Sonoma County Office of Education

Editorials & Presentations

This is a collection of editorials, media interviews, videos, and presentations by Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Steven D. Herrington.

Dr. Steve Herrington comments on the Supreme Court’s decision to expand the public charge rule. “I want to make clear to our community that yesterday’s (1-28-20) ruling by the Supreme Court expanding the public charge rule does not affect public schools,” said Herrington. “Families need to know their students will still be able to access important school services and school nutrition programs without penalty.” “Families should not be fearful of sending their children to school,” added Herrington. “Sonoma County school communities will continue to embrace and support all students and their families by providing a safe place to learn. In addition, we stand behind Sonoma County’s social services agencies who have been unfairly targeted by this discriminatory ruling.”

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KQED interview with Dr. Herrington on the Disaster Relief Instructional Recovery Program - Senate Bill 884 The bill introduced by Senator Bill Dodd of Napa would give schools the funding to make up instructional days lost to fires, natural disasters, and attendant blackouts.

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Make up school time lost to climate disasters, fire country lawmaker says Dr. Steve Herrington was quoted in this article in CalMatters about Senate Bill 884, introduced by Senator Bill Dodd of Napa, the Disaster Relief Instructional Recovery Program. “Steve Herrington, superintendent of the Sonoma County Office of Education and a proponent of SB 884, said these (natural disasters) disruptions have set students back academically and have created lingering traumatic effects for those who lost homes or evacuated during the 2017 Tubbs Fire and last year’s Kincade Fire. “My issue is equity,” Herrington said Thursday. “Students need to have educational opportunities, and if we’re to produce a student population that’s competitive in this environment, we need to provide them a minimum of 180 days of instruction.”

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CalMatters Interview - Dec. 5, 2019 Will fires, outages land California students in ‘disaster relief’ summer school? Dr. Steve Herrington was quoted in this article in CalMatters about a proposal for disaster relief summer school. “The occasion by which I would close a school would be about an every-other-year thing based on weather and road conditions. Now, it is common practice to close school at least two to three times a year for most districts,” said Steve Herrington, superintendent of the Sonoma County Office of Education whose career as a school administrator has spanned four decades. “This is a phenomenon I have not seen in my professional career until the last five years.”

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Politico interview 11-5-2019 Sonoma County Superintendent Steven Herrington is asking legislators to approve state-funded “disaster relief summer school” for districts that lost class time due to recent fires and related power outages. Herrington’s plan would be optional for districts that were prevented from holding class for at least five days due to a natural disaster or Public Safety Power Shutoff. The proposal would make districts that opt in eligible for special funding to hold summer school for up to 20 days — something he says the families and administrators in Sonoma County support.

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Steven D. Herrington speaking to assembly

Lessons Learned from a Disaster: CSBA | March 2019 Dr. Herrington participated in a disaster preparedness training hosted by the California Department of Education in Sacramento. He and other educators from Sonoma County shared lessons learned from the 2017 Tubbs Fire that could help others prepare for a large-scale disaster.

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Steven D. Herrington speaking in the video

Interview with News of the North Bay on Air Quality | November 2018 In this video, Dr. Herrington speaks with News of the North Bay about how schools are working to ensure student safety when air quality is hazardous.

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Steven D. Herrington speaking in the video

Interview for Inside California Education: Disaster Preparedness | November 2018 In this video, Dr. Herrington speaks with KPIX about how SCOE assisted Butte County when it experienced a devastating wildfire similar to what Sonoma County dealt with in 2017.

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Dr. Herrington

Commentary: Healing Schools Need Patience, Support | August 2019 In this Close to Home Commentary in the Press Democrat, Dr. Herrington celebrates a new school year but also encourages the community to be patient with Sonoma County schools and children as they continue the hard but important work of healing from last October’s wildfires.

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Cover of Sonoma Family Life's Back to School Issue features smiling girl

Commentary: 2018-19 is a Year for Healing and Rebuilding | August 2019 In this commentary, in Sonoma Family Life magazine, Dr. Herrington welcomes students back to school and encourages the community to continue its focus on healing from last year's devastating wildfires.

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Steven D. Herrington speaking in the video

Interview for Inside California Education: Disaster Preparedness | May 2018 In this video, Dr. Herrington discusses the lingering impact of the fires on Sonoma County schools and their students as well as how schools can prepare for a disaster.

