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The Low Down on Temecula Valley Education Leadership. I am so pleased today to have a very dear friend of nearly 20 years who is a leader in education and a leader in leadership in our Valley Dr. July Hill Wilkinson. July I just want to first of all say thank you for joining us today tell us how long have you been in the valley.
I moved here in 1986 so quite a while and actually from the East Coast so grew up in Massachusetts but the weather out here is much nicer. We came out in 1996 so I’ve been in Temecula almost that whole time. I left for two years went down to the San Diego area but then moved back up so I’ve been here for quite a while.
You know oftentimes I have families coming in and they’re asking about the school district here and what could you say for people who are looking to come to this community that would set our school districts apart from others? Say they’re coming from Orange County or LA County or San Diego County, what would set us apart?
I can say all of the Temecula schools are great for sure. There’s a wide variety there we do between Temecula and Murrieta we have six comprehensive high schools. A lot to choose from. You’ve got schools that really really push weight we have the ivy program high academics really rigorous we have schools that are very doing a great job with career technical and helping students find what they want to be as they go through school and beyond. We have schools with a ton of school spirit and they really are great for athletics, all of our schools have parts of that.
One of the biggest differences honestly at the bell schedule so to make those schools are on a very traditional schedule whereas Murrieta schools have moved to a block schedule. So block schedule the classes are longer, but you have fewer each day, so some people really like that, some students flourish under that, and some students really struggle with that, so really knowing your child, knowing what their interests are and kind of knowing how they go through their school day would help you sort of decide on a school.
You’re an adjunct professor what what does that mean what does that role entail?
So I’m an adjunct professor with a master’s and teacher credential program, so I get to work with teachers or college students that are trying to get their teacher credential right now introducing them to what it’s really like to be a teacher. I’m also the coordinator for student teachers at my sites and I really appreciate the opportunity to to talk to them about what this is really like and what they can expect and how much fun they can have. It’s hard but it can be a lot of fun when you do it correctly and have fun with it and you just kind of relax a little bit and have fun with it yourself and don’t stress out too much.
We obviously have a lot of youth in our community and what advice could you give to someone who is exploring the education field and considering pursuing that degree?
At this point up until now historically teachers have been very I am the keeper of the information and I went to school and I have this content and and I am going to plan lessons and plan my day to give this information to you and that’s what teaching has been historically well with the advent of the internet we no longer are the holder of the knowledge we now have to design our days and our lessons to have students evaluate and use information which is very different than getting them to have information we now have to be facilitators and teach them how to use it and how to evaluate it.
That’s very different and I would argue that a lot of teachers are struggling with that shift and students and parents and teachers all sort of have to understand that we’re moving through this together and what’s the best way to do that.
You know as we’ve just started a new school year July I am sure that parents feel challenged getting the schedule back on track getting the kids back on track what advice could you offer up to the students and to the parents now as we embark on a new school year to set us all up for greater success?
So, two things actually. Number one. Obviously with the internet ,cell phones have really created a whole different level of stuff in our classrooms. Reminding students to turn their phones off, turn them in airplane mode, put them away, do what they need to do which leads to the next piece of advice I would give to students parents and even teachers. Number two is really always remembering that there are two sides to the story. There may be a chance that your student only heard half of the story, or didn’t listen to part of the directions, or didn’t hear the context for whatever reason.
So always hearing the other side of the story. If it’s the teacher saying your child was having issues, what is your child’s story and then it fits your child saying there’s nature with the teacher what is the other side of the story what is the teacher story I mean.
What comes through you is truly your passion. The compassion that you have in the families that you’re serving and you are just such a tremendous asset to our community that I’m honored to call you our friend and our leader and I just want to thank you so much for joining us today. If there’s anything else you’d like to add, feel free.
Again I absolutely love my job and I recommend if people want to come into teaching by all means come join us. I know we still have a teacher shortage in California last I checked, but understand that it’s tough. It’s not easy, but I think anything that you really want to do and that you really enjoy, whether it’s tough or not you’ll stick with it okay.
Well you are a wealth of information for us today and we are so glad to have had you on the lowdown of Temecula Valley. I hope that you’ll come back at another time because there’s still so much to share. Thank You July. Truly a pleasure. Good to see you.
The Low Down on Temecula Valley Education Leadership. Low Down on Temecula Valley Education Leadership.
https://youtu.be/PD1COK6H9cg
