Tulare County Office of Education

2004 Partners

Family Health Care Network

Nominated by: Visalia Unified School District

Family Health Care Network and Ruben Chavez have been involved for the past five years in the mentor program for the Health Careers Academy at Golden West High School. For each of those years, he has worked with one or two students as a friend, role model and career advisor. Family Health Care Network allows students to job shadow him, visits them in their classrooms, and enjoys out-of school activities with them.

Cathie Anderson
Store Manager, K-Mart Stores, Visalia

Nominated by: Services for Education and Employment

Cathie and K-Mart have fully supported youth internship programs. Cathie and K-Mart supervisors always work on ways to help students succeed. Cathie has often mentioned that some of her permanent employees learn from interns. Cathie is enthusiastic about youth programs and is very appreciative that they are partners in helping young people in the community develop skills they can use the rest of their lives.

John Avila
Store Manager, Save Mart Supermarket, Tulare

Nominated by: Sylvia Valencia, Tulare Joint Union High School District

Save Mart Supermarket in Tulare has worked to meet the special needs of students in the Tulare-based Workability Program. John patiently worked through store issues and personally helped the Workability Program get started with Save Mart, Tulare. During the last three years, John has supported the program by placing and supervising students into permanent positions at the store. John can always be counted on to publicize and acknowledge student success in the Workability Program.

Natalie Lara
Woodlake High School

Nominated by: Staff of Woodlake High School

Co-workers and others categorize Natalie as the most positive person they have ever met. Natalie is able to work with students and adults in a manner that makes everyone feel that they are part of a special experience. As a local community member, Natalie uses her connections to link Woodlake High School students to businesses in the area. Natalie often works long past her regular duty day to insure that students are getting the most from their work related experiences.

Ed and Holly Kuykendall

Nominated by: Tulare County Youth Coalition

Over the past 10 years, Ed and Holly Kuykendall have worked countless hours in support of youth programming throughout Tulare County. Their volunteer hours on behalf of Rotary and Big Brother/Big Sisters have left a lasting impression on programs and students from across the county. Most recently, both Ed and Holly have worked with friends to establish the Genesis Project, a project specifically designed to educate the general public on the implications and reality of early brain development in young children.

Hilti Inc.

Nominated by: Services for Education and Employment

Hilti Inc. has been in partnership with the SEE Youth program for over three years. They hire and provide our youth with employment opportunities in warehouse/distribution occupation. Hilti makes youth feel special by involving them in company sponsored staff development, team building, and mediation while they are on internship. By doing this, it motivates our youth to want to strive higher so he/she can become part of their team.

Jackie Elliot

Nominated by: Golden West High School Health Careers Academy

Jackie Elliot has been a mentor for the Golden West High School Health Careers Academy from its beginning, over six years ago. She adopts students with the lowest grades and poorest home life, and makes these students shine. Jackie finds places for them to job shadow, she takes them to lunch, she pushes them to do well in school, and she involves them in community events. She is truly an advocate for the underprivileged and underachieving student.

David Moe
City of Tulare

Nominated by: Jeanine Fontana, Tulare Union High School

David, Tulare Union High School wants to thank you for going, "above and beyond the call of duty". David has involved his student intern in City Council meetings, mentored him through complicated budget projects, talked about college, and involved him in the entire redevelopment process, starting with the private citizen and ending with the actual release of funds. One can make a difference.

Brian Kempf
Urban Tree Foundation

Nominated by: Tulare County Office of Education/SEE Youth Program

During the spring semester of 2003, it became imperative to seek an employer who would be willing to not only provide a work experience site, but also promote a service-learning environment to youth. In addition to these demands, we were hoping this same employer could become a mentor to a population that required close supervision. Brian expressed his willingness and commitment to be "all things to all of our students!" His teaching style is one that benefits students who have difficulties learning. He is known for making students a part of his home. Students often remark that their experiences with Brian are memorable and have made a difference in their lives.

Linwood Gardens and Westgate Gardens

Nominated by: Tulare County Organization for Vocational Education

The Tulare County Organization for Vocational Education, Regional Occupation Program (TCOVE ROP), has partnered with Horizon West, parent company for both Linwood and Westgate Gardens for a number of years. Linwood Gardens, under the administration of Mr. Bob Barker, and Westgate Gardens, under the administration of Mr. Ralph Angello, provide community classroom, on-site clinical training opportunities for high school students from Visalia Unified School District's Mt. Whitney High School TCOVE ROP Nursing Assistant program. Both of these facilities and their staff understand the need for community partners and have developed and maintained a partnership with VUSD and TCOVE for many years.

Tulare County Federal Credit Union

Nominated by: Business Education Committee, Porterville Chamber of Commerce and Tulare Chamber of Commerce

The Tulare County Federal Credit Union serves the youth of this area through the schools and cooperatively with the Porterville and Tulare Chambers of Commerce. Their employees and Board members serve on School-to-Career and Chamber Committees to prepare students for the world of work providing both financial and personal support. Projects include: Cool Night-South, College Nights, Chem-Free Grad Night, School Administrator for a Day, student job interview practice sessions, New Teachers Orientation Luncheon, Children's Activity Area at the Sierra Music Fest and Iris Festival, and the Future Business Leaders of America competitive events conference. The Credit Union also provides educational resources on fiscal management and responsibility, skills necessary for successful careers.

