeley or UCSD or something like that, and that they have that list of goals. More than half of the districts students are Latino, 14% are Black, 10% are white, and 8% are Asian. The release also credits Hurst with boosting graduation rates by 16% and lowering absences by 33% at the Othello district, which has about 4,500 students. Chris Hurst is an Associate Superintendent at Oceanside Unified School District based in Oceanside, California. Hurst said he assisted in Bersins effort to transform three schools whose students were lagging significantly in test scores and other measures San Diego, Kearny and Crawford high schools. Given the number of students of color, I am certain that his presence will be appreciated by students and parents of color, as well as the faculty and staff of the district, Camp said. To get more reports like this one, click here to sign up for EdSources no-cost daily email on latest developments in education. Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account. Here is a Q&A Richmond Confidential did with Hurst last week. So shes going to be working for California School for the Blind in Fremont, and shes going to be working in the tech department, and helping students with technology. And their whole theory of action is, if we can really transform the central office, like people that work up here with me, and if we put the right people in place to have the right tools, then we could better go down to the school sites and support them and build capacity with the leaders. You cant just change the organizational structure and expect change to happen. So, even though we have some high-performing districts across the United States, theyre not as high-performing as other countries, other developed countries across the globe. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Its about accumulating these skills so I can use these skills to make the United States or the globe a better place, and to really tackle pressing economic issues and global issues like COVID. Duffy had served as superintendent since 2016, and his total compensation and benefits last year was about $365,000, according to Transparent California. Subscribe to Richmond Confidential to get the latest news sent straight to your inbox. Sylvester Greenwood andDr. Cynthia LeBlanc each served one-year terms as interim superintendents. There needs to be people like myself that are willing to invest in challenging the system. Prior to his long career in education, he served 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. as well as their lower graduation rates and higher rates of expulsions and suspensions. All comments are moderated for civility, relevance and other considerations. Agreed. He collaborated to implement the Future Ready technology initiative, designed to create a shared vision of preparing students for success in college, career, and citizenship. Hursts belief in the application of research-based practices and his experience in systems thinking will add structure to our organization, yet enable our entrepreneurial spirit, Board Trustee Leslie Reckler said. This is an extremely important hire, and it was very important we took the time to do the process right. He started his educational career in Poway Unified as a math and computer programming and computer science teacher. She has a lot of Braille technology in our home, so she has devices that read books to her, that can download a book from this software. We request that commenters consistently use the same login name. So its going to be really important that our teachers check in individually with our students and really find out whats happening. Welcome, Dr. Hurst. Comments from the same user posted under multiple aliases may be deleted. So those are the things that Im going to be bringing from Othello to here. How do we create spaces that allow us to really develop those relationships with adults and students and students to students as well.? The district plans to reopen campuses for hybrid instruction on Mondayafter more than a year of distance learning. He spent 6 years as a principal and assistant principal in Oceanside, including the turnaround principal for Jefferson Middle and Oceanside High schools. But also, theres an issue with the learning loss that has happened as well with the COVID back in March of 2020, and making sure we have the right data in front of our teachers so that we can really assess our students and where they are to meet their needs. And I loved it so much that I became a math teacher. Dr. Hurst becomes WCCUSDs 10th permanent superintendent and its first permanent African American superintendent. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! I had a principal that was a mentor for me as well. 2023 EdSource. Despite that, those districts have all been able to creatively offer engaging curriculum and programs like maker-spaces in which students can bring in materials from the house for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) projects. He will succeed Matthew Duffy, who announced in November that he would be leaving the district at the end of the school year after five years in his post. Email. Our kids need to see positive influences that resemble their cultures, their ethnic background and ethnic makeup.. Hurst said he was drawn to West Contra Costa for a similar reason he was drawn to Othello: wanting to improve educational systems to ensure student success. Im not sure if youre familiar with the High Tech High School System, mainly in the San Diego area, but they do whats called learn by doing. But Hurst doesnt just want to throw things at people, he said in an interview with EdSource. Christopher Hurst, 99th Security Forces Squadron