Bullis Charter School students participated in record numbers at the state Mandarin Speech Contest April 22, organized by the Chinese Language Teachers Association of California.

Of the 31 Bullis Charter School students competing, eight placed first in their categories, with four placing second and 10 receiving honorable mentions. This was the school’s eighth year competing in the contest, which includes categories for students from first grade through college.

Participants write their own two- or three- minute speeches and memorize them. Judges evaluate competitors on the accuracy of their Mandarin pronunciation and tones, fluency, speech delivery and content.

While seventh-grader Anushka Srinivasan had studied Mandarin at Bullis Charter School for seven years, she only decided to participate in the speech contest after her family hosted an exchange student from the school’s sister school in China earlier this year.

“When I saw that she understood my Mandarin conversations, I felt more confident,” Anushka said in a press release.

Bullis Charter School Mandarin teacher Qinglin Yang and her team of five teachers worked with Anushka and other students during after-school office hours to prepare them for the contest.

“The speech contest provides each student with a chance to excel in public speaking, to improve their Mandarin skills and to gain a sense of achievement through their hard work and practice,” Yang said.

Third-grader Colin Chin, who has studied Mandarin since kindergarten, competed for the third time this year. After struggling with nerves during his first two competitions, this year he placed second in his age category.

“I finally overcame my nerves,” Colin said, “and I didn’t care if I got a trophy or not, because I knew I finally did it.”

Fourth-grader Philip Oberheart had a broader goal for the speech contest.

“In case I am the CEO of a company and do business with China, it will help me communicate with the people in China, convince them of my ideas, and help my social skills,” he said.

In addition to Anushka and Philip, first-place winners included Ariana Poonen, Timothy Moon, Miles Sijstermans, Lillian Liu, Linnea Sheen Forslin and Allison Mitloff.

In addition to Colin, second-place winners included Kaitlin Cho, Edan Cui and Jennifer Cruden.

Students taking home honorable mentions included Ishaan Nambiar, Caroline Yu, Mia Sijstermans, Eshwar Vinnakota, Annabel Zhao, Maya Dutta, Aveline Lapetina, Elizabeth Cruden, Ava McClatchie and Annabelle Fu.

The excitement was palpable when U.S. Olympian Ashton Eaton visited Bullis Charter School earlier this month.

Eaton is a decathlete and two-time Olympic champion, winning gold at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games. He is often referred to as the “World’s Greatest Athlete” for his dominance in the 10-event decathlon and his world records in both the decathlon and indoor heptathlon.

Eaton visited Bullis Charter School to share his story of hard work and success and in turn inspire students to pursue their own dreams.

“Tenacity, perseverance and determination are values we work to instill in our students,” said Wanny Hersey, founding superintendent. “And Ashton embodies them all to the highest degree.”

Eaton spoke to students at K-5 assemblies on both the North and South campuses and at a special middle school assembly. He described how he developed a passion for his sport while playing in his own backyard as a child, literally jumping over a stick and measuring success through small, incremental steps. Eaton discussed the importance of healthy eating and how learning to take care of his body furthered his success in his sport. He also emphasized the importance of gratitude and graciousness. Eaton said he could fill the entire assembly room with the people who have supported him and helped him reach his goals.

“If you’re a winner, you have to understand you did not get there on your own,” he said.

At the end of each assembly, applause erupted when Eaton pulled his gold medal from his pocket and placed it around his neck.

Eaton spent the remainder of his time at Bullis Charter School teaching a seventh-grade PE class and reviewing and judging an eighth-grade “School of the Future” design competition. The activities provided students the opportunity for interaction with the Olympian.

In the PE class, Eaton demonstrated a variety of physical strategies to improve running speed and wowed the students with his javelin-throwing technique. He then divided the students into groups and put them through several decathlon training exercises, offering encouragement and high-fives along the way.

“I never thought of myself as someone who had the ability to be a good long jumper, but after listening to the world’s greatest athlete speak to our class, and in particular his positive words for me after watching my long jump, I am now inspired to push myself in the long jump,” said seventh-grader Anushka Srinivasan.

Bullis Charter School recently hired Cynthia Brictson as its new principal/director of instructional services.

She replaces Jocelyn Lee, who resigned to become director of the Oshman Family JCC Leslie Family Preschool, which her children attend.

Brictson comes to Los Altos from Atlanta, where she served as deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction and regional superintendent for DeKalb County Schools.

“We are so thrilled that Ms. Brictson has joined the BCS family and will be an integral part of our leadership team,” said Wanny Hersey, Bullis Charter School founding superintendent. “She is incredibly passionate about technology, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and forward-thinking approaches to curriculum and will join us in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in public education.”