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Steven D. Herrington

Commentary: Safeguarding Student Lives and Free Speech | April 2018 In this commentary, Dr. Herrington addresses recent school shootings and the urgent need to create safe school environments for students so educators' can return to where it should be: providing an excellent education to all students. More.

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Steven D. Herrington

Interview: Recovering from the Fall Wildfires | April 2018 In this article in the Sacramento Bee, Dr. Herrington speaks about the challenges of recovering from the devastating fall wildfires and what educators are doing to help students. More.

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Steven D. Herrington

Editorial in Sonoma Family Life: Helping Children Recover | March 2018 In this Sonoma Family Life article "Helping Children Thrive After the Fires," Dr. Herrington discusses the lingering impact of the fires on Sonoma County schools and their students - and how parents can help their children recover. Read it here on page 10.

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	A flag was singed in the fires but still stands in a classroom as a sign of resilience

Growing Through Adversity | February 2018 In this SCOE Bulletin, we look back at how the educational community came together to help students and schools during the North Bay firestorm. Read on for stories celebrating the courage and dedication of school staff; advice on healing from tragedy given by an expert in school crisis; and links to helpful videos and resources.

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Steven D. Herrington

Interview with EdSource | January 2018 In this EdSource article "What California schools learned from recent disasters," Dr. Herrington discusses the lingering impact of the fires on Sonoma County schools and their students. Read it Here.

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Steven D. Herrington

Audio: A Thank You Message to Educators After the Fire | November 2017 In this audio message recorded for radio, Dr. Herrington acknowledges the devastation of the North Bay Firestorm on the community and thanks educators for their dedicated efforts to serve students despite personal hardship.

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Steve Herrington

Interview with ABC7: After the Fire | October 2017In this interview with ABC 7, Dr. Herrington discusses the tragic reality that some schools were left standing while the communities nearby were destroyed.

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Steven D. Herrington

Interview on KQED's Forum: Fire Recovery | October 2017 Dr. Herrington joins other officials from Napa and Sonoma Counties to discuss the impact of the fires on Sonoma County schools and their students. Read it Here.

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Steven D. Herrington

Letter to the Editor: Supporting DACA Students | September 2017 In this letter to the editor, Dr. Herrington writes in support of maintaining the Deferred Action or Childhood Arrivals program and assures undocumented students that they have a right to a public education, where their immigration immigration information will be protect. More.

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Steve Herrington

Getting to School Safely | August 2017Superintendent Herrington's article in Sonoma Family Life Magazine outlines how students and parents can get to school safely, including new train safety tips. 

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Road Map

Spotlight on Sonoma County Schools | Published August 2017 This annual insert in the Press Democrat showcases new and innovative practices in Sonoma County schools and provides back-to-school resources. Download the PDF here or click below to view in an interactive format. If you have trouble accessing this document, please contact Jamie Hansen at jhansen@scoe.org or 707-524-2620 for help.

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Symphony playing music

Arts in Schools (:30) | Aug. 2017 This video profiles SCOE's partnership with the Santa Rosa Symphony to bring the arts back into Sonoma County Schools.

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SCOE Podcasts

SCOE Podcast: Teacher Housing | July 2017County Superintendent Steve Herrington and Dev Goetschius of the Housing Land Trust of Sonoma County discuss efforts to create affordable teacher housing in Sonoma County so that teachers can live where they work.

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Steven D. Herrington

Commentary: Encouraging Empathy | May 2017 In this commentary in Sonoma Family Life Magazine, Dr. Herrington seeks to raise awareness of the widespread nature of childhood trauma in our community, and the negative impacts it can have on a child's academic performance, behavior, and health. He also calls on teachers and parents to respond to children who might have suffered trauma with empathy and understanding. More.


Steven D. Herrington

Editorial: Helping Sonoma County Teachers Buy Homes | April 2017 In this editorial, Dr. Herrington outlines efforts the county office is taking to provide affordable teacher housing and gives a call to action for community-minded individuals who might be interested in partnering and providing funding to strengthen these exciting initiatives. More.


Back to School

Understanding the California School Dashboard | March 2017 This is a SCOE publication explaining the California School Dashboard, the state's new school accountability website. The brochure contains information in both English and Spanish.

