Look what I have accomplished in only a few years......

By Debbie Ramirez

As a Career Technician / Community Program Coordinator at Mt. Pleasant High School I have been able to create programs which involve students, teachers, community members, industries, and parents. The following is just an example....

TEACHER JOB SHADOWING- assigning and placing 120 teachers & classified employees in the job market to help educate them in preparing our students for careers in the 21st Century- assigning our high school teachers to elementary schools within our district to meet other teachers & younger students

BOOSTER CLUB- parent / alumni booster club established nine years ago which raises thousands of dollars for the athletic departments on campus

K-8TH WEDNESDAY NIGHT TUTORING PROGRAM- linking small children to high school students, San Jose College students, and volunteer Adobe System employees for tutoring purposes each Wednesday evening for one hour-guardians make a donation of $6.00 to the high school student for their service

MOTIVATE & EDUCATE- providing dynamic & motivating speakers for high school students who are attending our detention classes- topics include gang involvement, drug & alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, job search, college search, etc. Father Matters, Macsa, and many more professionl men and women participate

MP EXPRESS- allows fifth & sixth grade students to develop their writing & communication skills by writing letters to sophomore students once a month (pen-pals)

VILLAGE PROJECT- sport, music, and the arts are extremely important in developing a young healthy child so I offer classes to children from K-8th grade the opportunity to discover their talents with soccer, basketball, wrestling, jazz dance, water polo, cheerleading, doll quilt making, track & field etc. These classes are instructed by volunteer coaches, staff, advisors, and high school students.

SUMMER VILLAGE CAMP- summer camp for one week during the summer months- offers relaxation for parents while young students play sports, watch movies, listen to speakers, and are visited by the Vanishing Children Alliance regarding child safety-free fingerprinting available

NO MORE EXCUSE PROGRAM- this is two separate programs (boy & girl) for freshman students who are failing math-they are linked to junior & senior students of the same sex and are tutored for one hour a week-these programs are sponsored by Adobe Systems- limited scholarships available

MT. PLEASANT HIGH SCHOOL BRIDGE PROGRAM- it is required that all students provide their community with 20 hours of community service- they now must serve 10 hours within the elementary school district- tutoring, office work, custodian help, P.T.A. babysitting, recreational programs, homework centers etc.