Mountain View-Los Altos Adult Education

Director's Message

The MVLA Adult School is beginning its 46th year of service to the community and our 15th year at the 333 Moffett Blvd. location. We appreciate your support over the years and look forward to offering classes and services that continue to meet your needs.

Here is our Adult School program at a glance:
English as a Second Language: Serves over 800 adult students at any given time, and this is our largest program. We also offer English at Home for independent learners.

Career Center and Career Tech: The Career Center is open 25 hours per week, day and evenings to help adults with interview skills, resume' writing, job referral and job placement. Our Career Tech courses include Certified Nurses Training (CNA), Accounting I and II, Business Office Skills training (BOSS), Pharmacy Technician, and computer classes.

GED/High School Diploma: This past June, we graduated over 80 adults with a GED or adult high school diploma. Childcare, academic tutoring and preparation classes are offered throughout the day. Basic skills remediation is available in reading, writing, and basic math.

Older Adults (Active and Outreach): Seniors 55+ are served at the Mountain View and Los Altos Senior Centers, as well as various convalescent facilities in the area. As you can imagine, it is a growing program...!

Parent Education: Mountain View and Los Altos Parent Pre-schools, parent observation classes, Even Start Family Literacy, Generation Connection, and the MVLA Childcare Center are some of our quality programs serving children and their families. Parent education workshops are also offered throughout the community at neighborhood schools.

Special Education: The Adult School serves the Adults with Disabilities' population in learning life and work skills. Classes are offered at three sites in Mountain View, Menlo Park, and Santa Clara.

Community-Based Fee Program: These classes span a wide range of interests: arts and crafts, health and safety, language arts and languages, physical fitness, music and dance, and digital photography.

Let us know how we are doing. We appreciate your input. You can reach me at: 650.940.6025.

Yours in service,
Laura Stefanski, Director
Laura.Stefanski@mvla.net

Laura Stefanski, Adult School Director

No Rain on Our Parade!

International talent, food...and more at Fourth Annual Flea Market

The Adult School's student leadership group, Helping Hands, hosted its Fourth Annual Flea Market in the student lounge. Market-goers enjoyed Spanish omelets and balloon sculptures, international singing and dancing, students in colorful native costumes, and finally, at 9:30pm, pizza and a raffle drawing. Nearly $1,000 was raised and donated for the purchase of a student coin operated copy machine and several other student requests.

Uncharacteristically rainy outside on an early day in May, everyone had a sunny time in the most joyful of environments: the communal marketplace.

Ellen Murray, ESL instructor
Student Leadership, advisor .

Hazel Gibson,
Older Adult Learner 2006-07

Hazel Alvina Gibson grew up in Iowa where she developed a love and respect for nature. She taught for 25 years, and her greatest joy was teaching kindergartners and instilling a love of learning. She and her husband, Jack, reared 5 children.

An active hiker since she retired in 1984, Hazel helps fellow hiking students identify birds and flowers. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her flower photos on note cards are prized among the hikers.

Recently, Hazel bought a computer. She e-mails and shares jokes and pictures with family and friends. Hazel just celebrated her 87th birthday!

Hazel has been a volunteer docent at Rengstorff House since 1991 and a volunteer ranger at Shoreline Park, manning the gate house and leading nature hikes for school children. On her 80th birthday, her children gave her a bench that is now installed in Shoreline Park.

Hazel has been an exemplary life long teacher and learner! The Mountain View-Los Altos UHSD recognized Hazel at its May 14th board meeting.

Hazel Gibson

Adult School Director's Message

The year 2007 brings a number of gifts to students, staff and the community!

Cash: As a result of negotiating Proposition 98 moneys, K-12 schools and adult schools have received "one-time use moneys". The Adult School anticipates receiving about $78,000 and will spend it judiciously over three years. We will be replacing aging office computers, adding computers to classrooms to enhance instruction, supplementing staff professional development in research-based instruction, and installing energy efficient lights and room sensors, etc.

