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SCHOOL JOURNAL

BUSINESS, COMMUNITY LEADERS GREET TEACHERS, REINFORCE PARTNERSHIPS

Connection Staff
September 2007

A group of Emeryville business and civic leaders greeted teachers and staff to Emery at a special welcoming meeting on Thursday August 23rd, at the Emery Theater, at the last day of teacher orientation. Teachers and staff of both Emery schools attended the meeting.

The panel members included Emeryville Mayor Nora Davis, EUSD Board President Melodi Dice, Rich Robbins of Wareham Properties, John Gooding, President of the Emery Ed Fund, and Dianne Rush Woods, an Emeryville resident and Cal State East Bay faculty member.

Mayor Nora Davis began by greeting all of the teachers and staff at the packed house. Mayor Davis – a long-time supporter of the Emery Schools – reiterated the critical role the Emery Schools play in the life and identity of Emeryville. The Mayor reminded everyone that as she has previously stated at City Council sessions, the only way Emeryville’s various housing incentive programs will be successful in attracting families with children will be if we can offer those families a strong public school system, and she is committed to helping achieve that goal.

Rich Robbins of Wareham Properties, who has long been in the forefront of changing the face of Emeryville both as a developer and philanthropist, told the staff that he is absolutely convinced of the need for a strong after school programs, and then demonstrated his commitment with a $25,000 pledge to those programs. Robbins told the teachers and staff that “…you are in the trenches, doing the hard work day after day, and my hat is off to you.” Robbins stated that Emeryville businesses support the Emery schools, and we have high expectations of our students and teachers this coming school year.

Diane Rush-Woods, who has a PhD in social work; related how guidance from her teachers when she was a young student helped set her on the right path to a life of educational and professional achievement, and that indeed Emery teachers can have the same impact on the lives of their students.

John Gooding, President of the Emery Ed Fund, related a bit of the history of the schools and the Ed Fund’s long record of support. In its first year of existence, 1996, the Emery Ed Fund raised $25,000. In 2007 that amount has grown to over $1,000,000. As an additional way to signal the Ed Fund’s support, all new Emery teachers received a $250 check from the Ed Fund to spend as they choose.

Gooding further related that the District’s strong school-business-city partnership has caught the attention of legislative leaders from Washington, DC to Sacramento, who ask “how have you done this?” during joint EUSD/City/business leader legislative trips. Gooding then introduced Saundra Andrews, Director of Constituent Services for Representative Barbara Lee. He noted that Ms. Andrews’ presence at the meeting demonstrated Rep. Lee’s strong interest in and support for the Emery schools.

Melodi Dice, currently the President of the EUSD Board of Trustees then stood before the teachers and staff and offered herself as a living example of how caring and committed teachers and mentors can literally change the direction of a young person’s life. Dice is a graduate of the Emery Schools; received a scholarship from Chiron (now Novartis), graduated from college; and is now an Emeryville homeowner. She was approached to run for the school Board and has successfully done so. She stated that “I can just do what I thoroughly enjoy I can be a living example to the students of what they can do if they really want.”

The day ended with a standing ovation from the Emery teachers and staff, perhaps a fitting tribute symbolizing the strong and supportive relationship among the school, business, civic and government leadership.