WIXLIB

2020ANNUALREPORT

LETTER FROM THESUPERINTENDENTDEAR COMMUNITY MEMBERS,This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Eden Area Regional OccupationalProgram (EAROP). It is with gratitude and an understanding of the importance ofcommunity that I write this letter. For the last 50 years, EAROP has been educating “essential employees” for our community. It is estimated that approximately200,000 high school students have taken ROP courses.Our alumni work throughout the cities of Castro Valley, Hayward, San Leandro, SanLorenzo, and beyond. EAROP students have entered the workforce and foundcareers in a variety of fields including public safety, medicine, dentistry, business,education, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and the arts.Our community partnerships are what make this all possible. The school districtshave supported EAROP and have entrusted their students to us. The Chabot-LasPositas Community College District provides pathways for students to completejob training, certificates, AA degrees, and transition to 4 year universities. Thechambers of commerce help us promote work-based learning opportunities tothe regional business community and continue to be our biggest advocates of ourmission to support local workforce development. Businesses provide work-basedlearning opportunities and come into the classrooms as guest speakers. They provide internships, scholarships, apprenticeships, and eventually employment.When I reflect on the last 50 years, I am grateful for the early visionaries whoestablished EAROP as one of the first ROPs in the state. I am thankful for all thosein our community who have continued to support and help build an outstandingprogram over the years. I am grateful to the teachers who have worked directlywith our students and the alumni themselves for making the dream a reality asthey stepped into our community as adults.It is evident that the success of our past, and of our future, is deeply rooted in thestrength of our relationships. Thank you for an amazing 50 years of partnership.LINDA GRANGERSuperintendent

ABOUTUS4 DISTRICTSSERVED150 CLASSES13 INDUSTRYSECTORS4,500 STUDENTSRegional Occupational Programs (ROPs) areone of the longest standing forms of postsecondary career preparedness in California.Eden Area ROP is a dynamic educationalorganization whose mission is to preparestudents for careers and further educationas well as to instill workplace values that willenable them to compete successfully in theeconomy of today and the future.CASTRO VALLEY UNIFIEDSCHOOL DISTRICTHAYWARD UNIFIEDSCHOOL DISTRICTSAN LEANDROSCHOOL DISTRICTSAN LORENZO UNIFIEDSCHOOL DISTRICTWe specialize in Career Technical Education(CTE) that transforms student aspirationsinto reality and builds a pipeline of workforcetalent for regional businesses. Experience isthe greatest teacher at Eden Area ROP. Ourprograms focus on industry-specific skills thatspan across 13 different business sectors, withcourses located at both the ROP Center andthe student’s high school campus.Many of our courses are UC a-g approved,and have articulation agreements withcommunity colleges where students can earncollege credit through successful completionof the course. Additionally, we cultivaterelationships with business partners thatcreate opportunities for internships and otherinnovative work-based learning activities.Eden Area ROP is accredited by the WesternAssociation of Schools and Colleges. Asa Career Technical Education provider,Eden Area ROP partners with Castro Valley,Hayward, San Leandro, and San LorenzoUnified School Districts to strengthen andbroaden the students’ educational experience.4

BUSINESSPARTNERSHIPSBusiness partnerships provide the sinewbetween career development classes andthe world of work. Businesses advise oncurriculum and industry standards, act asguest speakers, host interns, and makelearning real for students in a myriad of ways.Nearly 800 businesses contributed their timeto support our students last year. Amongthem, several stood out as partners who havegone above and beyond for our students andwere identified by staff and Chamber partnersas Business Partners of the Year.Beli Acharya and Kirsten Cross are with the ConstructionTrades Workforce Initiative and have been integralpartners in the design, strategy and recruitmentplanning of San Leandro Unified School District’s PreApprenticeship program. This partnership increasedthe number of work-based learning opportunities forstudents. Ms. Acharya and Ms. Cross have also providedprofessional development for counselors, teachers, andcollege and career coordinators. They were a majorcontributor in support of the virtual summer tradesprogram.Beli Acharya and Kirsten CrossConstruction TradesWorkforce InitiativeChris Berilla is a Project Manager with AECOM andhe began working with the Eden Area ROP when hejoined the Engineering Advisory Board. He is verywilling to give of his time and share resources. Mr. Berillahas been a guest speaker and was a key player in thetelephone interview project for a TREND class. He aidedin recruiting 18 engineers from the Bay Area to signon and talk to the engineering students. Mr. Berilla hasbeen instrumental as he continues to recruit additionaladvisors for the Engineering program.Chris BerillaAECOMMary Bradd works with United Seniors of Oaklandand Alameda County. She has hosted HaBit pathwaystudents for the last several years. She has been asupportive partner in helping Castro Valley studentslearn to care for seniors, work on activities at thefacilities, and has helped students develop the emotionalskills necessary to work in senior care environments. Ms.Bradd’s program has allowed our students to apply theskills they are learning in the Medical Careers coursesand benefit from the experiences provided by UnitedSeniors of Oakland and Alameda.Mary BraddUnited Seniors ofOakland and Alameda5

