Lincoln English Teacher is Summer Scholar with National Endowment for the Humanities

Gina M. Jackson, English teacher at Lincoln High School/Center for the Arts, has been selected as a 2012 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Scholar.

Chosen from a national applicant pool, Jackson will participate in “The Most Southern Place on Earth: Music, History and Culture of the Mississippi Delta,” where she will perform extensive research with cultural experts on the rich history and musical origin of this territory.

“It is an honor to have been chosen and be able to continuously incorporate the arts, culture and research into my daily work,” said Jackson.

An educator for more than 10 years, Jackson holds a B.A. in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University, an M.A. in African American Studies from Clark Atlanta University, and an M.Ed./Preliminary Administrative Credential from National University.

Jackson is also active in San Diego’s arts and culture community. Her past and current Board affiliations include La Jolla Playhouse Partners; City of San Diego Horton Plaza Theatres Foundation; Young Audiences of San Diego; African American Council/San Diego Repertory Theatre; Friends of San Diego Public Library; Pazzaz, Inc. and San Diego Educational Theatre Association.

She serves as a Script Evaluator for Playwrights Project and a Grant Reader for the City of San Diego Arts and Culture Commission. Miss Jackson also works with diverse arts and educational projects/programs throughout Southern California and the country.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans.

IN THE NEWS: Rotarians award $150,000 to La Jolla graduates

The Rotary Club of La Jolla awarded $150,000 in college scholarships to 22 graduating La Jolla High School seniors during its May 22 luncheon at the La Valencia Hotel. Read more from the La Jolla Light»

Adams Elementary Hosts New SDSU President

Dr. Elliot Hirshmann, president of San Diego State University, recently hosted the Parent Institute for Quality Education graduation ceremony at Adams Elementary School in Normal Heights.

The Institute's Parent Engagement Education program is a nine-week class for parents and guardians that helps them foster a positive educational environment for kids at home and at school.

Adams Principal Derek Murchison said the campus was thrilled to have Dr. Hirshmann visit and meet the school's parents.

"We work on encouraging our students to go from Adams to Aztecs," said Murchison. "Dr. Hirshmann shared some wonderful stories about the importance of parent involvement.

"He encouraged all of our students to work hard so they can attend the college of their choice."

The Parent Engagement program gives parents tips such as setting up a study location for their kids, setting a specific time for study and homework and creating an open dialogue with their children.

For more information, contact Murchison at 619-284-1158.

IN THE NEWS: School board honors program inspired by Jewish pioneer

The San Diego Unified School District board voted unanimously Tuesday, June 5, to congratulate five USD students and their professor for a volunteer program to teach the German language to elementary school students who are part of a sister-school program inspired by San Diego’s pioneer Jewish settler Louis Rose at Cabrillo Elementary School. Read more from San Diego Jewish World»

From the Superintendent: Thoughts on the End of the School Year

Supt. Kowba

Tuesday, June 12, marks the last day of instruction for the traditional school year.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude for everyone’s hard work and dedication during a year of solid cluster development, sobering budget cuts, and collaborative sacrifices. You have stayed the course and continued to make our students the top priority. The wonderful teaming of staff, students, and parents is reflected in a solid trend of academic excellence.

Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2012, their parents and families. More than 7,000 seniors from the district’s 31 high schools will be attending their commencement ceremonies next Monday and Tuesday. We are proud of your achievements and wish you the very best in all future endeavors.

I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the administrators, certificated staff and classified employees who are retiring or leaving the district. Thank you for your countless years of service, loyalty, and commitment to public education. We will miss your expertise and experience and wish you well.

For those who will open our classrooms at the start of the new school year, we appreciate your steadfast focus on service to others and dedication to a job well done. In this incessantly resource-limited environment, we will go forward with a shared vision for student well-being and success. Please remember, the first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 4.

Again, thank you for all that you do for our students.

Sincerely,
Bill Kowba

Observe Teen Curfew, Driving Rules This Summer

Curfew and driving laws in the State of California and the City of San Diego can affect teens' time off and should be known by students and their parents, according to San Diego Unified's School Police Chief.

"Curfew enforcement is intended to protect children from dangerous circumstances and people," said Rueben Littlejohn, interim police chief. "While it may be an inconvenience, it's important to make sure at home when the curfew starts at 10 p.m."

As teens have more free time during the summer, it means they have more opportunities to run afoul of these laws, which also include restrictions on teen drivers. The rules are enforced by the San Diego Police Department, California Highway Patrol and other local police agencies. A conviction can put a mark on a young person's record that might otherwise be clean, he said.

"The regulations also have sections with that affect parents," he said. "A teen who breaks the law may face punishment -- and so can their parents."

More information on the local laws

• City of San Diego curfew» Parents  Teens
  
• California teen driver laws» Teens and Parents
  

Lincoln High Completes 31-Hour Whirlwind Legislative Expedition

Lincoln High School students, teachers, parents, and community members joined the California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for the Annual Legislative Day at the State Capitol on May 21. The students advocated and lobbied California lawmakers on three pieces of legislation supported by the NAACP, the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization.


The Lincoln High community partnered with other Californians to learn about and advocate for passage of civil rights history education (AB 580), drug possession misdemeanor (SB 1506) and limiting education budge cuts in the 2012-13 budget bill. The Lincoln lobbying team met face-to-face with legislators and discussed the importance of the Civil Rights Movement in the lives of all Californians, and how we need to foster better understanding of the complexity of racial, social, economic and political challenges faced by citizens of our state by including the histories of our civil rights struggles in state curriculum (AB 580).

The San Diego contingent impressed upon lawmakers that only 6% of California’s population is African American, however 17% of felony drug arrests--19% of which are high school-aged students--are African Americans. To reduce the costs of incarceration in a time of austere state budgets, the NAACP supports making illegal drug possession intended for personal use a misdemeanor, with drug counseling over incarceration (SB1506).

Lincoln students began their lobbying journey aboard the NAACP-sponsored bus from Malcom X Library on Sunday night, May 20 and returned Tuesday, May 22 at 3 a.m., completing a 31-hour whirlwind legislative expedition.

“The experience was worth my time because we got to talk with legislators about bills that sometimes they may pay little attention to” said Octavio Guzman, 9th grade student, Lincoln High School Center for Social Justice.

For more information, contact Lincoln High teachers, Precious Hubbard-Jackson at pjackson@sandi.net; or Danny Blas at dblas@sandi.net.