What are your plans for a successful reopening in the fall? So its going to be really important that our teachers check in individually with our students and really find out whats happening. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We welcome your comments. One of the things that I like about him is hes not coming here to learn how to be a superintendent, Phillips said. Its about sitting down with teachers, support staff, with parents, district office personnel and all stakeholders to have this conversation about what the data is telling us, Hurst said. No FCMAT investigation was called in, a grand jury and the board could have each requested it along with the county COE (whom I emailed and sent material to with no response) or the superintendents could have. This is not a warm-body job.. 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. I really believe in investing in building teacher capacity and building leadership capacity, and thats what it really comes down to when we talk about BIPOC and racism and implicit biases as well. They focus a lot on design thinking, a process which is out of Stanford as well, which is a problem-solving approach. Dr. Kenneth "Chris" Hurst, Superintendent Jamela Smith-Folds, Trustee Area 1 Demetrio Gonzalez Hoy, Trustee Area 4 Otheree Christian, Trustee Area 2 Leslie Reckler, Trustee Area 5 Mister Phillips, Trustee Area 3 Thomas Leung, Student Trustee Navi Emiliano, Student Trustee That is not to say unions are bad, quite the contrary they just need to focus more on helping protect employees, especially the most vulnerable not raising salaries. Since I was in desperate need of a car due to the nature of my new job, I resorted to making online research on how I could restore my credit to a minimum of 650 to enable me to qualify, after a few months of searching, I bumped into a blog and found positive reviews about, 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. University of CaliforniaNorth Gate HallBerkeley, CA. Superintendent Dr. Kenneth "Chris" Hurst, Sr. is the 10th permanent superintendent in West Contra Costa Unified School District History. During his five years at Othello, graduation rates increased from 71% to 87%, and absences declined by 33%, he said. of Schools, Tony Thurmond, to do likewise. EditorsNote: As a special project, EdSource is tracking developments in theOaklandUnified and West Contra Costa Unified School Districts as a way to illustrate some of the challenges facing other urban districts in California. Superintendent Hurst is WCCUSD's 10th permanent superintendent and first permanent African American superintendent. But WCCUSD spent just $450 (3%) more per student than Oceanside did last year yet (a) Oceanside has only 61% disadvantaged vs 71% in WCCUSD, Read More. 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. 1003 On June 30, 2021, the OSD Board of Directors approved a three year contract naming Pete Perez the district's superintendent. West Contra Costa Unified enrolled about 28,000 students last school year, according to U.S. Department of Education data. Superintendent Dr. Kenneth "Chris" Hurst, Sr. is the 10th permanent superintendent in West Contra Costa Unified School District History. Robert Hurst is an employee working in Thames Valley District School Board, according to Province of Ontario, Treasury Board Secretariat. I think those are the big pieces that Im really focusing on coming back for fall. Its general assembly is made up of elected business leaders and acts to represent and defend the interests of businesses with public authorities, as well as taking positions . Dr. Hurst has served as the Superintendent of the Othello District in Othello, Washington, since 2016. 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. I think its encouraging when we see people like President Obama and Kamala Harris. Anyone reading articles, research and more, both academic and not, knows this. Currently, only four of the states 30 largest school districts have Black superintendents. WCCUSD's Board of Education hired Dr. Hurst on April 14, 2021, making him the first permanent African American superintendent. It really means that we have to have our teachers trained in culturally responsive teaching, but also we have to look at the curriculum that were putting in front of our kids. I really believe in developing skills on a continuum, because I know that skills are transferable. I think thats a big concern. RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) -- West Contra Costa Superintendent Dr. Chris Hurst says he was disappointed to hear Galileo Academy of Science and Technology had to forfeit their game against. c***@oside.us. The district has hired a new superintendent, Kenneth "Chris" Hurst, who will begin May 17. Two-thirds of the students qualify for free and reduced price meals. I just loved it, from low-entry mathematics to high-level calculus. In his new role, Dr. Hurst will bear the distinction of the being the WCCUSD's first permanent African American superintendent. Dr. Hurst has 23 years of experience teaching and leading equity in urban, suburban, and rural K-12 districts. 