Walter Gloshinski, director of the "Rekindling Hopes and Dreams" program at Santa Rosa Middle School won top honors at the spring 2001 Jack London Awards for Educational Excellence given at Sonoma State University this week.
Gloshinski took a trophy back to his class of developmentally-disabled students for a program that he founded to help them learn independence and basic living skills to enable them to become contributing members of society. He supervises the students in running a to-go restaurant at the school, called Cafe 27, that serves local businesses. They also dust, clean and generally help out at a near-by thrift shop and food pantry.
The Santa Rosa Education Cooperative, a charter school, received the Jack London Special Award for Community-School Cooperation for its International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, the only one of its kind in the western United States. Director Ann Davis and the teaching staff won this special award for a strong international curriculum that emphasizes high standards, global citizenship and respect for diversity.
The school is strongly supported by a parent group that has already contributed over 13,000 hours of volunteer time. Teachers communicate with colleagues from all over the world, sharing ideas on the Internet.
Other nominees for this year's awards were: Adobe Creek Restoration Project, Coordinator Tom Furrer, Casa Grande High School; Around the World Night, Coordinator Mauri Wilber, Rincon Valley Middle School; Kindergarten in an Outdoor Classroom, Coordinator Sharon Janulaw, Marguerite Hahn Elementary School and the Sonoma County Book Project, Coordinator Diane Flohr, Marguerite Hahn Elementary School.
The Jack London Award for Excellence recognizes outstanding K-12 programs and individuals responsible for them. It is sponsored by Sonoma State University; the California Faculty Association; the California Teachers Association; Norman Knodt, Financial Network Investment Corp. and the Sonoma County Office of Education. SSU faculty and staff, as well as community and educational leaders, serve as judges for the awards program.
