Our Community

WestEd takes pride in the accomplishments and interests of our staff. Here's a bulletin board of recent happenings in our community.

WestEd Congratulates Stanley Chow for His Outstanding Professional Service, 1969-2008

WestEd Board of Directors and staff recently celebrated Stanley Chow's 39 years at the agency. Chow, who retired in April 2008, served as WestEd's Director of Regional Services. Among his many accomplishments at WestEd was capturing the collective knowledge of the agency staff who have provided external technical assistance to nearly 100 low-performing schools and districts since 1999. Chow synthesized their findings, shared the lessons learned, and evaluated and expanded the work in collaboration with other professionals who are helping high-needs schools transform nationwide.

Celebrating Excellence in 2007: WestEd Staff Awards

WestEd's Staff Awards program recognizes the effort and excellence of our employees, both as individuals and as teams based in single offices or spanning locations nationwide. While applauding the accomplishments of our programs, projects, and people, these Awards offer additional opportunities for staff to learn about their colleagues' work and supplement connections among their peers.

Paul D. Hood Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Field

The Paul D. Hood Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Field honors staff contributions to education research, development, and service. Award winners are known for an outstanding body of work, and their excellence is broadly acknowledged by their colleagues in the field.

Yolanda Garcia, Director, E3 Institute, Center for Child & Family Studies

Under Garcia's leadership, WestEd's E3 Institute, Advancing Excellence in Early Education has become a model of increasing community access to high-quality child care.

K–12 Alliance Team, Mathematics, Science, & Technology Program

Thousands of teachers have worked with the K–12 Alliance Team, developing mathematics and science content knowledge and leadership skills, affecting the learning of millions of students.

Award for Exceptional Contribution to the WestEd Community

The Award for Exceptional Contribution to the WestEd Community celebrates the positive impact of staff on institutional operations, team performance, and workplace productivity. Award winners exhibit a level of professionalism and initiative that is extraordinary for its thoroughness and thoughtfulness.

Kenwyn Derby, Research Associate, Innovation Studies

With her keen sense of effective communication, Derby has strengthened both her team's productivity and WestEd's reputation with our clients.

Silvia DeRuvo, Program Associate, Center for Prevention & Early Intervention

A widely respected scholar, trainer, and leader in special education, DeRuvo builds bridges between special education and regular education, between programs and teams within the agency, and between our staff and our clients.

Barbara Dietsch, Research Associate, Health & Human Development Program (HHDP)

The growth of HHDP's work in San Diego is attributed in large part to Dietsch's example of leadership and superlative client relations.

Christopher Ruperto, Financial Analyst, Accounting & Finance Department

Ruperto helps program staff develop and understand hundreds of complex budgets each year, assuring realistic planning and resource allocations.

Mary Stenson, Executive Administrative Assistant, Learning Innovations

Through her wealth of organizational knowledge and expertise in bringing people together, Stenson helps keep WestEd on many "short lists" in the Northeast.

Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) Team in Nicaragua

WestEd's Edilma Serna and Consuelo Espinosa piloted a successful PITC-based curriculum and system of support for the staff members at Divino Niño, an orphanage in Managua, Nicaragua.

WestEd Loses a Colleague and Friend

Ralph Baker, WestEd staff member since 1970, died in his sleep in Oakland, California, on February 11, 2008. Tragically, at the time of his death, Ralph had just begun a long-awaited retirement — one celebrated by WestEd colleagues, friends, and family at a tribute party at WestEd's San Francisco office on November 27th.

For more than 35 years Ralph Baker worked with schools and districts on school reform issues. He served in a variety of staff and leadership capacities, including for the Experience-Based Career Education program and as the first principal of the Far West High School in Oakland.

Ralph was well loved and will be missed by all who knew him.

WestEd Congratulates Judy Shulman for Her Exemplary Leadership, 1983-2007

WestEd staff recently celebrated Judy Shulman's 24 years at the agency.

Shulman, who retired September 2007, served as WestEd's Director of the Institute for Case Development and the National Board Support Network. She conducted professional development and technical assistance that not only facilitated quality teacher instruction, but enabled teachers to learn and grow from their experience.

Tenth Year for WestEd Involvement in Breast Cancer Walk

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer WestEd—October 2007

This year more than 280 WestEd staff, Board members, consultants, family members, and clients joined several Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walks held across the country. These fundraisers support cancer research and early detection programs that save lives.