superintendent, Chief Master Sgt. He holds a masters degree in educational administration and a bachelors in mathematics from California State University San Marcos. Hurst became superintendent of the 4,500-student Othello School District in central Washington in 2016. Tell me about yourself and how did you came to be involved in education? I believe that the new Superintendent will bring a nurturing environment to WCCUSD students with a focus on leadership, empowerment, and direction to the WCCUSD, Board Trustee Otheree Christian said. Dr. Hurst may think that his SoCal experience will help him. If we build those early literacy skills, then we have more literate students and theyre ready to engage in the learning when theyre in kindergarten. Categorical Instructional Support Services (CISS), Early Learning Pre-K to Adult Educational Operations, Office of African American Student Achievement (OAASA), Teacher Support and Assistance Program (TSAP), Community Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC), Research, Assessment, Accountability & Data (RAAD), West Contra Costa Unified School District, I am excited to join the WCCUSD Community, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). When you engage students, whether its K through 12 or college students, in processes like design thinking, or problem-based learning, or project-based learning, or learning by doing, then that changes everything. The. Employee Information Salary History Employer Information Employer Thames Valley District School Board Employees with the same employer Position Information Join to connect . Our goal is to produce professional and engaging journalism that is useful for the citizens of the city.Please send news tips to richconstaff@gmail.com. WCCUSD's Board of Education hired Dr. Hurst on April 14, 2021, making him the first permanent African American superintendent. He Read More. He and his wife, Crystal, have two grown children. My dad was in the Army. Currently, only four of the states 30 largest school districts have Black superintendents. Kenneth Chris Hurst was chosen as the next superintendent of West Contra Costa Unified. Were not going to let anyone hosannah you in and crucify you out, Smith-Folds told Hurst at the meeting, said, alluding to an often typical pattern of welcoming incoming superintendents as a savior for all the districts problems, before disillusionment sets in, and they are forced out. So there has to be a big investment in preschool to make sure that we close that early literacy gap. I was a drill instructor and I was a communications instructor as well. Dr. Kenneth Hurst Email: chris.hurst@wccusd.net Phone: (510) 231-1103 . Thousand of students compete in Tech Challenge in San Jose, Will higher pay lure more teachers? Hurst is apparently just another neoliberal, protecting the wealthy by betraying his students and their families, when he asserts that his out of the box ideas (in fact, common buzzwords for years now) can change change educational outcomes without addressing wealth inequality. Chris Hurst's Phone Number and Email. During his five years at Othello, graduation rates increased from 71% to 87%, and absences declined by 33%, he said. In the 2019-20 school year at West Contra Costa Unified, about 56% of its students were Latino, 31% were English learners, and 66% qualified for free and reduced-price lunch. The position title is Secondary Teacher. So how do we check in with them during the school day? In Oceanside, he implemented some of the same strategies he adopted at the small schools in San Diego, he said. Diablo Unified, Kyla Johnson-Trammell of Oakland Unified, Vincent Matthews of San Francisco Unified and Harry Doc Ervin of Bakersfield City School District. Chris Hurst Superintendent, West Contra Costa Unified School District. Hurst should identify a few professional practices such as Explicit Instruction or Formative Assessment with Descriptive Feedback and develop a plan to implement, monitor, and hold everyone accountable for the execution of these aligned practices at very high performance levels. And whether thats either drug abuse, or some other sort of trauma that students are experiencing, we want to make sure that we partner with those agencies so that they can really check in either individually or with groups, those students. The District also gathered more than 6,000 responses from the community on the next Superintendents qualities and qualifications. From San Diego, he became a principal in Oceanside in North San Diego County, turning around Jefferson Middle School and Oceanside High, he said. One unfortunate issue he has to face is for funding was the union's driven zealous raising of salaries that hurt the district. He became assistant principal in Poway Unified just north of San Diego, where he helped open Westview High School in 2002. Hurst is only one of a tiny number of Black superintendents among the states 1,000-plus school districts. They are Adam Clark of Mt. The West Contra Costa Unified School Districts Board of Trustees named Othello School District Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Chris Hurst, Sr. as the Districts next superintendent. (Courtesy of West Contra Costa Unified). During his five years at Othello, graduation rates increased from 71% to 87%, and absences declined by 33%, He also implemented the districts social-emotional learning standards. A lengthy search process involved 50 listening sessions with staff and families, and the district fielded over 6,000 comments from the community, according to the release. They want to come to school because attendance matters as well, and that plays into graduation rate. Californias Community Colleges: At a