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SCOE Podcasts

SCOE Podcast: California School Dashboard | March 2017County Superintendent Steve Herrington and SCOE Deputy Superintendent Jennie Snyder discuss what the state's new online accountability system, the California School Dashboard, is all about.

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SCOE Podcasts

SCOE Podcast: Trauma-Informed Teaching | January 2017County Superintendent Steve Herrington addresses the growing understanding that childhood trauma - which is surprisingly widespread - can seriously impact student wellbeing and learning. To do so, he sits down with two SCOE experts, Alternative Education Director Georgia Ioakimedes, and Work-based Learning Coordinator Jessica Progulske, and talks about local initiatives to address childhood trauma. Tune in for an overview of Adverse Childhood Experiences and how they impact student learning, tips for teachers, and ways to get involved.

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Transition Program

Transition Program (:30) | September 2016 This is a 30-second public service announcement on SCOE’s Transition Program.

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10,000 degrees alumnus

10,000 Degrees Partnership (:30) | Sept 2016 This video profiles SCOE's partnership with 10,000 Degrees to send students to college.

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CTE Student

Career Technical Education (:30) | May 2015 Learn how students are moving along pathways from high school to college to career opportunities that support the local economy in this 30-second video.

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Student in Make Class

Maker Education (:30) | May 2015 This 30-second public service announcement describes how schools are shaping the next generation of innovators and inventors through Maker Education programs.

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SCOE Podcasts

SCOE hosts a range of events to foster student and community engagement. Learn more about what events are happening in 2016-17 with County Superintendent Steve Herrington and Director of Innovation and Partnerships, Dan Blake.

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Road Map

Spotlight on Sonoma County Schools | Published September 2016 This annual insert in the Press Democrat showcases how Sonoma County schools are utilizing technology. Download the PDF here.


Back to School

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress | August 2016 This is an award-winning SCOE publication explaining the Smarter Balanced assessment results. The Smarter Balanced tests are part of a larger accountability system known as the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP. The brochure contains information in both English and Spanish.

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Steven D. Herrington

Editorial: Thoughts at the Start of a New School Year | August 2016 In this editorial, Dr. Herrington celebrates the many valuable community partnerships that contribute to the success of Sonoma County Students. More.


SCOE Podcasts

Ever wondered what the Maker Movement is all about and how it relates to your child's education? SCOE has been a leader on integrating hands-on learning into classrooms, and in this podcast County Superintendent Steve Herrington and SCOE Teacher-on-Loan for Make, Casey Shea, discuss what a powerful classroom tool it can be. Do you have an education-related question you'd like answered? Email it to jhansen@scoe.org for consideration in a future podcast.

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SCOE Podcasts

In the first of what will be an ongoing series of SCOE podcasts addressing common questions from the public about local education, Dr. Steve Herrington discusses what the impact of Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed 2016-17 budget on Sonoma County Schools might be. Do you have an education-related question you'd like answered? Email it to jhansen@scoe.org for consideration.

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Steven D. Herrington

Editorial: Rethinking Summer School | February 2016 In this editorial, Dr. Herrington encourages parents and educators to reimagine summer school as an enrichment opportunity that can help close the achievement gap. More.


Road Map

Spotlight on Sonoma County Schools | Published October 2015 This annual insert in the Press Democrat features outstanding Sonoma County teachers. Download the PDF here.


Steven D. Herrrington, Ph.D.

Editorial: An Invitation: Be a Teacher | September 2015Dr. Herrington discusses SCOE's response to the teacher shortage: the creation of the North Coast School of Education. | Article


Teacher Shortage: Crisis or Opportunity | Jan 2015 In this editorial, Dr. Herrington explains how Sonoma County, and the state as a whole, face a serious teacher shortage at the same time that enrollment in teacher preparation programs is declining. More...


Spotlight

Spotlight on Sonoma County Schools | Aug 2014 SCOE opened the 2014-15 school year with this eight-page publication showcasing innovations and success stories in Sonoma County schools.

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Steve Herrington

Editorial: Disruptive innovation in education | Aug 2014Dr. Herrington explains how a growing number of small innovations are taking hold in schools and displacing our old ideas about education. More...


