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Members of the Commission

Caleb Cheung — Chair Margaret Gaston — Vice Chair Constance Baumgardt Blackburn Steven Dean Josephine Calderon Marlon Evans Charles Gahagan Leslie Littman

Shane P. Martin — Ex-Officio Representative Carolyn McInerney Irene Oropeza-Enriquez David Pearson Tine Sloan — Ex-Officio Representative Ting Sun Dr. Beverly Young — Ex-Officio Representative

Caleb Cheung, Chair Position: Teacher Representative Appointed: July 2006 Term Expires: November 2009

Caleb Cheung currently works as the K-12 Science Manager for the Oakland Unified School District. Previously, he taught middle school science for ten years. He also worked as an Adjunct professor at JFK University and Holy Names University where he taught science methodology courses. Caleb received his undergraduate education in Integrated Biology at UC Berkeley, teaching credential from California State University at Hayward, and Master's degree in Curriculum and Teacher Education at Stanford University. A lifelong employee of the Oakland schools, Caleb has made significant contributions to the Oakland Unified School District in the areas of curriculum, recruitment, new teacher support, and standards. He has also written curriculum for the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta and UC Berkeley. In 2000, Caleb was one of the first National Board certified teachers in Oakland and has since served on the National Board's Science Standards Committee and Certification Council. In 2002, Caleb was named Distinguished Educator of the Year by the Marcus Foster Educational Institute, Oakland's Teacher of the Year Award. He also received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2005.

Margaret Gaston, Vice Chair Position: Public Representative Appointed: July 2006 Term Expires: 2009

Margaret Gaston is currently serving as President and Executive Director of the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning, a not-for-profit, public policy organization providing non-partisan, research-based information about teacher development and quality issues. Prior to establishing the Center in 1994, Ms. Gaston was a consultant to philanthropic organizations and public agencies, advising them on strategies to strengthen public education. She formerly worked for the California Department of Education, overseeing the School Improvement Program (SIP), School Program Quality Review, Community Education, and other school reform efforts, and framing policies to promote improvements in curriculum and teaching. Ms. Gaston began her career as an elementary classroom teacher, and subsequently as a high school vice principal in California schools.

Constance Baumgardt Blackburn Position: Teacher Representative Appointed: November 2008 Term Expires: November 2012

Connie Blackburn has been a Kindergarten teacher at Central Elementary School in the Escondido Union School District in San Diego County for 23 years. She holds a Multiple Subjects teaching credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a specialist credential for Communication Handicapped from California State University, Los Angeles. Her area of expertise is in early literacy and cross curricular integration. An eighth generation Californian, she comes from a family of educators. Previously, she has taught the Deaf in Los Angeles County, Louisville, Kentucky and Houston, Texas. Educated in the Torrance Unified School District in Los Angeles County, she holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University, Dominguez Hills and an M.A from California State University, Los Angeles. She was selected as a California Teacher of the Year in 2003 and currently serves on the executive board of the California Teachers of the Year Foundation. She believes passionately in supporting the teaching profession and has served as a master teacher for teacher candidates since 1989. In addition, she has served as a Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) support provider.

Josephine Calderon Position: Public Representative Appointed: November 2006 Term Expires: November 2009

Commissioner Calderon is president of JLC Consultants, a community relations consulting firm in San Diego. She leads her clients through the successful delivery of major projects. Some of the projects she has worked on include: the SR-125 Tollway in San Diego, MTDB's San Ysidro Intermodal Transportation Center Project, and the PG&E National Energy Group's permit application to construct the Otay Mesa Generating Project, a 500-megawatt natural gas power plant in east Otay Mesa. She is president of the Mexican American Business and Professional Association and works extensively with the Latino community on a broad range of topics. She has also worked extensively with California legislators to support education legislation and has actively campaigned for passage of local sales tax measures and school bonds. She currently serves on the UC San Diego Board of Overseers, the San Diego County Office of Education Superintendent's Advisory Board, and the Scripps Mercy Hospital Foundation Board. And she has worked extensively with the San Diego Mayor's Advisory Board, the City of Chula Vista Police Department, and the San Diego County Water Authority. She's recently assisted the City of Chula Vista with the formation of a Citizens Task Force to study and make recommendations on the issue of police civilian review.