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.. Chief Business Official: Robert McEntire Interim Associate Superintendent / Chief Business Officer (510) 231-1170 robert.mcentire@wccusd.net. Prior to his long career in education, he served 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. I know that Ive never had that growing up as a Black male. Email. We think thats important to check in with the families. Because of the professors or because of the teachers. The. Is it really a tribute to Supt. Email [emailprotected]Copyright (C) 2015, by Don Gosney and Felix Hunziker. Christopher Hurst, 99th Security Forces Squadron superintendent, Chief Master Sgt. Hurst also led the districts transition to distance learning at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and to a hybrid model this school year in which students get part of their instruction via distance learning, and some in-person. Chris Hurst is a Superintendent of Education - Ajax at Durham Catholic District School Board based in Oshawa, Ontario. And then also building in that classroom time and space, like I shared, to really check in with students. Read More . As Superintendent of the 4,500 student District located about 3 hours southeast of Seattle, Dr. Hurst increased graduation rates by 16 percent from 71 percent to 87 percent and reduced absences by 33 percent. And I always had a talent in mathematics. Chris Hurst Superintendent, West Contra Costa Unified School District. And I think another priority is meeting their social and emotional learning needs, because our students have been disconnected for so long, from an in-person learning environment. And how do our teachers address and work with those differences as well? Superintendent West Contra Costa Unified School District View Chris' full profile . Jeff Taylor, Coming from Washington State as a superintendent, there, our students were back in January. West Contra Costa Unifieds school board unanimously approved a three-year contract for Hurst with an annual base salary of $270,000 at a school board meeting April 14 when his appointment was announced. If it needed to be longer, it would have been. My long-term goal is to really transform our system so that we are ensuring that a high number of our students are prepared for college and career. Join to connect . But Hurst doesnt just want to throw things at people, he said in an interview with EdSource. So thats really our growth. Then you dont see students walk into the classroom, where they disengaged. Kenneth Chris Hurst Sr., Ed.D | Superintendent | West Contra Costa Unified School District | (510) 231-1101 CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic mail transmission may contain privileged. Kenneth Chris Hurst Sr. is the new leader of the West Contra Costa Unified School District,replacing Matthew Duffy, who led WCCUSD for five years. So its my job to really unlock that potential in students Thats what I want to be for students, that person. Chris Hurst -- Los Angeles, California, United States 1 connection. Ive learned to work within the constraints of a budget; its not an excuse to exclude students from these types of experiences, Hurst said. We hired a leader who will lead WCCUSD teachers, administrators, and staff with a united vision, transparency, and accountability. Hurst is only one of a tiny number of Black superintendents among the states 1,000-plus school districts. Bill aims to boost salaries 50% by 2030, Future of state housing is at stake in UC ruling, governor says. He is committed to promoting restorative practices and social-emotional learning that will change students behavior without taking them out of class. The Bay Area is a liberal place with perhaps the worst economic inequality in the country, and until that changes, WCCUSD will have the same outcomes. Superintendent Dr. Kenneth "Chris" Hurst, Sr. is WCCUSD's 10th permanent superintendent. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. College and Covid: Freshman Year Disrupted, Education During Covid: Families Struggle to Learn. I think we took the time we needed, Phillips said. So anything that involves her is what I like to be involved in. Before his career in education, Dr. Hurst served 12 years in the Marines. Kenneth Chris Hurst, 60, who served as a superintendent at a school district in Washington state, will be West Contra Costa Unifieds first permanent Black superintendent. 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. We request that commenters consistently use the same login name. 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. Contact. Next, he worked as a principal under former San Diego Unified Superintendent Alan, Bersin. So how do we check in with them during the school day? 