Hanford Insider

Hanford Insider Encore Episode: Transforming Education in Hanford with HESD Superintendent Joy Gabler

• Rob Bentley

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Encore episode from February 25, 2024

Curious about how a school district transforms in the face of modern educational challenges? Join us for an enlightening discussion with Hanford Elementary School District Superintendent Joy Gabler. You'll discover the district's remarkable achievements and forward-thinking initiatives that are setting new standards for student success. Learn about the exciting modernization projects funded by the Measure U bond, including new administrative buildings and future plans that hinge on securing additional funding. Joy shares her insights on providing enriching, no-cost after-school and summer programs that sharpen both academic and creative skills, reflecting a robust commitment to offering extended learning opportunities.

Our conversation doesn’t stop there. We also explore the district's comprehensive support network designed to nurture every student’s social-emotional well-being, with professionals like counselors and psychologists on board. As demographic shifts and new housing developments influence school attendance boundaries, particularly at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, Joy unpacks the strategic measures implemented to address these changes. The district's innovative leap into sustainable transportation with a new fleet of electric buses is also highlighted, along with the pressing need for more bus drivers and school staff to keep pace with growth. Whether you're an educator, parent, or community member, this episode offers a look into the strategies and vision driving Hanford Elementary School District forward.

You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider
Thank you for supporting the show!

Speaker 1:

You're listening to an encore episode of the Hanford Insider. This is the February 25th interview with Hanford Elementary School District Superintendent Joy Gabler. I'll be back with all new shows on January 13th. Hanford Elementary is the largest school district in Kings County and has been serving the educational needs of the community for over 100 years. In this interview I had the opportunity to sit down with my friend, joy Gabler, who has been the superintendent of HESD for the last eight years. We started our teaching career together nearly 35 years ago as teachers at Woodrow Wilson. She'll share with us some of the great things going on in Hanford Elementary. Well, it's so great to be here with Hanford Elementary School District Superintendent Joy Gaber. Welcome to the show, joy. How are you doing?

Speaker 2:

Thanks, Rob. I'm excited to be here and talking with you and reconnecting after so many years of working together in the past.

Speaker 1:

Hanford Elementary is one of the oldest school districts in Kings County and you have a lot of schools. You have a lot of students. Can you kind of highlight your enrollment and some of your stats regarding schools and employees?

Speaker 2:

Sure, I'd be happy to do that. I'm very proud of our Hanford Elementary organization. We currently serve 5,855 students as of the end of last week. We serve students in grades TK through eighth grade. We have two junior highs serving students in seventh and eighth grade. We have eight elementary schools serving students TK through six. We have one magnet school, Jefferson Academy, serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade, and that's a dual immersion program English and Spanish and we also have a community day school that services students from kindergarten through eighth grade as well. Over 700 employees, encompassing both certificated teachers, classified paraprofessionals, administrators, runs the gamut. So roughly 700 employees serving our 5,855 students.

Speaker 1:

So with the growth of Hanford there is a lot of improvements and modernization projects that have been going on at the schools. We've been seeing the new office buildings that have been constructed. What are some of the past projects that you're really proud of that have taken place in the district?

Speaker 2:

Yes, I'm very proud of the facilities improvements that we've had going on over the year and I appreciate greatly the community support in our Measure U bond that we passed back in 2016. That helped us tremendously in upgrading our facilities. So, yes, we started off with a brand new admin building over at Monroe Elementary, went on and did a brand new administrative wing and library. At Jefferson, we built a new wing of classrooms at Martin Luther King Jr Elementary, a new wing of transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms at Lincoln as well as modernized all of those classrooms inside. We did a full modernization of the classrooms at Washington Elementary as well as Roosevelt.