Crossroads, Adjuncts gig economy at CA community colleges, College And Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted, Education during Covid: California families struggle to learn, Tainted Taps: Lead puts California Students at Risk, Full Circle: California Schools Work To Transform Discipline, Californias Homeless Students: Undercounted, Underfunded And Growing, Eyes on the Early Years Newsletter Archive, California Association for African American Superintendents and Administrators, funded in part by millions of dollars in grants, mostly from the Gates foundation, West Contra Costa Unified School District, Click here for EdSource's Comments Policy. He became assistant principal in Poway Unified just north of San Diego, where he helped open Westview High School in 2002. What are your plans for a successful reopening in the fall? Hurst is equity-focused, has a background of increasing student academic achievement, is data-driven, works in collaboration with all labor partners and families, and is always student-centered, Board Trustee Demetrio Gonzalez Hoy said. Chief Business Official: Robert McEntire Interim Associate Superintendent / Chief Business Officer (510) 231-1170 robert.mcentire@wccusd.net. Some students may define their success as going into a career field of their choice, or some may define success, another different way. He also implemented Othellos K-12 pathway, the Districts Social-Emotional Learning Standards. But what we see also across the United States and in Richmond is that, generally speaking, our teaching force is made up 70% of white women. Hurst also assumes the post in the middle of the pandemic, with the task of guiding the districts return to full-time, in-person instruction in the fall amid pressure from a group of parents. I think that really important that our kids see role models. I think Ive already talked to you about the soft start and checking with our students about their social social emotional learning needs. Education | General | Kennedy High School | community. Its going to take a community effort, to take all of us working together as one for a shared vision., Currently, only four of the states 30 largest school districts have Black superintendents. He needs to acknowledge or review the abuse of the lowest performing students not given lunches, substitutes and other such things I witnessed myself. Coming from Washington State as a superintendent, there, our students were back in January. West Contra Costa Unified superintendent hired, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), H-1B: Feds want criminal charges over application fraud for Silicon Valleys favorite visa. "This morning, I tried to reach Delegate-elect Jason Ballard to congratulate him on last night's results and I hope we have the chance to talk soon. I talked about [social, emotional learning] as well, thats a big concern. How will you address the systemic inequality that BIPOC students have had to deal with? I am excited to get to work in West Contra Costa Unified and about working together to provide a world-class educational experience for students that prepares them to be globally competent and allows them to compete and participate in our diverse and global society, Hurst said. His military service includes Maintenance Supervisor at Camp Pendleton (19911993), Combat Duty (Desert Storm), Saudi Arabia (19901991), Communications Instructor/Supervisor at Camp Pendleton (19881990), Drill Instructor, San Diego (19861988), and Communications Specialist at Camp Pendleton (19821986). El Cerrito students play at West Contra Costa Unified's Korematsu Middle School during recess before the Covid-19 pandemic. The result was double-digit growth in academic test scores. So its my job to really unlock that potential in students Thats what I want to be for students, that person. The districts board of trustees voted 5-0 Wednesday to hire Hurst. So when our students came back in January, what I saw was a disconnect, like our students werent talking a lot, they werent engaging a lot. Why are students starting their own businesses right out of high school? One of the things Ill share with you is based on our research. All rights reserved. Dr. Hurst has served as the Superintendent of the Othello District in Othello, Washington, since 2016. Cmon, folks lets stop expecting out of the box miracles in the face of head in the sand funding. Superintendent Superintendent Dr. Pete Perez, Superintendent email Pete Perez Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Marissa Garza Click here to email Marissa ext. I knew there were resources out there but I didnt have anyone to point me into the right direction. Thats probably the biggest piece for me as far as priorities, is really working with our students. West Contra Costa Unified has had two African American interim superintendents in the past. Its not just about getting a job and making money. She also has this Braille laptop as well. Find Us . 