Rodan FieldsElisabeth Charles has been sharing her experience as abusiness consultant with the Entrepreneurship programat Hayward High School for 17 years. Ms. Charles hassupported worked-based learning as a guest speaker,judged DECA and NFTE competitions and providesvaluable coaching and mentoring opportunities forstudents. The students learn about the exciting eventsshe has been involved with including the Super Bowl,the Oscars, and the US Open. Ms. Charles provideschallenges for the students to complete before her visitto be followed by engaging feedback that validates thestudents’ ideas. She has also been a fantastic role modelfor the students.Adam HelwehSecret SushiAdam Helweh is the Digital Marketing CEO and founderof Secret Sushi. Mr. Helweh brought his unique talents tothe Entrepreneurship classes and challenged studentsto unpack and explore the benefits and obstaclesassociated with being an entrepreneur. Mr. Helwehhas spent many days at Tennyson and Mt. Eden HighSchools engaging students in a variety of work-basedlearning activities. He also volunteered to launch a ZoomSpeaker Series during the shelter in place last Springwhich included all the Eden Area ROP partner districts.Elisabeth CharlesKen Hugen of the RDO/Vermeer Equipment Companysupports the Eden Area ROP Construction Technologyprogram. He consistently supports youth by providingthem with professional development including workethics, character development, citizenship and careerpreparedness. Mr. Hugen serves on the Eden AreaROP Construction Technology Advisory Board andhas provided critical program input for 5 years. He hasprovided support with material donations and industryrelated student training. He stands ready at all times torespond to program / student needs. Eden Area ROPConstruction remains both appreciative and fortunate tohave the support of Ken Hugen and RDO Equipment.Ken HugenRDO/Vermeer Equipment CompanyMarlon Medina and Ben Shell from PPG Auto Paintsupport the Eden Area ROP Automotive Collision &Refinishing program. When California increased airregulations, body shops switched to water based paints.Mr. Medina and Mr. Shell donated thousands of dollarsin paint and tools to ensure the school facility wascompliant. They have provided certification classes tothe Instructor and have set up networking opportunitieswith vendors and body shops in the area which resultedin lower instructional costs for classroom materials. Mr.Shell also plays a very active role on the Eden Area ROPAutomotive Collision Advisory Board.Marlon Medina and Ben ShellPPG Auto Paint6

Robert McManus served as a San Leandro police officerand has been supporting Marketing Economics studentsat Arroyo High School for ten years. He brings a uniqueunderstanding of the business aspect of policingto the classroom. Mr. McManus has taught 100s ofstudents about the different dynamics of Governmentagencies and has been an Advisor for the Marketingand Entrepreneurship Advisory Board for 5 years. Heprovides students with a network of professionals whomentor and hire students. Mr. McManus has also helpedArroyo DECA with its competition prep sessions afterschool. He is a former DECA alumni as well.Robert McManusSan Leandro PoliceJeff Roberts is the Head Athletic Trainer and a Professorat Ohlone College. He has been supporting the SportsMedicine program at Mt. Eden High School as a guestspeaker. Mr. Roberts provides real-world experiencesand situations in Sports Medicine for students toconsider, evaluate and solve. He is uniquely positionedto guide the Mount Eden students through the manyprograms available to future medical professionals.He has consistently given his invaluable time andconsiderable experience to further the opportunitiesavailable to students. Mr. Roberts is also on the EdenArea Regional Occupational Program’s BusinessAdvisory Board.Jeff RobertsOhlone CollegeMelinda Sciandri is the Executive Director of theSouthern Alameda County Dental Society. She hasconsistently supported the Eden Area ROP DentalAssisting program. Ms. Sciandri has provided studentsa variety of volunteer opportunities which have helpedthem develop their professional skills. She has askedEAROP Dental Assisting students to participate inprograms like Give Kids a Smile and the East Bay StandDown which provide dental care services to communitymembers. Ms. Sciandri has helped promote the EAROPprogram and has supported student recruitment.Melinda SciandriSouthern Alameda CountyDental SocietyCommander Jack Tucker of the Alameda CountySheriff’s Office (ACSO) has been a strong support forthe Eden Area ROP Law, Forensics, and Careers inPublic Safety program. He is a member of the program’sAdvisory Board and has always said, “Ask for anything.”Commander Tucker has provided guest speakers, facilitytours, and the ACSO “Explorer and Cadet Program”. Asa result of Commander Tucker’s support, many studentshave chosed to pursue a career with the ACSO. Somealso participate in the ACSO “Explorer” program andexpress an interest in the ACSO “Cadet” program afterthey graduate.Commander Jack TuckerAlameda County Sheriff7

WORK-BASEDLEARNINGWork-Based Learning or WBL consistsof a range of activities where studentslearn and develop workplace skills. InWBL, students progress from awareness to exploration to career preparation and training. Typically, WBL experiences become more sophisticated asstudents mature.GUESTSPEAKERSOver the past four years, the Eden AreaROP has enjoyed a strong workingpartnership with the Eden Area Chambers of Commerce. They’ve introducedteachers and students to communitypartners and helped students learnabout careers.SITE VISITSThe Eden Area ROP coordinated over20,000 work-based learning opportunities for students during the 201920 school year. Despite the COVID-19shelter in place, the ROP continued toprovide virtual work-based learning forour CTE pathway students.To get involved with Work-BasedLearning, contact:Jayne Salinger (jsalinger@edenrop.org;(415) 497-82278