Steven D. Herrrington, Ph.D.

Editorial: An Invitation: Be a Teacher | September 2015Dr. Herrington discusses SCOE's response to the teacher shortage: the creation of the North Coast School of Education. | Article


2014 Budget Presentation

2014 Financial Presentation (28:30) | Feb 2014 Dr. Herrington discusses the Governor’s 2014-15 Budget Proposal and its impact on the Sonoma County Office of Education.

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These videos were presented at the 2013 Fall CCSESA conference:

Cradle to Career Tree

Cradle to Career (6:01) | Nov 2013 Cradle to Career is a countywide partnership that connects all segments of the educational continuum with broad community support to improve the outcomes for all local youth.

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Tutor and Student

Schools of Hope (6:53) | Nov 2013 United Way’s Schools of Hope program helps children build critical early reading skills. The program recruits and trains community volunteers to tutor students one-on-one.

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This is a series of four 30-second public service announcements on SCOE programs and partnership initiatives.

Cradle to Career

Cradle to Career Sonoma County (:30) | Sept 2013 This 30-second public service announcement (PSA) highlights SCOE’s support of the cross-sector Cradle to Career initiative.

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Comstock Students

21st Century Teaching and Learning (:30) | Sept 2013 This is a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) on SCOE’s initiative to support 21st century teaching and learning.

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Transition Program

Transition Program (:30) | September 2016 This is a 30-second public service announcement on SCOE’s Transition Program.

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Teen Parent Program

Teen Parent Program (:30) | June 2013 This is a 30-second public service announcement on SCOE’s Teen Parent Program. View in Spanish.

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Spotlight

Spotlight on Sonoma County Schools | Aug 2013 SCOE opened the 2013-14 school year with this eight-page publication showcasing some of the innovations and success stories in Sonoma County schools.

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Dr. Herrington

2013 Budget Presentation (18:31) | March 2013Dr. Herrington explains the Governor’s 2013-14 Budget Proposal for education and discusses its impact on SCOE. The presentation is available in audio or video.

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Steven D. Herrrington, Ph.D.

Gun Violence Prevention Public Forum | Jan 2013 Superintendent Herrington spoke at a forum hosted by Representative Mike Thomson following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. See video clip...


Spotlight

Spotlight on Sonoma County Schools | Aug 2012 SCOE opened the 2012-13 school year with this eight-page publication showcasing some of the success stories in Sonoma County schools.

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Financial Outlook 2012

2012 Financial Outlook (26:58) | Feb 2012Dr. Herrington explains the state budget situation, reviews the Governor’s proposed 2012-13 budget, and discusses SCOE’s plan going forward. The presentation is available in audio or video.

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Steven D. Herrrington, Ph.D.

Editorial: Another cut to education | Jan 2012Dr. Herrington discusses the impact of mid-year cuts to education and urges the community to support initiatives to restore school funding in California. More...


Sonoma County Fair

Sonoma County Schools at the Fair | Aug 2011 SCOE used this 20-minute video to highlight local public school programs at the 2011 Sonoma County Fair.

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Dr. Steve Herrington

Comcast Newsmaker Interview | Aug 2011 County Superintendent Steve Herrington was featured on this five-minute Comcast Newsmakers interview.

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KGO NewsTalk AM 810

KGO Interview on School Finance | July 2011 KGO NewsTalk AM 810 aired this interview with Dr. Herrington and Ron Bennett, President of School Services of California.

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Back to School

Back to School in Sonoma County | July 2011 This is a SCOE publication showcasing Sonoma County’s award-winning schools and programs. It also includes important reminders to parents about immunizations and graduation requirements. Available in English and Spanish.


Editorial: School District Consolidation | Feb 2011 In response to public discussions about consolidating Sonoma County's 40 school districts, Dr. Herrington explained the complex process that communities must follow when considering a reorganization of their school district structure. More...


Financial Outlook

Financial Outlook Presentation | Feb 2011 Dr. Herrington provided an overview of the state budget situation and its impact on SCOE and Sonoma County schools.

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Steven D. Herrington, PhD

Swearing In Ceremony | Jan 2011 Dr. Steven D. Herrington was sworn in as Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools on January 3. See the swearing in ceremony and hear Dr. Herrington's opening remarks.

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