Palmdale College District Superintendent Dr. Raúl Maldonado discusses the district’s “Palmdale Promise” initiative, specializing in technological fairness and early literacy. By investing $7 million in know-how and implementing the bilingual “Footsteps to Brilliance” program, the district goals to supply equal instructional alternatives for its numerous pupil inhabitants, together with one-third English learners. This system provides free entry to digital studying sources, partaking households and supporting language studying throughout the group.
The pc-generated transcript is under:
Kevin Hogan
OK. Whats up and welcome to East College Information’s improvements and training, the podcast the place we dive deep into the transformative approaches to trendy training. My identify is Kevin Hogan. I’m the content material director for East College Information, and I’m comfortable you discovered us. Immediately, we’re exploring a outstanding story of instructional renewal in California’s Antelope Valley. Our visitor is the Superintendent of the Palmdale College District—a pacesetter who’s reimagining what’s doable when know-how, group, and imaginative and prescient come collectively. From addressing technological inequity to launching a groundbreaking bilingual literacy program, he’s turning the district’s challenges into alternatives. We’ll hear how the Palmdale promise is creating extra than simply higher faculties. It’s constructing hope, partaking households, and giving college students instruments to achieve an more and more advanced world. Prepare for an inspiring dialog about training, innovation, and the facility of believing in our. Children. OK, physician, thanks a lot for becoming a member of. Me at this time. I actually respect it.
Dr. Raúl Maldonado, Palmdale College District Superintendent
No, thanks for the invitation. It’s a pleasure to be right here with you and your nice present. And I must let you know that my know-how staff does. Observe your present.
Kevin Hogan
I adore it. I adore it. We gotta maintain going viral. Proper. Gotta get that mortgage paid, proper?
Dr. Raúl Maldonado
Yeah, completely. As I all the time say, my mother and father have extra infants, so I can keep in enterprise, proper? Pool so I. Love infants? When I’ve conferences with my mother and father. Hey, the place are the infants?
Kevin Hogan
Yeah. Carry them one. Carry them.
Dr. Raúl Maldonado
Sure, completely. Completely.
Kevin Hogan
Effectively, I do know as with most, you recognize, management lately you might be greater than busy, with loads of issues to do, so spare a couple of minutes. For me, I actually. Yeah, so some ways we might go. I do know we might go on for a pair hours right here, however I wanna form of maintain it centered. Possibly we might simply begin off, inform us just a little bit about Palmdale in your district and the place you might be and a few of the initiatives that. Are on the high of your laundry record.
Dr. Raúl Maldonado
Completely. Completely. I really like speaking about Palmdale. I really like telling our story, as I all the time say, I want to inform our story as a result of any individual else goes to inform the mistaken story, proper. Ten years in the past, I used to be appointed as the brand new Superintendent in. I had been in Palmdale for fairly a while. I left for a yr, went as much as McFarland. I don’t know when you’ve ever seen my film McFarland, USA, or Cross nation. I served there for a couple of yr after which, you recognize, the board known as me again and mentioned we’d love so that you can handle the college district. So just a little bit concerning the faculty district the place we’re within the northern a part of Los Angeles, we nonetheless are a part of LA County. That is what’s known as the excessive Desert Antelope Valley in my faculty district, there are 30. Instruments. We are literally a kinder via eighth grade faculty district. However guess what, Kevin? We purchased a highschool 4 years in the past. And so now we’re kindred via 12. So with that, now we have been making some nice progress. However initially after I first got here into the college district, you recognize, all the pieces’s about timing. And there was the correct time. We had the correct board, good ambiance, the tradition we wanted to work on, and we began an initiative to put in writing our strategic plan. And so we did quite a lot of work with our stakeholders, had quite a lot of conferences and we had one easy query, what are the hopes for the? College students within the metropolis of Palmdale and many individuals there have been about 100 individuals within the viewers. We