Uncategorized

Math Coaching for DeJean Middle School Students

Published

13 years ago

April 19, 2013

Oakland Post

Dr. Sylvia Greenwood, Principal of DeJean Middle School.

By Post Staff

A new math tutoring program funded by For Richmond is giving students at DeJean Middle School an extra boost by offering one-on-one coaching, targeted strategies and new hope for those who previously struggled with the standard classroom curriculum.
Since January, the Mathematics Coaching Consortium at West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) has made it possible for 50 seventh- and eighth-graders from DeJean to meet afterschool with math coaches twice a week and learn new ways to tackle fractions, algebra and other tough problems hard to master in a fast-paced classroom setting.
The program, which is coordinated through the district’s Mathematics Center, is the first Richmond-based program of its kind in the district dedicated entirely to math achievement.
With state standardized testing coming up this spring, DeJean Principal Dr. Sylvia Greenwood said For Richmond’s support for this tutoring program will hopefully help the school and district improve its test scores while offering the students resources they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
“This program is fantastic,” Greenwood said. “I am thrilled that our students are able to get the one-on-one tutoring they need to excel in math, while also benefiting from the opportunity to develop relationships with mentors and role models for success.”
The new tutoring program is funded entirely by For Richmond, which also provided outreach to the families of students nominated to join. For Richmond staff visited the homes of selected students, both to discuss their math performance and also make the twice-weekly commitment.
The tutoring program will continue until the end of the school year, and For Richmond intends to continue its support in 2013-14.
“This program is all part of For Richmond’s work to equip Richmond students with every opportunity possible to excel at math – a subject critical to our students’ future success,” said Madeline Kronenberg, Board President of the West Contra Costa Unified School District and chair of For Richmond’s education committee.
Although the program is still new, Phil Gonsalves, director of math curriculum and instruction for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, said student participants are already fired up and enthusiastic to learn.
“We had one student who said, ‘Thank you for providing snacks, but can we just do fractions?’” said Gonsalves. “When you have kids willing to skip snacks to do fractions, you know they love it.”
While math tends to be a universally tough subject for students to master, Gonsalves and program specialist Drew Kravin, believe that a little extra attention and a lot of re-conceptualizing of traditional math concepts can help any student become proficient.
“Our philosophy is to show kids that there are multiple ways of doing math, and they should pick the one that works best for them,” Gonsalves said.
Visualizing equations differently, setting aside abstract “rules” that confuse, and growing student confidence in their own ability to think logically all play roles in tutoring.
The coaches at DeJean are district teachers and part of a large group of math educators in West Contra Costa who are working hard to hone their methods for improving achievement.

Oakland Post

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Uncategorized

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

8 months ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Special to The Post

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA) today Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million.

In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland’s HCD stated, “Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities.”

In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is the media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

12 months ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.

Special to The Post

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units, including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Alameda County

Oakland Acquisition Company’s Acquisition of County’s Interest in Coliseum Property on the Verge of Completion

The Board of Supervisors is committed to closing the deal expeditiously, and County staff have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward on mutually agreeable terms. The parties are down to the final details and, with the cooperation of OAC and Coliseum Way Partners, LLC, the Board will take a public vote at an upcoming meeting to seal this transaction.

Published

1 year ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Haubert. Official photo.

Special to The Post

The County of Alameda announced this week that a deal allowing the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC, (“OAC”) to acquire the County’s 50% undivided interest in the Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum complex is in the final stages of completion.

Oakland has already finalized a purchase and sale agreement with OAC for its interest in the property. OAC’s acquisition of the County’s property interest will achieve two longstanding goals of the County:

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum complex will finally be under the control of a sole owner with capacity to make unilateral decisions regarding the property; and
The County will be out of the sports and entertainment business, free to focus and rededicate resources to its core safety net

In an October 2024 press release from the City of Oakland, the former Oakland mayor described the sale of its 50% interest in the property as an “historic achievement” stating that the transaction will “continue to pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to facilitate single-entity ownership of this property uniquely centered in a corridor of East Oakland that has amazing potential.

“The County is committed to bringing its negotiations with OAC to a close,” said Board President David Haubert.