Donations and Scholarships: We are very fortunate to have continuing support from a family foundation in New York that chooses to remain anonymous. This family has given generously to expand our Career Center and to offer student aid for educational goals and job training. In addition, we have been receiving donations for our Young Parents Program (YPP) on behalf of the recently deceased Peggy Tondorf, maverick founder of this program in the 1970's.

Community: The biggest gift of all, quite simply, is the community of people we engage with on a daily basis: our students, our staff, our volunteers, local collaborators and supporting agencies. They all come together to make us a community asset and a valuable service to those individuals we serve. Many, many thanks!

Yours in service,
Laura Stefanski, Director
Laura.Stefanski@mvla.net

Laura Stefanski, Adult School Director

MVLA Adult School Parenting Education

Tim Dobbins and student working together

MVLA Adult School offers several time-tested programs where teachers and parents come together with children to enrich all their lives.

Our catalog cover photo (at left) demonstrates a basic technique called "scaffolding:" the parent or teacher providing the external support for a growing mind. Children bring enthusiasm; you provide guidance. They take a chance; you make it safe. They endeavor; you encourage. And, if they should happen to hit their thumb with a hammer, you are there to comfort them, to say that the hurt will soon go away, that it might happen again and that the risk is well worth a beautiful birdhouse that you built together.

Our parenting classes, with their unique collaboration of teachers and families, also foster life-long friendships for adults and children weaving far into the community.

Adult Education Means Success: Andrew Berndt

Andrew Berndt, has become an independent and productive member of the community and is a role model for others.

Andrew completed high school in 1981 and in 1984 began attending HOPE Services' work and independent living skills training program at Hope Services. He learned to take public transportation, focus attention on tasks, and develop a positive attitude in his interactions with others.

For the past five years, Andrew has been living on his own and working at Zak Enterprises, a computer recycling firm. His Hope job coach, Cathy Akem, says: "Initially, training Andrew to use tools properly to dismantle computers was tough. We established goals for him and helped him learn to accept constructive criticism. His productivity has improved, and he's meeting his goals." Andrew replies, "It's like a teeter-totter at work, sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down!" Andrew continues making progress. "Thumbs straight up with home, job and everything in-between!" he says cheerfully.

Andrew at work

Adult School Director's Message

The Mountain View-Los Altos Adult School has something to crow about. Since 1961 the Adult School has been accredited through WASC - the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The WASC process has changed over the years, but the high educational standards, stringent self-assessment process, and action plan for improvement components have essentially remained the same.

These are the action plan items we are working on from our 2004-2010 WASC Action Plan:

1. Expanding student career and vocational offerings
2. Increasing adult school revenues to maintain and expand quality services to students
3. Improving internal and external communications
4. Providing regular professional staff development for all adult school staff
5. Integrating Expected School-wide Learning Results (ESLRs) into our curriculum and school culture

The MVLA Adult School is always looking for new community members to help us chart our course so we can become the very best Adult School in the state. If you want to join us in this journey, you may wish to become an Adult School Advisory Committee member. We meet about 3 times each school year for 1.5 hours over a delicious lunch. I look forward to hearing from you!

Yours in service,
Laura Stefanski, Director
Laura.Stefanski@mvla.net

Laura Stefanski, Adult School Director

Sharon Fang

Even before her three years in the ESL program at the Adult School, Sharon Fang knew the Global English words "no problem."

A native of Taiwan, Sharon came to the United States in 2003 with a ready smile and arms open to embrace a new culture. Soon she found a niche as a volunteer, working with the intergenerational Older Adults garden project, and Helping Hands, our student leadership group. Sharon's English skills improved steadily as she helped organize the first annual Flea Market, coordinated school wide assemblies on recycling and community outreach, and represented the school at Legislation Day in Sacramento. She also made volunteerism fun by participating in the Career Day fashion show, organizing an international costume parade, and rousing enthusiasm for a SF Giants game.

Last August, Sharon found a new challenge volunteering in the Adults with Disabilities program. She comments that "it was a very special experience - and I learned how to communicate with many new people."