had a number of conferences they usually all gave their opinion. In fact, they needed college students to be extremely mental, to get CTE, to get know-how, to be protected. All of these issues and that initiative. Referred to as the palmville promise. And so we created a brand with the colours and so fairly quickly when individuals noticed the brand, they began asking questions on it. We created a PowerPoint the place we go to the group. I went out to the chamber lunches and shared the strategic plan. However you recognize, Kevin, issues are about. Outcomes proper? We wanted to point out the end result. And in Palmville, what had occurred is we had gone via some robust occasions, however we by no means seemed again. We needed to look ahead and we began taking a look at our faculties and the board was very clear. We have to make our faculties the perfect, one of the best trying faculties, pleasant faculties with applications which are engaging to our households. And so with that, we started the journey of the Palmdale Promise, and now it has been in existence roughly 17,000 college students. However now? I can say now we have Palmdale promise Ambassador college students Palmdale promise of father or mother ambassadors and guess what? We’ve motion groups, these motion groups. They return to the strategic plan, they have a look at it, they monitor it, they modify it. We’ve to pivot. We’ll pivot. However we’ve been on this trajectory. For that lengthy time frame, and when individuals ask me, you recognize, when does it finish? Finish and I say we’re simply getting began. We’re solely scratching the floor, however in actuality, studying doesn’t cease. I imply, college students nonetheless have a have to study, and we proceed to have a look at the strategic plan, however it’s good when your bosses say, sure, that is the correct factor to do. And so we’re all in settlement and it feels good. It builds satisfaction, it builds quite a lot of enthusiasm and hope. You already know quite a lot of the occasions we study in lots of ways in which hope is just not a method. Each morning I exploit it as a method to. Stand up at. I hope I’m going to do a great job at this time, so I’m right here very hopeful that I’ll have a fantastic interview with you.
Kevin Hogan
Effectively, that’s glorious. And positively after the pandemic, that concept of hope and that concept of no social emotional studying turned entrance and heart, proper and if? And college and directors and fogeys don’t really feel protected or have that very same form of sentiment. And studying. Goes to. Happen amongst these many facets that you simply speak about. I do know that there’s a fairly heavy know-how element. Are you able to discuss just a little bit about that? Then a selected program.
Dr. Raúl Maldonado
Completely. Expertise is a kind of issues that I all the time appreciated when Apple 2E’s got here out. I used to be a recent trainer and my principal mentioned you’re the media tech now. I had no thought what I used to be stepping into, however little by little I bought into it and now Quick ahead as a Superintendent. What I encounter in my lecture rooms is that we had faculties that had quite a lot of know-how after which we had faculties that had little or no techno. Analogy. So I walked into a few of the internal Metropolis Faculties the place that they had an outdated projector projecting onto the wall. After which I requested the trainer why are all of the curtains closed and he or she mentioned to me it’s as a result of if we don’t shut the curtains and the youngsters can’t see the projected picture. And I believed how unhappy, as a result of I am going to the identical district. And different areas they usually bought this stunning projector that’s simply so superb. So I advised the board to look below the Palmdale Promise. It must be about fairness liquid. So vital for our kiddos, in order that it doesn’t matter what faculty they go into in Palmdale, they’ve the identical high quality of trainer instruction and. Program and on this case know-how. And so we did save up some cash. We invested about $7,000,000 and new applied sciences. Now know-how is a instrument. You already know the machine is a instrument. It’s what we do with it. And so the primary yr I used to be right here, I discovered about footsteps to brilliance, which is an internet program that you might use together with your telephone, your Chromebook, your iPad, your pc. And I introduced the thought to the board, and I mentioned, hey, we have to work on early, early literacy, you recognize, when the youngsters are simply beginning. To enter faculty, we