Speaker 2:

We've done HVAC improvements at Woodrow Wilson, some additional solar projects at our school sites. Currently we've got projects coming up which includes a new administrative building and parking lot for Woodrow Wilson that will be off of the Park Street area there, so additional parking and an admin building. We've just been approved for a TKK wing of classrooms at Monroe, so that will be starting up very soon. We're doing HVAC improvements at JFK and adding some solar projects as well to Hamilton and Washington.

Speaker 1:

So your staff has been very busy, is what you're saying.

Speaker 2:

Extremely busy. Yes, we've had a lot of construction projects going on, but the improvements made are remarkable Beautiful classroom environments for our students and staff to work in, day in and day out, and not to mention our admin offices for our communities to come in into as well when at our school sites.

Speaker 1:

So you have some other projects on the list. I see here you've got at least four projects that you're looking at modernization going on.

Speaker 2:

I see here you've got at least four projects that you're looking at modernization going on. Yes, we do have additional projects that still need to be done and we have now spent all of our Measure U dollars and so we still are looking, hopefully in time, to be able to modernize Jefferson, modernize Monroe the classrooms, modernize Woodrow Wilson as well as as hard as it's to believe, jfk just seems like it came online a few years ago. It's over 30 years now JFK doing some modernization in those classrooms. But again, those are future projects that will be dependent upon funding as that becomes available.

Speaker 1:

One of the things that I've always enjoyed about Hanford Elementary and I know the community has benefited greatly is your extended learning opportunities, like the Ready program and some of the summer programs. Can you highlight a few of those?

Speaker 2:

Yes, I'm extremely proud of our extended learning programs for years now provides after-school care for our students from transitional kindergarten through sixth grade at our elementary schools at no charge to parents. So it's from dismissal time all the way until six o'clock in the evening. That involves not only academic homework assistance and time snacks for our students but incredible enrichment opportunities. We've had our kids doing karate, we've had cheer units, We've had music units, we have science units, great things going on after school for our students to be engaged in a positive environment until parents are free to pick them up, and again at no cost to our students. And then, over the course of the last few years, we've really developed our summer enrichment programs, which again go from 7.30 to 4.30 in the afternoon, no cost to parents, focused on not only an academic strand but also an enrichment strand, a lot of bringing in enrichment activities, science-based activities, hands-on robotics in enrichment activities, science-based activities, hands-on robotics, stem, which is science, technology, engineering, mathematics, as well as the arts, music and writing throughout the summer. So, yes, very proud of both our after-school ready and our summer programs available for students. So we finally come to academics.

Speaker 2:

The board, not only state, provided data through our CASP tests and our ELAC for our English learners, but our own internal assessments. There's always work to be done. We have work to do but I am super proud of the work that we've been doing over the course of the last few years. And when we take data across the state of California and we look at schools that are similar in terms of the demographics the students that we work with, from ethnicity to socioeconomics, and you line Hanford Elementary up against other districts similar demographics we rank number two in the state and then in English language arts we rank number three number two in math behind a school in Orange County and in English language arts behind a school in Los Angeles, in Orange County. So respectively number two in the state in mathematics and number three in English language arts when we look at similar demographics. So super proud of the work that our teachers and our curriculum and instruction department have been doing in guiding and working on these endeavors.

Speaker 1:

That's outstanding. Congratulations to your staff and all of your teachers and administrators and parents. Speaking of parents, I know that you also take a big step in helping them learn as well with your parent academies. What are the parent academies about?

Speaker 2:

Yes, our parent academies have been going on for the last few years and it's a wonderful opportunity for parents to learn about what's happening in the classroom with their child so that they in turn, at home can support their child's learning through different activities. So we have a Kinder Counts Parent Academy that's provided in English as well as Spanish, and we have a First and Forward Parent Academy, because all age levels are important. But at those early ages of kinder and first grade, getting that solid foundation creates a path for success moving forward. So our Kinder Counts parents meet once a month over the course of the year, as well as our First and Forward. So both of these groups, these parent academies, they're held online. We found that parents appreciate the virtual aspect of the academy because they can stay at home and take part in the training. Their students can be there alongside them if it calls for it and work on some of the activities.