Sharon Fang knows intuitively how to reach across boundaries of language, culture, learning levels, and generations. "Helping people makes me happy," she says.

by Ellen Murray

Sonia is a single mother with two grown children and a sixteen year old daughter. She enrolled in ESL classes two years ago, attending both morning and afternoon with nearly 100% attendance. She also completed eighteen credits in Early Childhood Education.

After twenty-nine years of marriage, Sonia was able to leave an abusive relationship and create a new life for herself and her sixteen-year-old daughter. She completed an 8-week training on Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention and a 40-hour course titled "Domestic Violence Counselor." She now volunteers as a domestic violence educator and makes presentations to churches, clubs and agencies.

In January 2006, Sonia was hired as a part-time substitute teacher in the MVLA Adult Education Child Care Center. She works in the center 6 hours a week and is currently working with our Career Center counselor to find a full-time position as a teacher or aide in a pre-school or child care facility.

Sonia, center, works with parents and children in our child care center.

The Mountain View-Los Altos Adult School has been an integral component of the community since the 1940's when it offered "Americanization" classes in English, citizenship to immigrants, and vocational job training and high school diploma classes for war veterans. For over 60 years, we have been a vital part of our high school district serving thousands of adults each year. Our mission to provide quality and affordable classes and services has never wavered.

One area of growth you will find in this class schedule is our Career Technical Education program. With an ever-changing economy, particularly in our own Silicon Valley, we all must be prepared to pick up new skills and in some cases, new careers. Let us help. Call our Career Center at (650) 940-6032 or visit the Center in Room 105.

For our adult school teaching staff, even in these contemporary times, fall still smells like sharpened pencils (keyboards?), new notebooks (word processing?) and textbooks (flat screen monitors and the Internet?). Please join us in a new school year of learning and growing!

Yours in service,
Laura Stefanski, Director
Laura.Stefanski@mvla.net
(650) 940-1333

Laura Stefanski, Adult School Director

Wil Larsen

Wil Larsen of Palo Alto is Mtn. View-Los Altos Adult School's Older Adult Learner of 2005-2006. He was nominated by his Foreign Relations class instructor, Chatham Forbes. Wil has taken classes with us since 1998 ranging from computer classes, volunteer training, digital photography, current events, and a resume' workshop. In addition, Wil has been a volunteer in our Generation Connection program, Literacy in the Classroom, at Theuerkauf Elementary School. He also volunteers at Pilgrim Haven in Los Altos where he helps a wheelchair patient enjoy walks outdoors.

Wil has accomplished all of this while traveling to and from his destinations on a bicycle, although recently he has had to resort to his car while recovering from a knee replacement - at the age of 79.

Congratulations, Wil Larsen, on your accomplishments as a lifelong learner!

Project ABLE Volunteers

Can you imagine not being able to complete a job application or read a bedtime story to a child? One out of four adults in California reads below a fourth grade level. In Project ABLE's literacy program, these adults can find help with basic skills with the aid of dedicated volunteer tutors. Our volunteers come from varied backgrounds and age groups. Some have recently joined Project ABLE while others have provided support to our students for several years.

By building students' skills in reading, writing or math, tutors help their learning partners to become more skilled and self confident, gain greater independence and acquire an increased ability to support themselves and their families. Our tutors tell us that they get an incredible sense of satisfaction and feel richly rewarded.

"When Mai got a promotion at work because her literacy skills improved, I felt great!"
-Ray Patel (volunteer)

"Alberto's ear-to-ear grin when he told me he read to his grandson for the first time was all the payoff I needed."
-Sue Wentworth (volunteer)

If you'd like to volunteer to make a difference in another adult's life, call Project ABLE for more information at (650) 940-6029.