have to already get them on that pc. Studying a guide, writing a guide. And so it was simply unbelievable. The whole lot lined up. Membership I met the oldsters from footsteps to billions, which is once more the net program. And let me simply provide you with just a little bit extra details about Palmdale. Kevin 1/3 of our college students converse a second language or are thought of English learners and footsteps to brilliance. Is definitely bilingual. So I used to be in a position to persuade the board to buy this system. We had a nationwide press convention. We invited quite a lot of company. I confirmed up at a faculty with the scholars within the viewers and we launched this system citywide. The mayor was there. The Metropolis Council, our native congressman, was there. It was simply unbelievable. And guess what? One of the best factor about it was it was free to each single household in Palmdale below our ZIP codes, proper? Mother and father beloved it, particularly Spanish talking mother and father. They appreciated it as a result of they may learn at house with their children, both in English or in Spanish, and it simply bought the entire household collectively. I even had a number of households say to me that they have been studying English as a result of they have been studying the books in English. At house with their children and so in that sense, we simply thought it was unbelievable. It was a fantastic launch and I don’t know if you wish to hear some extra, however I challenged certainly one of my native faculty districts, Pomona, a great good friend of mine, Richard Martinez. Was additionally on the similar time launching this system and I mentioned, Richard, I’ve bought a. Problem for you, let’s. See which faculty district reads essentially the most and can problem you for the subsequent six months. Let’s problem one another and guess what? We’re nonetheless #1, alright, retaining it on the put up.
Kevin Hogan
Now you talked about units as a part of that initiative and what I learn at cell units are a. Large a part of. As I discussed earlier than, we began recording we’re discovering in our protection over the previous a number of months that there’s just a little little bit of a blowback in relation to using cell units. Now, through the years, there’s all the time been form of a, a curve, proper, you recognize, the introduction of them, they’re going to be the best issues within the sliced bread. Then there have been bands after which they. They discovered purposes to carry them again in and that they have been optimistic after which it’s form of. Goes backwards and forwards. Current research that present the troubles about display screen time, the troubles about cybersecurity, the troubles about social media platforms and their impact on psychological well being have made a lot of districts, together with that baby proper to your S There Institute new machine insurance policies. That’s about it. They use the phrase financial institution. Which I feel is a reasonably excessive 1 and in my private opinion like good luck with. That’s making an attempt to bend regular units, however however it does should be form of studied and checked out like the place is your perspective in relation to these views. You clearly have seen some successes when it comes to the route after which when it comes to the Neighborhood involvement, however discuss just a little bit concerning the administration of these units and the way that. Works within the day-to-day District.
Dr. Raúl Maldonado
Kevin, I feel we have to differentiate between a cellphone and a tool, proper? And so in our college district, now we have many units in. We’re. Now 2 to 1, so 2 units per pupil and what which means the coed can take a Chromebook house or an iPad. And so after we speak about units. I feel as you talked about, many faculty districts at the moment are proscribing cell telephones. And So what occurs is what I’d prefer to say about that’s generally, you recognize, whether or not or not we prefer it, children like to make use of their cell telephones within the class. They’re listening to music. They’re chit chatting with their pals on TikTok or what have you ever. And to me, that’s one of many points as a result of they’re not being attentive to the trainer. And so if we will management it. We’re within the course of in Palmdale placing collectively a coverage as a result of, as you recognize, within the state of. California the governor gave approval on placing collectively insurance policies that may restrict or limit the utilization of the cellphone. And So what we are saying in Palmdale is we’re having