Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
True Gold and Red: Gov. Gray Davis shows his wife, Sharon, the Willow Glen High School rugby shirt he received from the students, along with flowers and baseball cap.
Gov. Gray Davis visits WGHS, recognizes 77 of its students
School's test scores are fastest-improving of SJ's high schools
By Kate Carter
Seventy-seven students at Willow Glen High School met Gov. Gray Davis Feb. 7 when he came to personally congratulate them on earning $1,000 scholarships by scoring in the top percentages of all students taking the state's standardized tests.
Davis, his wife, Sharon, and San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales joined Principal Pat Day, San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Linda Murray and other district officials in praising Willow Glen for being the city's fastest-improving high school.
"The reason we are here is that Willow Glen is leading the way in San Jose," the Democratic governor said to the hundreds of students, teachers and parents gathered in the high school's gym. "You are the only school in San Jose that has met its improvement targets three years in a row. You are the leader in San Jose; everyone else is following the Rams."
Davis established the $118 million Governor's Scholarship Awards Program in 2000 to reward high school students who took the state's Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) exams and scored in the top 5 percent of California students of their grade level or the top 10 percent of students in their class. Across the state, more than 113,000 public school students earned the scholarships this year, 707 in San Jose. Students who continue to score high enough can receive up to $3,000 of the scholarship over three years. The money becomes available to them when they are ready to enter an accredited college or university.
Davis thanked Gonzales, Murray, Day and Willow Glen's teachers, parents and students for living up to and surpassing the state's expectations and also presented Day with the governor's High Expectations Award. Davis took the opportunity to talk about investments the state is making in education, in elementary, middle and high schools, as well as beyond.
"Nothing happens at a school without leadership at the top," Davis said. "All of us who care about you have one goal--to [help] you be the best students you can be and to be the best adults you can be. We make you take lots of tests, as I know you love to do."
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Outstanding Scholars: A total of 77 students from Willow Glen High School earned $1,000 Governor's Scholarship Awards for their standardized test scores.
Davis said that state education funding has increased 34 percent in the past three years, and the state has trained 100,000 more teachers.
"We're making real progress," he said. "We're demanding better student performance as a result. I thank you for doing your part."
In conjunction with the scholarship program, which also gives scholars more money for high scores on math and science advanced placement tests--the state's expanded CalGrant program, which gives B average high school students the money they need to go to state college--California will be providing one-third of all the financial aid in the country in six years, Davis said.
Day thanked Davis for the money that has enabled Willow Glen to fund new equipment, including 130 new computers, personnel and programs, and thanked Gonzales for the city's support of the school's homework center.
Day, a supporter of standardized testing who touted Willow Glen's academic improvements over the past several years, was excited to have Gonzales and the Davises present at the school. He told the Willow Glen Resident that the STAR test scores are only one way that student achievement is assessed, and hoped that students who excel in other areas, such as the arts, would also receive similar recognition.
"I think it's a good start," Day said. "I hope to see it grow."
Gonzales reiterated the importance of education to the group and encouraged the students to remain in the area and help make San Jose's future a better one.
"I don't want you to have to leave the Silicon Valley," he said. "I don't want you to leave San Jose. You can't do that without a college education."
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Praises Due: Gov. Gray Davis visited Willow Glen High School Feb. 7 to acknowledge its increasing academic success.
Senior Veronica Montolongo, one of Willow Glen's 22 students who was in the top 5 percent of the state's seniors, introduced the governor and mayor in both English and Spanish. The mock-trial attorney and softball third-basewoman said she was honored to welcome the dignitaries and pleased with the school's performance.
"We are proud of our accomplishments and hope to continue in our endeavors to be the best," Montolongo told the gathering.
Association Student Body President Arwen Lange presented Gonzales and the Davises with red and gold Willow Glen baseball caps and rugby shirts.
Gray Davis almost didn't make it to the school last week. Two days before the event, the school found out he would be coming in person, Vice Principal Carmen Mahood told The Resident. But the next day, the school learned he wouldn't be coming after all. Mahood then called the mayor's office, found out Davis would be meeting with Gonzales, and was able to get Gonzales to come visit the school. Once Gonzales had cleared his schedule for Willow Glen, Davis did the same, Mahood said.
Davis, who is up for re-election this year, told the group that he was fighting a cold and would have sent his wife alone, but he "did not want to disappoint anyone."
Michelle Marie and Eric Green, parents of Willow Glen sophomore Alex Green, who earned a governor's scholarship, were present to see the governor and mayor honor their son, who is also a member of the football, basketball and track teams. They said the money will help put Alex through college, but it is just the beginning of how much money it's going to take.
"This says to me that test scores are important to the governor," Eric said. "It shows how elected officials take the tests seriously."
"And it shows that [Willow Glen] High School has been improving," Michelle Marie said. "It shows the kids how important academics are."
For more information about the scholarship program, visit www.scholarshare.com. For more information about CalGrants visit www.csac.ca.gov.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
