BILL CIRONE

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This quote from Maimonides captures the true spirit of what we try to do in our public schools—teaching children from all walks of life the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need […]

Like millions of people around the world, I watched TV coverage of the chaos and carnage in Paris with growing revulsion and dread. My heart went out to the victims and family members of those so profoundly affected by such barbarism and terror. In a thoughtful Time magazine article on the impact of tragedies on […]

The idea is not new. Several years ago major corporate employers rated the five employee traits that are most and least important to them.  The highest rankings were all “work ethic” items: arriving on time, not stealing, putting in a full day’s work, being reliable. Interestingly, the lowest-rated items were academic pedigree, knowledge, and experience.  […]

August can be marked by a number of things: one last family vacation, perhaps; close-out deals on patio furniture; and Major League Baseball playoff races that are just beginning to heat up. For educators and families with school-aged children, August also means “back to school.” Indeed, by the time this hits the press, many of […]

Children don’t arrive with instructions for care. What’s more, they are all different, so even if we figure out how to handle certain situations with one of our children, the next one may veer off in a completely different direction. In short, parenting can be challenging. Here are five very common parenting challenges, with suggestions […]

So much of what makes our country great has been in short supply in recent years. Politics as the art of compromise is long gone. Civility in public discourse has almost disappeared. Respect for the scientific method, and the supremacy of facts over feelings, is no longer abided. We choose our own news channels according […]

Some children get excited about a new school year beginning, while others seem to dread the end of summer vacation. Either way, parents have an important role in preparing children for a smooth start of the school routine. There is a requirement for a whooping cough vaccine booster, “Tdap,” for seventh- through 12th-graders. Older children […]

Many parents worry about their children experimenting with drugs, but very few parents know the warning signs that could indicate a child is actually abusing or addicted to drugs. It is powerful and important information. Addiction can ruin a child’s life, and it can also ruin the trust that is so necessary for a family […]

The death of Maggie Espinoza on Feb. 13 leaves a deep hole in the hearts of those who have served children and families throughout Santa Barbara County through the Community Action Commission’s Head Start program for the past 40 years. Maggie was a true community hero in every sense of the word. As someone who […]

The death of Maggie Espinoza on Feb. 13 leaves a deep hole in the hearts of those who have served children and families throughout Santa Barbara County through the Community Action Commission’s Head Start program for the past 40 years. Maggie was a true community hero in every sense of the word. As someone who […]

A few weeks ago, we publicly thanked the Orfalea Foundation for its 12-year support of school nutrition programs countywide. With one year wound down and a new year beginning, it is a fitting time to say thanks on behalf of our public schools to all the business and community members who supported our local classrooms […]

In third grade, “Maria” was doing so poorly in school that she was at risk of dropping out. By the end of fourth grade, she was a top student who was working above her grade level. What made the difference? Many factors, and many people, were essential to the transformation, but one event stood out: […]