The jobs that exist now are not going to be the same in the future, Orcutt Union School District Superintendent Dr. Holly Edds said.
“We’re always looking to the future and how we can improve our instruction here in the district because we do want to be responsive, we do want to have students ready for the next step,” Edds said. “For us, it’s about where we can go next and improve our systems.”
In order to better understand what practices the district can put in place to best prepare students for their next step in life, whether college or career, the district applied for and was accepted into the League of Innovative Schools—a national network of school districts that allows Orcutt to connect with other education leaders across 34 states. Orcutt Union is one of 150 school districts in the league.
Now that it’s in the network, Orcutt Union doesn’t have to reapply, but active participation is required. The league has two gatherings a year—with the first in Lindsay, California, and Edds will travel to Pittsburgh in March to “see innovative practices,” she said. Work groups meet virtually every month to discuss other topics like mental health systems and support for students along with career pathways.
“They took input on what types of groups do league members need, what are they grappling with, what are they struggling to address, and they can form work groups,” Edds said. “It’s really a very active [organization]. They listen, and it’s really about what’s going to serve us and our students the best.”
The district is now implementing a health care career pathway at Orcutt High School because of the increasing demand for health care workers. By partnering with A.T. Still University and Allan Hancock College, Orcutt Union is working to start new certificates or pathways that help students interested in the health care field have access to pertinent classes.
At the League of Innovative Schools, Orcutt Union is part of a computer science work group to look at teaching coding as early as kindergarten to implement other needed workforce skills earlier on.
“We don’t need to wait until junior high. … How can we start integrating skill sets at an early age to help serve them later in their educational career and later in their career?” Edds said.
The district’s just scratching the surface of learning opportunities, she added.
“I think a big part of it is networking and learning not only from other districts, but what is the business community looking for in their future employees, what’s happening in the industry to help inform our practices as an education system,” Edds said. “It informs what we do, but it also transforms training for teachers, which trickles down into students in the classroom.”
Highlights
• The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department announced its inaugural NFL Youth Flag Football League. The recreational program is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 14 and offers a fun and inclusive environment for young athletes to develop football skills, learn teamwork, and enjoy the game in a non-contact format. The league will run from Dec. 7 to Feb. 1 at local city parks. The league will feature three divisions based on age: 8- and 9-year-olds; 10 and 11; and 12 through 14. If sufficient registrations allow, separate divisions for boys and girls will be offered; otherwise the teams will be coed. All skill levels are welcome. The Recreation and Parks Department is also seeking volunteer coaches to support the league, with coaching incentives offered. To register, the cost is $42 for city residents or $53 for non-city residents; the deadline is Oct. 31. Each participant will receive an official NFL Youth Flag Football jersey and flags. Visit www.cityofsantamaria.org/register to sign up and call (805) 925-0951, Ext. 2260, if interested in coaching.
• Youthwell, a Santa Barbara County nonprofit that provides mental health education, prevention, and early support programs for families, is hosting LGBTQIA+ 101, a virtual workshop designed for parents of LGBTQ-plus youth. On Nov. 3 from 5 to 6:30 p.m., therapists Kai Krupa and Jenny Ziesenhen will guide parents through conversations around gender, sexuality, and inclusivity. Through a supportive and informative setting, the Zoom session aims to empower parents with tools to communicate with their children from a place of love and understanding. Krupa and Ziesenhen will offer insight into the complexities of gender and sexuality as well as the historical context of LGBTQ-plus identities. Registration is required as space is limited. Visit youthwell.org to register and contact groups@youthwell.org or call (805) 770-1239 with any questions.
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 24 – Nov 3, 2024.