Justin Mosley
Bothof's Bakery

Nominated by: Mt. Whitney High School

Justin has been a supporter of the youth/employment programs here at Mt. Whitney High School. Justin has gone out of his way many times to focus on student education by being a member of the VUSD Business Advisory Committee. Over the last several years, Justin has sponsored many of our students at recognition luncheons given by his Downtown Rotary group. Justin is deeply committed to helping develop business skills in today's youth.

Mike Auchter
Teter and Associates

Nominated by: Redwood High School Architecture & Industry Academy

Mike has arranged for speakers to come into Academy classes and speak to students. He recruited and organized more than 12 of his peers to share information with our students about their educational journey in becoming an Engineer as well as what was involved in the day to day details of their careers. Mike has shown a concern and interest for the students in the Academy by personally being involved as a mentor and by making arrangements with his peers to come and speak to our students.

Doug Lawrence
ReMax Real Estate

Nominated by: Golden West High School

Doug Lawrence has been a tremendous help to the Golden West High School Business Finance Academy and the ROP Virtual Enterprise class. He has served as a mentor to our junior students and has offered a great deal of technical support and business expertise to our Virtual Enterprise students. He is inspirational, motivating, and good-hearted. The students enjoy his visits and rely on his expertise. He has made these students a priority and it is with great appreciation that we recognize Doug Lawrence for his service.

Alicia Sisneros

Nominated by: Tulare County Youth Coalition

Alicia is a member of the Tulare County Youth Coalition and is the founding Executive Director of the Farmersville Youth Center. Alicia has been recognized by both the City of Farmerville and the Farmersville School District for her unselfish efforts to promote the needs of youth throughout Farmersville and the county of Tulare. The rapidly growing program has recently secured new facilities, acquiring a former church building. Alicia has accepted the challenge to develop this innovative program and, although employed only part-time (because of funding), she regularly works hours far in excess of her pay, determined to create new and needed learning opportunities for the young people of Farmersville.

Porterville Breakfast Lions

Nominated by: Porterville Chamber of Commerce

The Porterville Breakfast Lions have been major supporters of educational activities for youth in the local area for a number of years. The Porterville Breakfast Lions support local grade schools, middle schools, high schools and Porterville College with scholarships and donations. Highlights of their efforts include: The Chem Free Grad Party; transportation to the Tulare County College Night; Student Speaker Contest; Academic Decathlon and many more educational and career related events. They are a community service organization that truly cares about youth and education in our community.

Gail Johnson

Nominated by: Tulare County Youth Coalition

Gail is the founder of Partners for Youth Vision. Youth Vision is the first drop-in center for homeless youth developed in Tulare County. The program provides support services that include counseling, vocational assessment, job placement, and most importantly, a safe haven for youth released from Foster Care services or family because of age or circumstance. As founder of this important outreach program, Gail brings her extensive experience working with youth, having worked in Tulare County Drug Court. She is a member of the Tulare County Youth Coalition and is frequently called upon to advise both established and emerging youth programs.

Target Stores, Porterville

Nominated by: Porterville Chamber of Commerce

Paul Tuttle as General Manager has the overall responsibility for the character, appearance, and good will of the Target Store in Porterville. While our nomination is for the store, it is Target's manager who has provided the leadership. The Porterville Target Store supports numerous educational, sports and service projects through significant purchase discounts, financial awards and personal support to various youth sports teams and activities. This past year, Target was the recipient of the Porterville Excellence in Business Award to honor its commitment to the community and its youth.

Dave Workman and Carol Bennett
Sierra View District Hospital

Nominated by: Porterville Adult School

Sierra View District Hospital (SVDH) Laboratory provides students from Porterville Adult School with a training ground that is, in PAS's opinion, unsurpassed by any other. Both Dave Workman and Carol Bennett are readily available to offer assistance to students and PAS whenever needed. Without their assistance and unwavering cooperation, the Phlebotomy program at PAS might not be possible. Because of the State of California's new regulations for laboratory and clinical phlebotomists and certification requirements, it is necessary to have a participating laboratory to provide an arena for clinical training and SVDH Laboratory strives to surpass expectations and qualifications.

Tulare Community Health Clinic, Inc.

Nominated by: Marie Pinto and Steven Holdridge, Tulare Joint Union High School District

The staff at Tulare Community Health Clinic really goes above and beyond to welcome all students from Tulare Adult and Tech Prep Health Careers Academy. In fact, Graciela Soto, the CEO of the clinic, actually started her career within the health care industry as a student in the TCOVE Nurse Assistant Program back in 1994. With the overall staffing shortage within the entire health care industry, the rapid changes in medicine, and demands of the patients and doctors, working within the health care industry is very challenging. Yet, Graciela and her staff still find the time to assist in the training of our students and believe we can still provide quality patient care!

Barrie Dugan
City of Tulare

Nominated by: Tulare Coordinating Council

For the past 16 years, Barrie has been actively involved in developing youth service programs for the City of Tulare. Her early commitment to the inclusion of youth as part of the process was demonstrated by her insistence that the City of Tulare develop a master plan for youth development and recreation. As a result, the "Youth Master Plan" was developed and the City has included "teen" representation on all City boards and committee's ever since. The idea of becoming involved in recreation came early to Barrie. As a 9-year-old, she saw a TV movie, "O Susanna" (probably in black and white), depicting the life of a recreation supervisor on an ocean liner. It was not until some 40 years later that she experienced her first cruise, but fortunately for Tulare she stayed with recreation.

Randy Wallace, Project Director
phone: (559) 733-6101
fax: (559) 737-4378

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