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. I think its not just Richmond, I think its an issue across the United States and mostly found in large urban school districts, you see a high rate of suspensions. He spent 6 years as a principal and assistant principal in Oceanside, including the turnaround principal for Jefferson Middle and Oceanside High schools. The Boards vote followed an exhaustive six-month search process in which WCCUSD held more than 50 listening sessions with students, families, staff, and community stakeholders. Last Update. I believe that every person, including you, has a big vision in store for them, and what I believe is that its my responsibility to give people the tools to unlock, like what is that vision, what is my purpose in life, what was I designed to do. Keep it simple and focused on a few aligned professional practices. In a release, a district spokesman detailed Hursts accomplishments at Othello School District in Othello, Washington, including implementing social-emotional learning standards, which train students to manage their emotions and relationships. I think warning signs are important so our teachers receiving training on how to identify those warning signs of any type of abuse thats happening, and then the referral process as well. So I sort of felt disenfranchised as a youth. Dr. Hurst also tripled the number of children enrolled in preschool and increased the percent of preschool students prepared for kindergarten from 30 percent to more than 98 percent. Of course the masking. Bay Area students chosen as semifinalists in the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program who made the cut? Thats a serious issue. What the research says is that most of the growth that were going to see over the next several years is going to be from students coming from Spanish-speaking populations, and from Mandarin-speaking populations. Agreed. He started his educational career in Poway Unified as a math and computer programming and computer science teacher. Because Im so busy, anytime that I can spend with my wife I do that. Smith-Folds added that her biggest reason for choosing Hurst was hearing him speak about his wife, Crystal, a special education teacher who Hurst turns to as a sounding board for major decisions. All Rights Reserved. So what were doing right now were trying to build a system that allows that to happen, for more and more students to be successful. I took my love for teaching in the Marine Corps and my talent for math and I decided to become a math teacher and computer science teacher as well. He became assistant principal in Poway Unified just north of San Diego, where he helped open Westview High School in 2002. And I loved it so much that I became a math teacher. Want to improve the achievement gap? c***@dcdsb.ca. To get more reports like this one, click here to sign up for EdSources no-cost daily email on latest developments in education. 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. all Oceanside students would graduate college or be career ready. The patient is in the hospital with a mortal stab wound. So how do we really present curriculum in a way that really entices the student and engages the student. So those are the things that Im going to be bringing from Othello to here. I have seen him on the phone, while emailing someone and texting yet another about a different issue, Stevenson said via email. And as I look at large, urban systems like San Diego or LA or Oakland or Long Beach and even, West Contra Costa Unified School District, these are large systems which for the most part are failing are Black and brown kids. Among the strategies that he points to are restorative justice alternatives to traditional school discipline, promoting rigorous, engaging and culturally relevant curriculum as well as project-based learning, and aligning curriculum with career pathways and industry occupational sectors. In Oceanside, he implemented some of the same strategies he adopted at the small schools in San Diego, he said. 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. 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. Sylvester Greenwood andDr. Cynthia LeBlanc each served one-year terms as interim superintendents. 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. 12/31/2022 7:59 PM. He started his educational career in Poway Unified as a math and computer programming and computer science teacher. Here is a Q&A Richmond Confidential did with Hurst last week. 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. The district was able to close a very large deficit this year, but at the cost of eliminating positions, reining in expenses and borrowing from reserves. I think its inspirational, motivational, and I know people will look up to me as a positive African American role model.. Before leading the Othello School District, Dr. Hurst served as Associate Superintendent of Educational Services in Oceanside Unified School District, a 19,000 student district 35 minutes northwest of San Diego. Dr. Hursts first call should be to Sen. Nancy Skinner to ask her to get over to Sen. Josh Beckers office to talk about a regional cost supplement to LCFF. Chief Master Sgt. I think Ive already talked to you about the soft start and checking with our students about their social social emotional learning needs. Kenneth C. "Chris" Hurst Sr., associate superintendent of educational services with the Oceanside Unified School District, has accepted a job as superintendent of the tiny Othello School. Comments post automatically without review from our staff, but we reserve the right to delete material that is libelous, a personal attack, or spam. Find him taking walks around town; he is always looking for story tips. And if we can build capacity with the leaders so that they are expert observers of instruction, especially culturally responsive teaching, then they can better support the teachers and build their capacity. The Vancouver Public Schools board of directors narrowed the selection for superintendent to two candidates after meeting in executive session on Tue., Feb. 23. Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account. Teachers, principals, and district administrators need to learn the notes of high quality instruction before they can play jazz. Education | General | Kennedy High School | community. 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. There are some other pieces that are priorities for me but I would say those are the top two priorities. Previously, Chris was an Assistant Principal at Camino High School. Dr. Hurst earned his Doctorate in Education, K-12 Leadership (Magna Cum Laude), at the University of Southern California in 2011, and his Master of Arts Degree in Educational Administration (Magna Cum Laude) in 2008, and his Bachelor of Science, a degree in Mathematics in 1997 at California State University, San Marcos. What she really loves doing is to teach those technology skills to students who are visually impaired. She is visually impaired, she is blind. She actually contracted encephalitis at 9, which is a virus, and we believe it was an insect like a mosquito that was carrying the virus, but shes had to go through a lot in her life and to prove to people that she can do anything, because sometimes people view people who are visually impaired as being disabled and not being able to do certain things. 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. 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. The main reason he took the job, though, was to be a part of the work happening there to improve student success. Contact Us Educational Equity - Title IX Location: 1108 Bissell Ave. (510) 231-1118 Fax: (510) 236-0662 Dr. Kenneth Chris Hurst Uniform Complaint Procedures Bullying WCCUSD Nondiscrimination Policies and Procedures Non-Discrimination Policy: View the Announcement of Non-Discrimination/Harassment 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. It was a close decision, he added. The board of trustees approved a three-year contract that begins May 17 for. 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. We hired 20 counselors, additional counselors, so the case loads were at 750 per counselor but now weve reduced that down to 350. Dear Abby: Am I overreacting to my European daughter-in-law's behavior? And the research says once kids are behind, they typically stay behind. I think its important for African-American, Latinx and students of color to see other people of color in leadership positions, Hurst said. Thats probably the biggest piece for me as far as priorities, is really working with our students. He became assistant principal in Poway Unified just north of San Diego, where he helped open Westview High School in 2002. They didnt in 2019 or after or didnt say they did? West Contra Costa Unified has had two African American interim superintendents in the past. 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. Diablo Unified, Kyla Johnson-Trammell of Oakland Unified, Vincent Matthews of San Francisco Unified and Harry Doc Ervin of Bakersfield City School District. What is your biggest concern heading into the school year? All comments are moderated for civility, relevance and other considerations. Diablo Unified, Kyla Johnson-Trammell of Oakland Unified, Vincent Matthews of San Francisco Unified and Harry Doc Ervin of Bakersfield City School District. So whenever you have all this diversity coming in, and you have a teaching force that really is not equipped and prepared to engage with the language barriers and the cultural diversity, thats when you see as some of these issues that are happening. 2023 EdSource. But this is its first permanent African American appointee. The staff at Richmond High School are backing student demands and uplifting them to engage the whole community. Its really a framework Im using and its called Central Office Transformation Toolkit and its out of the University of Washington. He also boosted the districts linked learning programs, which integrate academics with real-world work experiences. Vancouver Public Schools has. Do you have any plan to address any trauma that may have occurred in the household during the pandemic? West Contra Costa Unified school board members unanimously approve a three-year superintendent contract for Kenneth Chris Hurst, shown with his wife Crystal in the center of the bottom row. Its really a focus on safety and COVID safety and having mitigation strategies in place. Dr. Hurst becomes WCCUSDs 10th permanent superintendent and its first permanent African American superintendent. Subscribe to Richmond Confidential to get the latest news sent straight to your inbox. Othellos student population this year is 91% Latino; 32% are English learners, and 75% qualify for free and reduced-price lunch. Dr. Kenneth Hurst Email: chris.hurst@wccusd.net Phone: (510) 231-1103 . What are your top priorities for the school district in the coming year? But WCCUSD spent just $450 (3%) more per student than