Speaker 2:

And we provide resources to parents.

Speaker 2:

Actually, sitting out here on the table I have some of the resources of the most recent academy for mathematics, first and forward, lots of different game-type activities and items that parents are taught how to use so that they can reinforce the skills that are going on and the academies are aligned to the standards that are being taught in the classroom.

Speaker 2:

Likewise for kindergarten, we have that went home recently a magnetic letter kit. So we're getting used to those letters and sounds and making words, along with literature and books to be read at home. Again, our teacher that leads these, maria Porras she's a teacher at Monroe, teaches first grade, has taught kindergarten. She leads these trainings along with Lucy Gomez and Cruz Chavez, our parent liaison, so we get these resources out to parents and when the academy is held virtually, they have the resources right in front of them and Maria is teaching the parents. Here's what you do to reinforce what's happening in the classroom, to continue the learning at home and the parents have an understanding of what their child is doing and the resources to help them and they get to keep these materials. It's been quite successful.

Speaker 1:

So in education we talk about the LCAP and how we designate funds for different things that we do and I know that you have students involved in your LCAP process and that's kind of unique. How does that work?

Speaker 2:

Yes, we're proud that we have incorporated our student voice into the local control accountability plan, which is how we spend our money and how it's put together. So we always have to go out to the stakeholders and talk to them and of course that incorporates staff. We're talking to our staff about that. We're talking to our parents through our parent advisory committee, our DLAC, our school site council. But we hold every year a student LCAP event where our junior high students are involved, with fifth and sixth graders from every elementary school. Come to JFK.

Speaker 2:

We're doing it this year on March 13th and we do a morning of focus group, so to speak. The students come and they talk about what they want to see in their education. What are things that are working for them, what are things that they'd like to see. We talk about all of our programs, from academics to our physical education program, to our music program, to our art program, to what they get to do at school day in and day out.

Speaker 2:

So it's their opportunity to bring their voice to the table and share what's important to them, and it's been amazing over the years that we've done it. It's really lend us great insight into what our students want to see. One of their favorite activities is our food services department brings in samples of food that they get to try and rate and say if that's something they'd like to see on the menu and in the cafeteria. And the kids get really excited when they rank something high and it shows up not long after in our on our menu in the cafeteria. So definitely one of our favorite times in Hanford Elementary part of the year is our LCAP student event and seeing what our students have to say about their education in Hanford Elementary and seeing what our students have to say about their education in Hanford Elementary.

Speaker 1:

How fun is that? I remember last year seeing on the social media posts about the students picking cafeteria food or maybe the activities that they were allowed to do at recess with different playground equipment. That's so special. This next question actually could probably take four or five episodes, because in education now it's 2024, post-pandemic we're seeing a rise of behaviors that are not conducive to learning in the classroom and I think that the school districts have a heavy burden to bear and loving kids but also setting boundaries. So just real quick I hate to say real quick, but because it's such an important topic but what kind of structures of support do you have to support students and staff for that matter in dealing with what is education in 2024?

Speaker 2:

You make a really good point, rob. We are taxed with providing those boundaries for students and doing that in a loving way and providing them the opportunity to grow and learn. But we definitely are seeing an increase in various behaviors and want to create those structures where we can teach students to make the right decision and have people that are available to help them guide so as well, that we can have our teaching and learning going on in our classroom. I am particularly proud of the structures of support, or our safety net as we call it in Hanford Elementary, to support our students, which in turn also helps support our teachers in the classroom in terms of the work that they're doing. We have counselors at all of our school sites. Actually, every elementary school, including our community day school, has a counselor available for students. At our junior highs we have actually two counselors available.

