The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) proudly presented high school diplomas yesterday to more than 100 SCOE high school students. The graduates were from multiple Community School and Senior Extension Program sites, as well as SCOE’s Juvenile Court School Program.
Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon commended the smiling graduates saying, “I believe education empowers, and our collective task is to prepare young people to be honorable citizens, contributors to our community, and—most of all—positive influencers throughout life.”
Sacramento County Board of Education President Paul Keefer and Board Trustee Mariana Corona Sabeniano helped the County Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent Jackie White in presenting the diplomas. A crowd of happy parents cheered as each student walked across the stage at the Sacramento Scottish Rite Center.
Superintendent Gordon emphasized SCOE’s role in empowering students by providing equitable access to learning. He also encouraged graduates to apply for a $1,000 Gary K. Hart Resiliency Scholarship, which helps students who have completed SCOE programs pursue higher education opportunities and vocational training beyond high school.
Tim Jemmott, from the HAWK Institute, a SCOE student mentoring partner, delivered the commencement address. He congratulated the graduates and offered them three pieces of advice for success in their lives after high school: “Trust the power within, trust the people who care, and don’t get distracted.”
Portraits were also taken of students after they received their diplomas and are being provided to them free of charge. (Graduates may contact their teacher for any questions about obtaining portraits.)
About the Community Schools Program and Senior Extension
Community schools provide an alternative education program for students, who may be referred by Sacramento County school districts, School Attendance Review Boards, or the Sacramento County Probation Department. Community schools provide core academics and interventions aligned with education standards, along with additional support, counseling, and the opportunity for career exploration and career technical education courses.
SCOE’s community school sites also serve as hubs for the Senior Extension Program, which re-engages students who are in jeopardy of dropping out of high school—or who have been out of school and want to return to complete their graduation requirements. The program involves a combination of independent study and classroom work. Students earn credits while still fulfilling work and family obligations—things that might otherwise have prevented them from completing their high school education. Senior Extension is offered at SCOE’s Colley, Hickey, and North Area Community School sites, as well as the Cordova Lane Center.