Jessica Guzman of Washington Intermediate School in Dinuba is completing her second year in the Tulare County Office of Education's Teacher Induction Program (TCTIP) – nearing the end of her journey from corporate trainer to fully-credentialed teacher.

Through TCTIP, Guzman, an English language arts teacher, was able to find support through the program and her onsite mentor to apply the coaching skills she developed in the insurance industry to classrooms with middle school students.

Speaking of her previous work, Guzman said, “Those experiences really shaped the educator I am today because teaching requires those same skills – building trust, coaching growth, and helping people reach their potential. When I transitioned into education, I brought with me that same passion for leadership and personal development, only now with a new focus – my students.”

For teachers who possess a preliminary multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist credential, TCTIP is the support needed for them to grow and improve to effectively meet the academic and social-emotional needs of all students. “Unlike traditional university programs that often focus on coursework and theory, this program centers on mentorship, reflection, and real-time growth,” Guzman said. “Another feature I appreciate is that the program is independently driven. You work on it at your own pace, which is perfect for full-time teachers who wear many hats. For me, balancing English, yearbook, and AVID responsibilities, that flexibility was a huge benefit and allowed me to grow without feeling overwhelmed.”

In California, candidates possessing a preliminary teaching credential must participate in an induction program to gain a mastery of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP). In addition to coursework, candidates are paired with a mentor at their school site, which TCTIP works to secure.

“One of the greatest benefits of participating in the TCOE induction program is the personalized mentorship,” Guzman said. “You receive one-on-one support from an experienced educator who truly understands what you’re experiencing and helps you grow in real time. That mentorship has truly been a lifeline; it’s helped me grow not just as a teacher but as a reflective practitioner and lifelong learner.”

Teachers holding a preliminary credential who need to join an induction program are encouraged to reach out to the staff at TCTIP. More information is available https://tcoe.org/TIP.

Photos above:

~ English teacher Jessica Guzman works with her students at Washington Intermediate School in Dinuba. 

~ Guzman poses with her Teacher Induction Program mentor, Josey Domingcil, a veteran English language arts teacher with over 25 years of experience.

On Saturday, the Migrant Education Program Region VIII welcomed schools from Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties for the eighth annual Regional Speech & Debate Tournament.

Students from 27 schools participated in English and Spanish speech and debate competitions for the chance to advance to the state competition. Students participating in the speech portion of the tournament were required to deliver both a prepared speech and an extemporaneous one in either English or Spanish.

Region VIII had 12 students finish first in the speech competition, which earns them the chance to advance to the state competition, scheduled for May 1-3 in Monterey.

The students from Tulare and Kings counties advancing to the state tournament include:

English Speech

Melanie Briseno, 10^th grade, Sierra Pacific High School (Hanford)

Iker Luna Gonzalez, 7^th grade, Washington Intermediate School (Dinuba)

Eduardo Iniguez, 11^th grade, Dinuba High School

Adelyn Martinez Sierra, 8^th grade, John Muir Middle School (Corcoran)

Kimberly Mendoza, 10^th grade, Dinuba High School

Martin Armando Mendoza Tovar, 9^th grade, Dinuba High School

Camila Orozco, 12^th grade, Corcoran High School

Spanish Speech

Naomi Cabrera Gonzalez, 11^th grade, Dinuba High School

Linda Carol Chacon Pallares, 8^th grade, Strathmore Middle School

Ximena Gomez, 12^th grade, Dinuba High School

Guillermo Miranda Juarez, 9^th grade, Tulare Union High School

Bruna Sanchez, 6^th grade, Earlimart Middle School

Over 700 students attended this year’s Tulare-Kings College & Career EXPO, held this past Friday at the College of Sequoias’ Visalia and Tulare campuses. Students attending represented 22 Kings and Tulare county high schools.

The EXPO finished in the afternoon with awards for students participating in 24 career technical and academic competitions. The competitions ranged from architectural design and fashion design to baking/decorating and video game design, giving students a variety to choose from.

A team from the Mission Oak Engineering Academy shared that they were attracted to the fashion design competition because it would allow them to, "make something from nothing." 

The team took a classic engineering approach by getting all the measurements of their model prior to the competition. 

Admitting they have a new respect for clothing designers, the young men laughed, "it was hard enough to make something that was worn once. We can't imagine making something that has to be worn over and over." For their jacket and pants combo made of ribbon and trash bags, the team took second place.

Competition results will be available for viewing at https://tcoe.org/TKCCCExpo on Tuesday, March 24.

EXPO is a collaboration between COS Career Technical Education Programs, Tulare County Office of Education’s College and Career Readiness, Kings County Office of Education, and high school districts in Visalia and Tulare. For more information, visit https://tcoe.org/TKCCCExpo.

Photo above:

~ Students participate in the Sports Medicine Skills competition at the Tulare-Kings College & Career EXPO at the College of the Sequoias, Visalia Campus.

~ Mission Oak Engineering Academy students create a jacket with ribbon in the Fashion Design competition at the Tulare-Kings College & Career EXPO at the College of the Sequoias, Visalia Campus.

Editor: Robert Herman, Communications Director
Contributors: Nayirah Dosu, Jennifer Fisher, Jaime Burnitzki, George Rodriguez, Heriberto Trevino, Shantall Porchia, Therese Arnold 

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