Queen Shalom is as interesting and unique as her name. Queen recently moved to California from Wisconsin and was not certain how to transfer her job skills to another state with a new and different work environment. Queen's middle daughter recommended that Queen look through the MVLA Adult Education class schedule and pay particular attention to the Home Health Aide program. Queen immediately saw how this program directly connected with her desire to work in the elder care field. Queen signed up for the 12-week intensive Home Health Aide course in spring 2005, and easily found work after graduating. She is now employed with a work schedule that meets her needs and gives her time to spend with her 4-year old granddaughter.

In spring 2006, Queen enrolled in the 14-week Business Office Skills career program that provides students with the knowledge and skills to qualify for entry level office positions. Students become familiar with current office procedures and software applications. Those who successfully complete the Business Office Skills program can receive a certificate in several business occupational fields.

When asked why she took Business Office Skills after successfully completing the Home Health Aide program, Queen replied, "In today's employment market the more skills you have, the more marketable you are and the more opportunities you have. I'm a person who likes challenges."

You can learn a new career or expand your career options. Find out more about our Career Technical Education classes and programs.

Queen Shalom

Jane Zhang

My name is Jane Zhang. I was an ordinary person in China. I worked at the Shanghai Medical Association for 19 years as a typist and at the Shanghai Pharmaceutical Association as an assistant to the president for 5 years.

At the end of 2000, I came to the United States. Since that time, I said to myself, "I am a permanent resident of the U.S. now, and English is the official language of America. I don't want to depend on other people to communicate for my needs. So learning English is my priority. I must learn English from now on." (Obviously, I spoke in Chinese to myself). After a while, I enrolled in an ESL Adult School. Because I learned very little English in my country, my first ESL class was a beginning class.

At the ESL Adult School, I learned little by little and step by step. In 2003 after two and a half years, I finished the intermediate high ESL class. Then I took the Notary Public Hand Book test. I was very lucky and got 74 out of 100 scores on the test, and just passed. In October of 2003, I got a part time job as a Notary Public. In addition, I continued taking ESL classes.

In September of 2004, I took the H&R Block Tax Course. This course was really hard for everyone. Some students dropped out during the course. I felt like quitting after the third week because I failed two of the quizzes in the class. The quiz had 20 questions and we only had 10 minutes to answer them. However, I cut out all of my entertainment and completed the course. I was so proud of myself because I passed the test with flying colors. My score was 94 out of 100. Yea!

Notwithstanding, I believe I have made tremendous improvements in the past almost five years. I want to improve my English skills more and more, so that I can communicate with any English speaking person on any level.

I think the ESL Adult School is great! My ESL teacher, Elke Horn, and Project ABLE tutor, Dena Evens, are the most excellent instructors in the world!

On April 19, 2006, I proudly took the loyalty oath and became a U. S. citizen. I love America!

Grace Uboh enrolled in MVLAAE classes in the fall of 2003. She was motivated to increase her academic skills in order to enter vocational training. She enrolled in both the Basic Skills/GED class and Project ABLE tutoring program. Grace attended school full time and worked with her tutors six hours a week, Monday through Friday. Her skills increased rapidly, and she gained confidence with her newly achieved academic abilities.

In January, 2005, Grace started Home Attendant Care training at the Adult School. At the end of March she received her certificate of completion. She was hired as an attendant by Lytton Gardens Assisted Living in Palo Alto. Grace loves her work and is hoping to take the next step by completing her Certified Nursing Assistant training at the Adult School as well. In addition to her job, she continues to attend GED classes two mornings a week.

Grace leaves her house at 5:05 am and rides her bike to the train station. She takes the train to Palo Alto and then walks a mile to work. She starts work at 6:30 am. She is looking forward to saving enough money to buy a car. On December 6th Grace was one of ten citizens honored by the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors for overcoming obstacles and building a better future for themselves. Her son, Ondre, eight years old, watched her receive the award. Grace Uboh is an excellent example of someone who has taken charge of her life and is creating new possibilities for her family. Congratulations Grace!

Grace Uboh and her son Ondre

Student Career Fair

In August 2005, the MV/LA Adult School received a foundation grant to expand our Career Center now in Room 105. Our new instructor, Mike Genevro, helps students with resume writing, job search, vocational training information and job placement with the assistance of John Hanna, our new Job Developer. John goes into the community to see what jobs are available and then matches the job to a student who is seeking employment. The Career Center has served 40 people in its first two months.