Brictson has been entrenched in many aspects of public education, including staff development, technology integration and implementation of STEAM and data-driven approaches to student learning. During her time in Georgia, she supported the STEM certification of nine public schools. She is an Apple Innovative Educator, serves on the board of advisers for the STEM World School in India and is a member of the Chief Academic Advisory Council for the Center for Digital Education.

Prior to joining Bullis Charter School, Brictson served as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction in Georgia, as director of teaching and learning for West Metro Education School District in Minnesota, as coordinator of curriculum and instruction and graduation standards staff development for K-12 in the St. Louis Park School District in Minnesota and as principal at Smith Elementary School, recognized as a Title I Distinguished School three years in a row.

Brictson said she is “deeply passionate” about project-based learning and “excited” to work alongside students as they solve real-world problems and gain the tools they need to be successful. She is getting to know the students, parents and staff and will be a regular presence at both the north and south Bullis Charter School campuses.

“It is with great excitement that I join Bullis Charter School, an innovation leader in public education, as their new principal,” she said. “Working for a school that is committed to inspiring students to reach their full potential and become lifelong learners is an honor.”

Bullis Charter School doesn’t just hire new teachers – through its Associate Teacher Program, administrators ensure that every new instructor is properly prepared and the perfect fit.

“The Associate Teacher Program is a certified position, with the primary objective of helping reduce the teacher-student ratio in order to execute the personalized learning program we have at Bullis,” Superintendent Wanny Hersey said.

But lowering the teacher-student ratio is just one of the benefits of the program, according to Hersey.

Researching the idea of a teacher-residency program, officials from the Bank Street College of Education’s Sustainable Funding Project recently visited Bullis Charter School to witness the Associate Teacher Program in action.

The Sustainable Funding Project was created to address ways to guarantee that all aspiring teachers matriculate through affordable, high-quality programs that enable them to enter the profession prepared for the demands of 21st-century classrooms.

Hersey first learned of the Sustainable Funding Project after program director Karen DeMoss co-authored a New York Times article titled “Train Teachers Like Doctors.”

“Our goal is to spread the intention to have teacher preparation include a yearlong co-teaching residency placement and for that to become the norm,” DeMoss said.

After Hersey contacted DeMoss to discuss the charter school’s Associate Teacher Program, DeMoss and colleague Brigid Fallon visited the school.

“I’ve visited hundreds of schools doing all sorts of research, and Bullis has this sort of shared vision for continuous improvement – among the strongest I’ve ever seen,” DeMoss said. “They attribute that to the Associate Teacher Program; there is so much continued learning that goes along with that program.”

During their two-day visit, DeMoss and Fallon observed Bullis Charter School’s program for all new instructors – whether they are just out of their certification program, returning to teaching after a few years off or new to the school.

There is one associate teacher for every three homeroom classrooms, enabling the associates to work with three mentor teachers and exposing them to different grade levels and subjects.

“They help support the curriculum,” Hersey said. “They work in areas that either they need more experience in or they want to improve in.”

Hersey explained that the associate teachers have multiple chances to improve. They might teach a science lesson in one classroom, receive feedback from the teacher of that class and then have the opportunity to refine that same lesson for one of their other classes.

Another benefit is that associate teachers can easily substitute in classrooms when a teacher is absent. Hersey said the school currently has three teachers out on leave, and having the associate teachers serve as long-term subs creates a seamless transition with no lost learning time.

MENTORING ASPECT

Nate Rinaker, who teaches second grade at the school, said when he was an associate teacher, he got to know two grade levels and worked with teachers with different teaching styles.

“The relationship as an associate teacher has continued,” he said. “I still go back and run ideas by my mentor teachers.”

Rinaker said he loves working with associate teachers now because he likes to “be the one who gives back.”

“It goes both ways,” he said. “I have a responsibility to give associate teachers feedback, but I am open to feedback myself.”

Students also appreciate the associate teachers, according to Rinaker.

“Most of the associate teachers work across more than one grade level, and as the kids go up in the grade they will likely see that familiar face again,” he said.

Rinaker added that the program boosts confidence, and the “more gradual” step to becoming a teacher will most likely prolong the associate teachers’ careers.

For more information on the Sustainable Funding Project, visit bankstreet.edu/innovation-policy-research.

For more information on Bullis Charter School, visit bullischarterschool.com.

In an effort to share its model of learning, Bullis Charter School has hosted educators from California, Texas, Japan and China this year.

The educators visited Bullis Charter School for a better understanding of how its integrated academic program is put into practice and how they can replicate it at their own schools.

