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Back to School Convocation Opens New School Year in ABC

ABC Unified School District opened the 2012-2013 school year with a Back to School Convocation on Sept. 4. More than 1,000 teachers and administrators filled the Cerritos High School Gym in the morning to meet and hear from ABC Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Mary Sieu.

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Welcoming teachers to the to the 2012-13 Back to School Convocation were Broad Member James Kang, Superintendent Dr. Mary Sieu, including Broad President Olympia Chen, Lakewood Mayor Diane DuBois, AFT President Ray Gaer, Board Member Sophia Tse, Hawaiian Garden Mayor Mike Gomez, Board Members Lynda Johnson, Maynard Law and Celia Spitzer, Assistant Superintendent Valencia Mayfield, and Cerritos Mayor Jim Edwards.


Her story of her humble beginnings resulted in a moving standing ovation from the audience. Later, she outlined the five major strategic plan directions for the District and the activities that were aligned with each goal.
Other presenters included Olympia Chen, President of the Board of Education, Verritos Mayor Jim Edwards, Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Mike Gomez and Lakewood Mayor Diane Dubois. Each commended the great work of the teachers and leaders in the schools serving these communities. Ray Gaer, President of the ABC Federation of Teachers announced the 40th anniversary of the ABCFT Charter as part of his presentation. Sergio Garcia, President of the ABCMA welcomed everyone back to school on behalf of the leadership in the District.
The Convocation closed with a movie, produced by Valencia Mayfield, Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services and David Franklin, Program Specialist, describing the District’s progress in implementing the new Common Core Standards and the work ahead with new changes in curriculum, instruction and assessment.
This was the first Back to School Convocation for all teachers and administrators that included civic leaders, the Board of Education and district administrators. The Convocation welcomed all the teachers representing 30 schools in the District, along with teachers from the Preschool/Child Development Programs and Adult School.
Following the Convocation in the morning, everyone returned to their school sites to get ready for the opening of school on Sept. 6.