Oceanside did last year yet (a) Oceanside has only 61% disadvantaged vs 71% in WCCUSD, and (b) San Diego County is just a hair over the statewide average cost of living. It takes things like early literacy as well. Hurst got his start in the education field in San Diego County, after serving 12 years in the Marines; he served combat duty in Desert Storm and was a drill instructor, communications specialist and maintenance supervisor at Camp Pendleton. Marvin Parker, 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron superintendent, Chief Master Sgt. Tell me about yourself and how did you came to be involved in education? Board president Mister Phillips noted in an interview that West Contra Costa Unified is a mid-sized district relative to others in California, saying Hursts transition to the Bay Area is a natural progression. But I also knew that in my growing up in high school expressly, there was not a lot of encouragement for me, being a Black male, an African American male, from my teachers and my counselors. I think also, you will see a teacher that may not be culturally proficient or culturally responsive or not exercising culturally responsive teaching, and they have this bias, say for instance about a Black student or about a Latinx student, and then that translates to that teacher issuing out discipline when they could have done something else. He also holds an Associate of Arts degree from National University, San Diego. Ervin has just been selected to be the next of superintendent of San Bernardino City Unified, and will take over there on July 1. 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. CAAASA is pleased that school boards are continuing to recognize the benefits of having a racially diverse administration by selecting persons of color to lead the district.. He received a bachelor of science in mathematics at California State University, San Marcos, in 1997 before teaching math, algebra, college preparation and computer science in Poway. Welcome, Dr. Hurst. Phillips declined to comment on what set Hurst apart from other applicants, citing a closed-session deliberation, but he did praise the hiring process as yielding a desirable outcome. His second should be to Assm. Why struggle with bad credits when you can actually get them fixed within a couple of days with, I tried getting a car loan sometime last year but my credit score of about 521 ruined the process. Everything that Im sharing with you ties to like the graduation rate. Chris Hurst (D) officially conceded to Jason Ballard (R) Wednesday morning in the race for the House of Delegates' 12th District. Hurst works non-stop and is very dedicated to his job. He also implemented the districts social-emotional learning standards prescribed by the state, and the number of children enrolled in preschool tripled, the news release said. Status: Active: District Type: And I did not want people to have that experience and kids to have that experience, so thats why I went into education. One unfortunate issue he has to face is for funding was the unions driven zealous raising of salaries that hurt the district. 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. Dr. We went back to Germany. File photo Finalists for superintendent are: Dr. Kenneth (Chris) Hurst, superintendent, Othello School District, Othello, WA He earned a master of arts in educational administration in 2008 and a. At Oceanside High School, Dr. Hurst led double-digit growth in the schools academic growth performance. He Read More. 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. Following that, he received his doctorate in education at the University of Southern California in 2011. 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. Although only 6% of the states student enrollment is Black, an even smaller percentage have been selected to run districts. I enjoyed it. Read More. While serving as the Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, he supervised the Oceanside Promises implementation to ensure all Oceanside students graduated ready for college and career and established the Oceanside Promise Foundation, a 501(c)(3). Our goal is to produce professional and engaging journalism that is useful for the citizens of the city. West Contra Costa Unified includes Richmond, El Cerrito and several other East Bay communities. Ask Amy: I put a security camera in my room, and what I saw was creepy, Ask Amy: My fiancee's family says I'm not invited, and she's going without me, The dad whose wife and child were among 5 killed by a neighbor in Texas describes how the massacre unfolded, 'Total dominance': Steph Curry breaks NBA Game 7 record, leads Warriors over Kings, Dear Abby: The reason her fiance hid his phone was something she never guessed, Mortgage fees to rise for buyers with high credit scores, fall for those with lower scores, Kurtenbach: Steph Curry built the Warriors dynasty. I wanted to go to a military school. to be the next of superintendent of San Bernardino City Unified, and will take over there on July 1. We also are partnering with a number of organizations that have reached out to me. Michael Littleton Richmond Promise Board Chair, Former Senior Vice President of Finance, Gu Energy Labs.