In October, the Career Center sponsored two Student Career Fairs, one during the day and one in the evening. Fifteen agencies and employers attended, passed out employment applications and answered questions about jobs in their fields. Over three hundred students attended each fair with several students being scheduled for immediate job interviews.

Also new to the Adult School is Career Technical Education (formally known as Vocational). This program continues to expand course offerings and is focused in four areas: Business Education, Health Careers, Consumer/Home Economics and Job Readiness.

In the Business area, Office Skills students receive certificates for Office Clerk, Receptionist, Administrative Clerk, and Computer Operator. The Health Careers area now includes Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Medical Terminology, in addition to the successful Pharmacy Technician, Home Care Attendant and Language of Healthcare courses.

Check out the descriptions of all these courses and more found in this brochure. Visit us online or call Career Center/Career Technical Education staff at (650) 940-6032 to schedule an appointment.

California Adult Education: Celebrating 150 years
Mtn. View-Los Altos Adult School, 1961-2005

In 1856 the San Francisco Board of Education sponsored the first recorded adult classes in the basement at St. Mary's Cathedral. The first class was composed of Irish, Italian and Chinese immigrants who had flooded into the city following the discovery of gold in California. It comes as no surprise that these students were learning English as a Second Language.

By the end of the 1800's evening adult classes were being held in all of the major cities in the state. Since then, adult schools have come to the aid of the state many times in dealing with significant social and economic problems. Examples include: job training programs under the Great Depression; training skilled and under-skilled workers during World War II; preparing residents for citizenship; and offering computer literacy classes to hundreds of thousands.

The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District has been supporting classes for adults for over 40 years. In 1961, the first director of Adult Education was appointed and an Adult School was established by the district. In 1987, the Board of Trustees reaffirmed its commitment to adult and continuing education by adopting new district mission and philosophy statements that included the adult and continuing education programs. In July of 1992, we moved into our new building at 333 Moffett Boulevard.

In 2004-2005, the Adult School served over 11,000 students in over 200 classes at 21 different locations in Los Altos and Mountain View. While approximately 48% of our adult students study English as a Second Language, the adult school also serves adults with disabilities, parents, older adults, and those seeking a high school diploma or GED certificate. Currently, we are growing our vocational training and career preparation programs. Last year alone we served nearly 3000 students in community fee-based classes ranging from foreign language classes to motorcycle safety training.

The Mtn. View-Los Altos Adult School wishes to thank its District Board for its ongoing support, its staff members for quality service to students and the public, and most importantly you, our current and future students, who give us the opportunity to make an important contribution to the community.

Lina, Pharmacy Tech

Lina is another adult school success story. She completed her GED and graduated with a GED certificate in June 2004. It was at our graduation ceremony that she was awarded a $1000 scholarship for training or college studies. Lina chose to attend a 7-month Pharmacy Technician training program where she achieved excellent grades and 100% attendance.

Lina, who is raising four children, completed her pharmacy tech training and was hired at a Long's Pharmacy. Long's is now supporting Lina to continue with her next level of pharmacy certification. Without scholarship support, Lina would not have been able to complete her training.

Lina is only one example of how the adult school collaborates with other agencies and businesses to support motivated students in need. If you wish to assist a worthy student in accomplishing his or her educational goals, we encourage you to make a donation to our Adult School Scholarship Fund. Please make your check out to:

Mtn. View-Los Altos Adult School Scholarship Fund
c/o Laura Stefanski, Director
333 Moffett Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043

For more information about this fund and how it helps students, please contact: Laura Stefanski, Director, Mountain View-Los Altos Adult School at (650) 940-6025 or e-mail Laura.Stefanski@mvla.net.

Your generosity and interest mean a great deal to our staff who are on the front lines working with students and to those students who do not have the financial means to continue their education and training. Thank you!