DEER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER RECIPIENT OF SPECIALIZED SECONDARY PROGRAMS GRANT
Teacher Stephanie Marple of Deer Valley High School, in Antioch, California, was awarded the 2020-2021 Specialized Secondary Programs (SSP) Grant by the California Department of Education, Career and College Transitions Division. The SSP grant “provides start-up funds for the establishment of new specialized programs in grades nine through twelve in California high schools. The programs are expected to develop new standards-based model curriculum that promote an in-depth study of a targeted content area. The Legislature intends for SSP to benefit the state economy by having schools located in close proximity to related industries.”
Marple will be developing curriculum for a new CTE Family and Human Services pathway, comprised of a concentrator and capstone class, to hopefully be implemented at Deer Valley High School in the next few years. Marple identified the need for such a program based on Antioch and its related industries, such as Kaiser, Sutter, Children and Family Services, and various other human-service-related businesses. Marple, who currently teaches CTE Careers with Children and CTE Developmental Psychology of Children, stated, “A lot of students who take my classes don’t necessarily want to be teachers. Many are interested in social work or marriage and family therapy. This new pathway, which is not offered anywhere else in California, to our knowledge, would allow them to pursue that interest.” Like Marple’s current courses, the new pathway would also fall under the umbrella of the ACE Academy, an academy dedicated to advanced research projects and hands-on experience at DVHS.
The first year of the grant is considered the planning phase. Up to 20 planning grants were awarded through the selection process. After the first year of the grant (2021-2022), successful planning grant applicants may qualify for three years of implementation funding. Typically, implementation grants are funded for approximately $100,000 during the first year of implementation, $75,000 for the second year, and $35,000 for the third year. Marple hopes at the end of the planning year to receive implementation funding to ensure the success of the new courses.
For more information on the SSP grant or DVHS, visit:
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/hs/sspgen.asp
https://www.antiochschools.net/Domain/27