2/22/2023 4:33 PM. He refused to let it end in Game 7, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Two-thirds of the students qualify for free and reduced price meals. Then you dont see students walk into the classroom, where they disengaged. Dr. Hurst joins WCCUSD after spending the past five years as the Superintendent of the Othello District in Othello, Washington where he significantly increased graduation rates and decreased chronic absenteeism rates for students. Bill aims to boost salaries 50% by 2030, Future of state housing is at stake in UC ruling, governor says. We are presenting to this community someone who can help and I say help because nobody can do this work alone take us to the next level, board president Mister Phillips said at the school board meeting. The Board voted 5-0 at Wednesday night's board meeting on a three-year contract for Dr. Hurst that begins May 17. Not having position control forms on these people, and many other intentional policy and procedural actions in HR that ultimately masks the budget. Your access to this page has been blocked. He needs to review what happened with those vacancies, like the Janitor, or clerk I reported that were hidden from the databases in the subsystem as permanent employees in the same position for years and not posting vacancies, having unequal numbers of subs whom could be temporary contracts if there are equal number of employees out. His military service includes Maintenance Supervisor at Camp Pendleton (19911993), Combat Duty (Desert Storm), Saudi Arabia (19901991), Communications Instructor/Supervisor at Camp Pendleton (19881990), Drill Instructor, San Diego (19861988), and Communications Specialist at Camp Pendleton (19821986). And I really am now interested in making sure that that doesnt happen to kids, which is why Im really invested in education but especially in systemic inequities and vertical inequities within the system. Paris le-de-France CCI is a source of proposals, informs debates on key issues and plays an active role in the growth of local companies and the economy in its territory. Dr. Hurst has 23 years of experience teaching and leading equity in urban, suburban, and rural K-12 districts. Robert Hurst is an employee working in Thames Valley District School Board, according to Province of Ontario, Treasury Board Secretariat. One unfortunate issue he has to face is for funding was the unions driven zealous raising of salaries that hurt the district. School board trustee Jamela Smith-Folds also expressed enthusiasm Wednesday about hiring Hurst and assured him that the responsibility of turning the district around wont fall solely on him. At Oceanside High School, Dr. Hurst led double-digit growth in the schools academic growth performance. Im equally excited about deepening our understanding of equity and systemic inequities and also moving toward what it should look like, feel like, and sound like to have an equitable and culturally responsive education for all students.. Rumors circulated in late 2019 that the school board might consider firing Duffy, but multiple trustees publicly stood by the superintendent, EdSource reported at the time. Kenneth "Chris" Hurst, who will take over as the first permanent African American superintendent of West Contra Costa Unified School District within a few weeks, has his sights set on closing longstanding achievement gaps between Black, Latino and white students at the 30,000-student district. Hurst succeeds outgoing Superintendent Matthew Duffy, who announced last year he would not seek re-appointment when his contract ended after the current school year. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. But that means a lot of work needs to happen within the district, because right now, as I look at our district, West Contra Costa Unified School District, were not set up for success. I really believe in developing skills on a continuum, because I know that skills are transferable. Were not going to let anyone hosannah you in and crucify you out, Smith-Folds told Hurst at the meeting, said, alluding to an often typical pattern of welcoming incoming superintendents as a savior for all the districts problems, before disillusionment sets in, and they are forced out. Something went wrong. I have seen him on the phone, while emailing someone and texting yet another about a different issue, Stevenson said via email. Teachers, principals, and district administrators need to learn the notes of high quality instruction before they can play jazz. I was the type of student that really excelled in math and I used to love taking tests like an assessment, and I was the type of student that would go in and I would just excel, get 100% and do the extra credit. Dr. Chris Hurst, Superintendent of WCCUSD and the Office of African American Student Achievement (OAASA) led the effort to raise the Pan-African flag at all schools and at the district office for. In his new role, Dr. Hurst will bear the distinction of the being the WCCUSD's first permanent African American superintendent. I have an unwavering commitment and dedication to supporting a culture of inclusion and equity throughout the district and community, and what excites me is that we have a board and learning community interested in educational equity for all students., Fight your California speeding ticket and win, Recover Stolen/Missing Crypto/Funds/Assets. I firmly believe that every single person was designed to do something big and to contribute back to society in a big way. Before taking the job in May, Hurst was superintendent of the Othello School District in Othello, Washington, for five years, where he is credited with increasing graduation rates and decreasing overall student absences. All Rights Reserved. In Oceanside, Dr. Hurst collaborated with ConnectEd California, implementing Linked Learning to establish K-12 industry-aligned pathways to prepare students to succeed in college and career. All Rights Reserved. Dr. Hurst joins WCCUSD after spending the past five years as the Superintendent of the Othello District in Othello, Washington where he significantly increased graduation rates and decreased chronic absenteeism rates for students. The patient is in the hospital with a mortal stab wound. This is kind of a lengthy response, but what I will say, first we have to build a healthy system, which means looking at our organization and how we are structured.

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