Speaker 2:

We have a team of social workers three social workers that support our students and families across the district, supporting homeless and foster students as well. We have a team of six registered nurses. We have students with serious health conditions that come to school every day. So having those nurses available to make sure we're doing what we need to to support those children in school and then at every school site. On top of that is a licensed vocational nurse that is available to support students.

Speaker 2:

At all of our schools we have a team of eight psychologists that are out there helping and working alongside our students, providing them opportunities to know what they need and address those needs. And then at our elementary schools we have our student specialists, who also play a role in supporting kids in classrooms and making right decisions. And those social emotional that's the word we hear in education right now and it's a big component of that social emotional skill base and providing our students with the tools to, when we're feeling certain ways, what's the appropriate way to respond to those emotions versus an inappropriate way, making those right decisions, so to speak. So a strong team to provide that safety net those right decisions, so to speak.

Speaker 1:

So a strong team to provide that safety net. Well, there's so much more we could say about that right, like I said, that could be several episodes in itself, but we're short on time, so let's talk. You know, we talked about the growth of Hanford and needing to remodel and upgrade facilities, but the demographics and the areas in which people live in the district are changing. So how are you dealing with the change in attendance boundaries, for instance?

Speaker 2:

south of 198, specifically in the MLK attendance area, there's a number of housing developments going up along Hume Hume all the way out to Houston and then up to 12th Avenue and, for that matter, even across 12th Avenue and so that's put a real stressor on Martin Luther King Jr Elementary School, which is on Hume there. If we had not adjusted our boundaries, within a year MLK would have been at absolute capacity, would not have been able to handle or take in any more students. So over the course of this year, working with a demographer, we've adjusted our boundaries for the next school year, for the 24-25 school year, mlk again being our hot spot, we've actually taken two areas. There's an area, neighborhood just off of 11th Avenue, actually east of 11th Avenue, that crossed the street and went to MLK. Now they're going to be going to Lincoln. And then there's a little area, tempe Drive, north to Hanford-Armona, that will now attend Roosevelt School.

Speaker 2:

I will add that students who are presently enrolled will not be impacted, so those students who are at the school will be able to remain.

Speaker 2:

This is for new incoming students and, I'll add, for parents who maybe have a student who is at one school and now is living in an attendance boundary for a new school, they can take both of their children to that new school, so they don't have to necessarily have one child at one school and one child at the other school Roosevelt because we're sending some students from MLK to Roosevelt. There is an area actually south of one, I'm sorry, north of 198, that was Roosevelt. Those students will now be going over to Lee Richmond and there's also just a little pocket in there between Lacey and 198 that students would go to Monroe. Right now we're aware of only two students that live in that area. They will now. Well, new students coming in will now also go to Lee-Richmond. So it's trying to offset the tremendous amount of growth down there off of Hume and making sure we can maintain capacity at MLK for our students that live in those boundaries.

Speaker 1:

That's a lot to keep track of. So, getting students to school, then I've seen some buses around town with some green rims. What's that about?

Speaker 2:

Yes, transportation, and let me just say transportation we need bus drivers. So if there's anybody out there who's interested, we often offer free classes. If you watch our Facebook page or website, I'm putting in a plug for bus drivers here. But yes, we have a fleet of electric buses. We're very proud of our electric buses. We were the first district in Kings County to bring on electric buses. That was our first route of electric buses was in January of 2022. And now we've grown to a fleet of electric bus 11 electric buses. We have a full charging station over at our district facility service facilities, area, solar as well, and then charging stations there. So we're very proud of our green-rimmed electric buses making their way through the streets of Hanford School bus drivers.

Speaker 1:

But I know of course you're always looking for additional people to work in the school system. You know paraeducationals, those types of positions.