conversations with each group, each faculty, and the way will we deal with that? And so for example, we’re testing we. Principally allowed certainly one of our center faculties to go forward and use what we name the pouches and these pouches as the youngsters are available on campus they usually put their cellphone within the pouch. However once more, the units, the digital units can be found within the class. Then they college students can also take a look at, as I mentioned, uh Chromebook, to take house to do their homework. You already know that each trainer, whether or not or not we prefer it, they’re assigning homework on line which college students have to have units to have the ability to full, and notably college students that I serve in poor communities. Within the internal metropolis, they wanted much more, and So what occurs is at this center faculty stage, we enable the scholars we truly require the scholars to place. Away their units. Children fought us at first. The mother and father fought us just a little bit. However you recognize what? Then again, we had quite a lot of mother and father come to us and say thanks. I don’t have my baby calling me each different minute. I forgot my lunch. I forgot my pencil was blinking to me. So we’ve seen a change within the tradition, and that’s intense. Nonetheless, the significance of the units continues to be there. We wish college students to make use of the most recent. All of our lecture rooms via this palm, the promised strategic plan, we made it very clear each class can have a Promethean board and I don’t know if you recognize what a Promethean board is, however it’s a panel massive TV the place children can write them. It’s what I name the brand new White Board or the blackboard, proper. And I began instructing. I’m outdated. It was a blackboard and now it’s a Promethean. I’m bored, however I’ll let you know, Kevin, through the pandemic, each single certainly one of my lecture rooms had a Promethean board. We have been prepared. We weren’t planning for a pandemic, no person was. No person knew that it was gonna occur, however when it did, guess what we have been prepared. Panda was prepared. Each classroom, each instructing surroundings. Had a Promethean board, we might discuss to the mother and father, talk with youngsters, and again then we have been one machine per baby. So the youngsters might get on-line. It’s it’s, we’ve added much more. We give out truly free computer systems which are, you recognize, two or three years outdated via our basis, we give these away to our households in the event that they want to have them. And so it’s modified the tradition fairly a bit. So it actually isn’t machine pushed. It’s extra of the administration of.
Kevin Hogan
The purposes which are on these units, the right I assume trainer coaching to to direct college students to one of the best content material and interplay.
Dr. Raúl Maldonado
And completely, as a result of once more the administration a part of it’s we handle what college students can go surfing to proper, whereas the cell telephones we we don’t handle that however any any pupil that will get on our system we we will look in and and we will block web sites we will do all. Of that however. One of many issues that we aren’t. 4 is making an attempt to dam a pupil’s entry to issues reminiscent of synthetic intelligence as a result of to me. We can not simply block college students from studying, you recognize, this got here up again when YouTube got here out, proper? And lecturers needed it. And we have been like, Oh my God, you recognize, we will’t have that now. All people has entry to it. And so it’s a studying curve. It’s one thing new. And AI may very well be used within the mistaken method, however it may be used very successfully. So long as we construct that capability with our lecturers, the understanding and the scholars use it. Good.
Kevin Hogan
Effectively, we bought via a dialog for nearly 10 minutes with out mentioning AI, in order that that may be a file for me this yr, specifically in training know-how and it form of bleeds into my subsequent query although, which is, you recognize, a fantastic description of the present state of play of Palmdale and and the historical past of what you’re doing. I’d prefer to wrap up these conversations. Guys asking what’s subsequent, what do you see arising in your horizon that you simply anticipate that you simply’ll be going to the board for both for approval or for integration for you recognize, a few of our readers and our listeners who’re possibly not as refined or progressive alone? The way in which that you’re.