The visits highlighted Bullis Charter School’s personalized learning, design thinking, FabLab and MakerSpace. Tours enable teachers, administrators and other education specialists to discuss the curriculum with charter school staff and ask questions.

Taisuke Hosokawa, professor at Tokyo Gakugei University, visited Bullis Charter School in the fall to see the FabLab and MakerSpace in action. His 12-person group of professors and graduate students were also interested in how the school’s ethos of global citizenship and emphasis on world languages play out in the classroom.

The FabLab, geared toward upper-grade students, houses technologies that teachers integrate in students’ project-based learning units. The MakerSpace, aimed at students in the lower grades, promotes design and assists students in developing prototypes for solutions to real-world problems.

Hosokawa said the tour was inspiring for his country’s reform efforts because “education is based on innovative philosophy and (Bullis Charter School) puts it into practice.”

Wanny Hersey, founding superintendent of the charter school, said the tours are a larger part of the school’s commitment to innovate and develop new teaching methods and best practices that can be adopted by other schools in locally and globally.

Los Altos Hills Mayor John Harpootlian, who recently organized a school tour for local private school administrators, echoed the same sentiment.

“When it comes to the education of our children, it is not a competition – we all have the same goal,” he said. “The BCS VIP tours make clear the desire to share what works with the community. We all have the opportunity to benefit.”

Bullis Charter School recently hosted an extended stay for four teachers from Chengdu Experimental Primary School and Chengdu Chengfei Primary School – a technology school network in China.

“As much as possible and in as many ways as possible, we want to share our insights and innovations to ensure that same level of academic excellence we provide our students can be replicated in different schools,” Hersey said. “Our mission to push the boundaries of public education doesn’t stop at the borders of Los Altos or Santa Clara – it extends worldwide.”

After a successful first year, the Santa Clara County Office of Education and Bullis Charter School kicked off the second Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math Integrated Project-Based Learning practicum for educators last week.

The inaugural practicum drew participation from more than 40 educators in Santa Clara County schools, exceeding expectations. The demand for the project led to an expansion with this year’s workshops, seminars and symposium.

Under guidance from Bullis Charter School and the Office of Education, school educators learn about the STEAM educational model through interactive videos, one-on-one training sessions, seminars and tours of the charter school. The program aims to empower and equip participants with the tools to improve teacher quality and enrichment opportunities for students. The practicum showcases the highlights of public education when schools come together to share best practices and learn from one another.

The first session of this year’s practicum, the Tinkering Workshop, took place Sept. 15 at the Exploratorium. The yearlong series culminates April 21 and May 11 with a STEAM Pre-Symposium at the Santa Clara County Office of Education in San Jose.

For more information, visit bcssteam.weebly.com.

Wanny Hersey, founding superintendent/principal of Bullis Charter School, recently won the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ Digital Early Learning Award.

The award acknowledges Hersey for the school’s emphasis on creating and implementing digital tools and offering blended-learning, early-education services that are scientific, holistic, experiential, accountable and relevant to the personalized needs of each student.

Hersey was among five elementary school principals from across the nation selected to receive the award, and the only recipient from California. Winners are scheduled to be recognized at the association’s Better Practices for Better Schools Conference in Maryland July 6.

Hersey has spearheaded the integration of technology in every aspect of the learning process at every level at Bullis Charter School. From kindergarten to middle school, students use technology to deepen and individualize their learning experience.

“I am honored to win this award,” Hersey said. “It reflects the innovation and hard work of the entire BCS staff and our commitment to leveraging our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) program to seamlessly integrate technology into the BCS K-8 core curriculum, ensuring that technology is accessible to every student. As a national Digital Citizenship school, we are also dedicated to fostering a culture of digital learning, enabling our students to think critically and participate responsibly in both the digital and real worlds.”

In partnership with VINCI Education, the association created the award to recognize principals who have embraced technology that supports early learners in grades K-3. The organizations advocate for a blended curriculum and programs to help educators learn strategies and gain the necessary skills, including the use of digital tools, to help students succeed in school and beyond.

At Bullis Charter School, students learn to use technology to research, communicate, code, model and design starting in kindergarten. All students have access to state-of-the-art tools in the MakerSpace and FabLab, where they are challenged to think critically and work collaboratively. With technological tools like Chrome Books, iPads and iPods available in every classroom, students can choose their own focus areas to conduct independent research, deepen investigation skills and draw their own conclusions.

Hersey was also honored for the school’s use of FreshGrade, a new online assessment tool that makes learning visible by capturing, documenting and communicating progress via digital portfolios. Students, teachers and parents are able to communicate in real time using the interactive digital platform, enabling all to focus on the learning process, not just the outcome.

For more information, visit naesp.org/digital-leader-early-learning-award.