1. EDUCATION
2. WORKING FAMILIES
3. SAFETY
4. QUALITY OF LIFE
5. ENVIRONMENT
6. GOOD GOVERNMENT
   
   

1. EDUCATION

Children are our future, and the education we provide our children will be critical to their success. Supervisor Church is a strong advocate of public education, and has led the effort to improve math and science curriculum in county schools.

Advocate for Universal Pre-School

Supervisor Church is a strong advocate for universal pre-school, which aims at ensuring that all children enter kindergarten prepared and ready to learn. Supervisor Church voted to provide funding that helped bring universal pre-school to San Mateo County.

Initiated Math and Science Program

Concerned that local students were not being prepared for science and technology careers, Supervisor Church convened a working group of professionals from education, industry and government to brainstorm forward-thinking solutions. One result was the Math and Science Program, whose Innovation Fund awards grants to fifth- and sixth-grade math and science teachers who develop the most innovative and interesting class curriculum. Emphasis is placed on hands-on and participatory curriculum, and funding is provided by private industry in partnership with government.

Helped Create Teacher Development Program for Elementary and Middle School Teachers

Recognizing that many elementary- and middle-school teachers have little science training, the Math and Science Work Group helped create a program to bolster these teachers’ science skills. County government has partnered with the County Office of Education and Canada College to create a teacher development program. This program, beginning Fall 2008, will bolster teachers’ science skills by training them in the latest teaching techniques and most current scientific knowledge.

Secured Funding to Train High School Science Teachers

Supervisor Church secured ongoing funding to send local high school science teachers to
Stanford University’s summer program for professional development.  This program is designed to refresh skills, provide hands-on research experience, and re-excite teachers about training our next generation of scientists and engineers.

Provided Housing for Former Foster Children

Supervisor Church initiated the drive to covert an apartment building in South San Francisco into transitional housing for young adults who have “aged out” of the county’s foster care system. In addition to housing, this project provides an on-site adviser to provide guidance and teach independent living skills to this at-risk population. The county currently cares for more than 400 children who have been removed from their families and placed in foster homes. Nationally, about half of foster children end up homeless in the year after they turn 18, and leave the foster care system. Supervisor Church has made a priority of supporting these vulnerable youths.

Created Education Liaison to Involve Community

Building upon the success of the Math and Science Work Group, Supervisor Church created a full-time Education Liaison position to support ongoing community collaboration on education. The Education Liaison brings together county government, educators, business and labor to evaluate programs, strategize and raise funding. In this way the entire community has a hand in ensuring that students are being prepared to thrive in higher education and today’s workforce.

Initiated new Teen Leader Reader program

Focusing on the need to improve reading levels in the early elementary grades, this new program, developed in conjunction with the County Office of Education and the County Library System, pairs high school teens with second, third and fourth grade students in regular mentor reading efforts.  Teens receive community service hours and young students are given added reading exposure and experience.