Dr. Raúl Maldonado
Effectively, Crimson purple segue to the subsequent matter, however you recognize, we requested ourselves. So we spent 10 years implementing the promise and now I gathered my cupboard members and board and mentioned what would you love to do? And that is what all of them mentioned. Now we have to go into the promised 2.0. Like the subsequent step of that. And So what does that imply? Effectively, which means getting again along with all of our groups and discussing. Seeing what it’s that we wish to do within the subsequent 10 years round know-how, round curriculum, there are all the time challenges as a result of as we converse, you recognize now we have standardized assessments. There are necessities that now we have to adjust to. We all the time like to remain in Palmdale, we prefer to be aggressive. We wish to have the ability to compete with constitution faculties or a neighboring faculty. However I feel for the subsequent 10 years, we are going to sustain with know-how. I do know a few of the Promethean boards are getting outdated and now they’re ghost photos. Generally you get near the Promethean and it modifications the web site. So we’ve bought to verify we purchase the subsequent version of the Prometheans. In order that’s one method to proceed to coach our lecturers. We’ve quite a lot of new lecturers. Actually, I might say throughout the final 5 years, Kevin, about half of our instructing workers is both model new or pretty new. So that they all the time want all of that coaching. However I’ll say new lecturers are available and the very first thing they ask for is the place’s my Chromebook? The place’s my pc? The place is my Promethean? Board and they usually’re good at utilizing all of this know-how and establishing methods to speak with their grade ranges. It’s simply, you recognize, unbelievable. My suggestion: as you recognize, I’ve colleagues listening to me. Sure. When in a faculty district, you give you a plan. In some ways I’ve skilled this. You get in. You propose to do issues for the subsequent 5 years on the weekend and it doesn’t go wherever. Our strategic plan is alive. It’s shifting. That we’re consistently taking a look at it. So certainly one of my items of recommendation could be to take a seat down with the group and discover out particularly what they want to see in our faculties, you recognize, as a result of I can say 10 years in the past. Our faculties wanted some TLC. They wanted paint, they wanted repairs, and so we went to the group and. They supported us. And now I can brag. We’ve essentially the most stunning faculties with the most recent applied sciences, with nice applications, worldwide yard applications. We grew our twin immersion applications. I don’t know if you recognize what these are that we name them DI. Applications. OK, however DI applications are the place the scholars study 2 languages, and on this case Spanish and English half of the day is in Spanish and in English. So we began with one faculty and at this time I’m gonna brag. We’ve 4 faculties which have twin immersion applications who’re once more utilizing know-how in faculties at house and fogeys are very supportive, completely supportive. In order that’s form of the problem to take heed to the mother and father. And as you implement your strategic plan, do it with constancy. You already know, I can’t say we’re implementing the promise with out feeling proud. You may see my pin right here on the promise. I carry that all over the place. We’ve movies round it. We brag. Actually, now we have a morning. On the radio. Sorry, it doesn’t compete with yours. However we make most of the bulletins for the week on the radio present. We discuss concerning the applications. It’s simply been, you recognize, a kind of issues I’m blessed to be the chief within the faculty district and to know that I’ve lots of people following me and who consider in our strategic plan. And so once more, it’s been unbelievable.
Kevin Hogan
Effectively, congratulations for all of your successes. I used to say after I had children in class, after conversations like this, I might inform my spouse if we have to transfer to palm, to. I’m you. Faculties sound unbelievable, however you recognize. Over the, you recognize, the previous a number of years have been such a battle, however it sounds such as you’ve been resilient and going ahead and actually dealing day by day with so many alternative facets, together with the thought of utilizing know-how. Sit up for watching your additional successes and I hope we will comply with up later with different initiatives that you simply’re.
Dr. Raúl Maldonado
Oh, completely. Be glad to welcome you right here within the metropolis. Present you and tour you round our stunning campuses and most of the people that apply know the palm, the promise, they usually wish to work for the palm. The promise. However now we have some nice companions and I do know that you recognize about footsteps to brilliance. And when you have a look at the information for footsteps. Billions in Palmdale. We’re primary within the nation. As a result of literacy, early literacy, you recognize when the youngsters are infants all the best way to fifth grade is when we have to catch them. That’s the place you construct the behavior of studying. You already know that self-discipline to take a seat down and skim a guide, to be considering asking good questions. After which the creativeness to put in writing a guide is simply unbelievable, proper? Thanks a lot. You already know I’m right here for you. Anytime you name on me, I’m right here.
Kevin Hogan
And that’s all now we have for this month’s episode of Improvements and Schooling. Make sure you go as much as eschoolnews.com and add your identify to the subscription record when you. Wish to get it? This podcast each month when you’re not already doing so, make sure you go into our webinars the place now we have different conversations reminiscent of this speaking about a few of the high and most vital. Points that it’s worthwhile to study for the best way that you simply function your faculty districts. So thanks once more for listening. And have a fantastic day.
