Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Breaks Ground on Performing Arts Center

The Board of Education of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District broke ground on its 300 seat state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center.  The SMJUHSD Performing Arts Center will be located at Pioneer Valley High School and will be available to Santa Maria High School and Righetti High School.  The theater is being built by Vernon Edwards Contractors, Inc., under the Lease-Leaseback construction methodology available to California school districts under Section 17401 of the Education Code.  The theater is expected to be completed in January of 2017.

The International Community Foundation

Yuri Calderon was the general counsel and chief operating officer of Caldwell Flores Winters, Inc. Through this consulting firm, Mr. Calderon provides financial advisory services, educational consulting, and program management services to public schools and community colleges in California. Yuri Calderon also serves on the International Community Foundation (ICF) Board of Directors.

The ICF seeks to increase grant-making efforts to create sustainable communities in Latin America. For the past 25 years, the ICF has focused on four program areas: education, health, environment, and cross-cutting initiatives. Some of its initiatives include the ecological preservation of the Baja California Peninsula and the Sea of Cortez, urban development and wellness of the Baja community, and educational funding of schools throughout Latin America.

To fund these advocacies, the ICF has built relationships with industry leaders such as Amazon. The ICF receives a percentage of each item purchased by customers through AmazonSmile, the charitable initiative of Amazon. For more information, visit smile.amazon.com.

New Trends in Educational Technology

After completing his law degree at Georgetown University Law Center, Yuri Calderon represented governmental entities such as school districts and community colleges. In line with his practice, Yuri Calderon follows educational issues, such as the integration of technology to advance education.

The education sector recognizes the influence of modern technology in instruction. In 2014 alone, educational technology saw an increase of 55 percent in funding. The modernization of classroom instruction resulted in the following educational technology trends:

Flipped learning - Students can learn their lessons outside of classroom settings, through online-based classroom technology. Students learn from video lectures and online content, increasing engagement outside the school environment.

Gamification - This concept makes classroom activities more engaging by applying typical game systems to learning tasks. Educators challenge students and reward them, giving positive learning experiences.

Digital textbooks - Replacing traditional textbooks, multiple digital resources can be downloaded into tablets or computers. Digital textbooks are less expensive as well, and resources can be updated instantly to include new information.

Technology in Classrooms Helps Students Solve Real Problems

 

Attorney Yuri Calderon oversees firm operations and legal matters for Caldwell Flores Winters, Inc., where he also provides public K-14 school districts with professional facilities consulting services. As part of his work with the consulting firm, Yuri Calderon maintains an active interest in developments in education, especially as they relate to technology in the classroom.

Technology in the classroom often helps facilitate active approaches to learning. Students use technology to work out solutions to real problems rather than passively sitting through lectures. They may code new games instead of just playing, or learn to mix music instead of streaming someone else's.

Inspired educators can encourage students to apply their knowledge to contemporary issues using technology. Classrooms around the nation have successfully used 3D printing to create functional prosthetics, designed fuel-efficient vehicles with drafting technology, and even used robotic technology to allow a hospitalized student to attend classes remotely. These applications of technology not only give students practical experience, but also allow them to make a real impact in their communities.

International Community Foundation Works to Save Historic Landmark

Yuri Calderon serves as COO and general counsel to Caldwell Flores Winters, Inc. in Emeryville, California. In addition to his work with the firm, Yuri Calderon serves on the board of directors of the International Community Foundation (ICF).

The ICF facilitates charitable giving by Americans to charitable organizations around the world, and more specifically to Latin American countries. Over the past 25 years, ICF has developed unparalleled knowledge of and relationships in the Baja California peninsula and Sea of Cortez region. ICF is committed to improving the quality of life in this region through community grants and special projects. ICF's efforts are creating lasting improvements in education, health and the environment that result in a stronger civil society, better-protected marine and terrestrial ecosystems, healthier communities, and more effective education systems.

The organization is currently working to restore a century-old historic landmark in El Triunfo, Mexico. The La Ramona smelter smokestack has sat in disrepair during its recent idle years and suffered greatly from lightning strikes and inclement weather. 

The 150-foot smokestack presents a danger to the community as it stands now. Rather than tearing it down, the ICF is helping community members restore their landmark to its former glory. If all goes well, the refurbished structure will increase tourism revenue and remain a cultural icon for years to come.