Speaker 2:

What are you particularly interested in hiring for this upcoming school year? Yes, good point, and I do. I encourage. Watch our Facebook page, watch our website. We are constantly in hiring mode Bus drivers right now across the board. Districts throughout Kings County, and Hanford Elementary for that matter, are in great need of bus drivers. Hanford Elementary in particular, we are constantly looking for ready staff, staff to provide that after school enrichment program from, you know, three to six in the evening. So there's a constant need for paraprofessionals, as you mentioned, rob. So those are our ready program tutors. Even our paraprofessionals that support our transitional kindergarten classes, aides that support our students in special education, as well as positions across the district for classified spots, were constantly in need of custodians, whether it's a full-time position or subbing, for that matter, getting on to help sub in the classroom as a certificated teacher or sub in classified positions such as a custodial or aides, but then as well, hiring for those positions constantly in hiring mode.

Speaker 1:

So you don't do this alone. You've got just a tremendous staff and administrators, a team of administrators, and this is your opportunity to give all of your people in Hanford Elementary a shout out.

Speaker 2:

I am super biased. I love Hanford Elementary. This is my 33rd year in the district, finishing up my eighth year as superintendent, and we have an incredible team across the board at all levels, at all positions. We have a strong administrative team at our school sites. At the district level, of course, our human resources department, led by Jamie Martinez, our assistant superintendent of HR, and his support staff, cherise Rose and Michelle Alexander. Cherise works with our classified personnel, michelle with our certificated. Jill Rubikava is our assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction and leads that good hard work of you know, teaching our students day in and day out, supported by great staff, and they're our curriculum specialist. Great staff and they're a curriculum specialist. Jason Strickland is our assistant superintendent of special services, overseeing Ready, the nurses, the counselors, as well as Leslie Morin, who is our program specialist for special, keeps his money on the, his eyes on the money, and keeps us going as well. Our director of facilities, bill Potter. Our IT department, which everything tech related these days, david Goldsmith. In that area we have a great which I didn't even highlight super proud of our induction program.

Speaker 2:

No-transcript. We have a great team that keep our grounds looking phenomenal Frank Lorenco, doug Rose, our principals out at our schools, our learning directors. I could go through our teachers in our classroom. I mean, that's where the rubber hits the road in the classrooms, working with the students on academics. We have a tremendous music program, great music at our elementary schools and then, of course, at both Woodrow Wilson and JFK and Jefferson.

Speaker 2:

I could list off all of our incredible music people, our art program and our support staff that are right out there alongside helping keep this all going, from, you know, our food service workers in the cafeterias to our bus drivers who pick up those students early in the morning and get them to school safely. We have working here every day, day in and day out, for our students and without a dedicated and committed board. I'd like to acknowledge our board. They're steadfast and committed to what's right by students and staff. Bobby Garcia, jeff Garner, lupe Hernandez, tim Ravius and Greg Strickland are committed to the community of Hanford and to our students and our staff. So I hope I didn't leave anybody out, because we really have a tremendous group of individuals working in our organization.

Speaker 1:

That's often the difficulty when you want to thank so many people that you leave someone off. But, joy, it's been a wonderful time catching up with you and all of the wonderful things happening in the Hanford Elementary School District, and I'd like to wish you and your staff a successful end of the school year, coming up and looking forward to next school year.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, Rob. I've appreciated the opportunity to brag on Hanford Elementary School District and the great things we have going on. I enjoyed our time together and hopefully gave a good little glimpse into our wonderful organization.

Speaker 1:

If you enjoyed this podcast and you'd like to show your support, you can go to buymeacoffeecom slash Hanford Insider to make a donation. If you'd like to join the Hanford Insider email list, stop by my website at hanfordinsidercom to sign up for updates. You'll also get an exclusive copy of my newsletter in your inbox each week. I also need your help getting the word out about the show by liking and sharing on social media or telling a friend For more information about the show. You can find this podcast on Facebook, instagram, threads X and YouTube at Hanford Insider. If you have a show idea, be sure to email me at HanfordInsider at gmailcom and I'll look into it. Thanks for listening. Remember I'll be back with all new shows on January 13th.

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Rob Bentley

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