Marlon Evans Position: Public Representative Appointed: March 2009 Term Expires: November 2012

Marlon Evans received his BA in Political Science and a MA in Sociology from Stanford University, where he competed on the football and track and field teams. After graduating from Stanford in 1997, he spent one year pursuing a career in the NFL, signing as a free agent with the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts. Marlon then spent three years working at Stanford University in the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Following his tenure at Stanford, Marlon served as the Director of Partnerships at the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) Foundation. Currently he serves as the Executive Director of All Stars Helping Kids, a nonprofit in Redwood City, CA dedicated to promoting a safe, healthy and rigorous learning environment for disadvantaged children. Marlon is a member of the Board of Directors of Sports4Kids.

Charles Gahagan Position: Teacher Representative Appointed: March 2009 Term Expires: November 2012

Charles Gahagan has taught high school English since 1969, with the exception of 1971 to 1974, when he served in the U. S. Army Security Agency as a Russian interpreter. He earned his B.A. from Michigan State University and his M.A. from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, both in English literature. He holds a single subject credential in English, as well as CLAD and GATE certificates. He moved to California from Michigan in 1986 to help open Moreno Valley Canyon Springs High School, where he still teaches AP English literature. An English department co-chair and co-chair of the school's WASC Leadership Team, he has taught most courses found in a high school English department, including newspaper, yearbook, film studies and humanities. Currently a workshop presenter for the SB472 teacher training program, he has also taught education classes and conducted other teacher workshops. He has been active in new-teacher support since 1992, first as a mentor teacher, then as a BTSA Support Provider. Since 1999, he has been the spelling master for the Riverside County Spelling Bee.

Steven Dean Position: Teacher Representative Appointed: November 2008 Term Expires: November 2011

Steven Dean was born and raised in Southern California in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. He attended California State University Northridge where he received his Bachelor's degree in Spanish in 1994. Mr. Dean holds a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Spanish with a CLAD Emphasis. He taught and was Foreign Language Department Chairman at his former high school, Hart High School, for six years and is now teaching his ninth year at Calabasas High School in the Las Virgenes Unified School District.

Leslie Littman Position: Designee, Superintendent of Public Instruction Appointed: September 2003 Term Expires: Ongoing

Ms. Leslie Littman is currently a High School Teacher at Hart High School in Newhall California. She has been there since 1994 and is currently teaching Social Studies. She has also taught other subjects at Hart High School such as Economics, Honors Economics, US Government, US History, US History Sheltered, Modern Civilizations, Sociology, and Sheltered Government. She has also been a Long-Term Substitute Teacher of Social Studies at Schurr High School in Montebello California. Ms. Littman earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and Economics in 1991. She then proceeded to obtain her Master's of Education in 1992, along with a Single Subject Professional Clear Credential of Social Studies, all from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Leslie Littman has also served as a member of several prominent Associations including the NCATE Board of Examiners, California Teacher Association Liaison to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and the Credentials and Professional Development Committee of the State Council of Education.

Shane P. Martin Position: Ex-Officio Representative of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities Appointed: June 2008 Term Expires: Ongoing

Shane P. Martin, an educational anthropologist by training and expert in the areas of intercultural education, cultural diversity, and Catholic schools, was appointed the second dean of the LMU School of Education in February 2005. Dean Martin is visible in the education community as a member of Green Dot Public Schools Board of Directors, Loyola High School of Los Angeles Board of Regents, and Teach For America, Los Angeles Board. He is a speaker in a variety of arenas -civic, business, and education -and keynotes conferences in the United States and internationally. Professional activities include serving as President of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Education Council and regular invitations to review articles and manuscripts. In addition to honors in "Who's Who in the World and in America," Shane received the National Catholic Educational Association's (NCEA) Michael J. Guerra Leadership Award in 2005. He is a member of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Board of Examiners and of the California Committee on Accreditation, Board of Institutional Reviewers. Martin earned his Ph.D. in International and Intercultural Education at the University of Southern California, a Master of Theology degree at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley (JSTB) with a specialization in Hispanic Ministry, and his Master of Divinity degree also from JSTB. An LMU alumnus, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1980 and holds his California State Clear Secondary Teaching Credential. Before returning to LMU as a faculty member, Martin's classroom teaching experience included six years in middle and secondary school settings and work in 17 Latin American countries. Dean Martin believes the key to school success is the network of relationships and partnerships that support the whole child.

Carolyn McInerney Position: School Board Member Appointed: November 2008 Term Expires: November 2012

Carolyn McInerney is currently serving in her third term on the Irvine Unified School District Board. She is the Manager of Special Projects in the CEO's office at the County of Orange and is a Certified HIPAA Professional, serving as the County of Orange Privacy Officer. Ms McInerney serves on the Orange County Committee for School Reorganization and the statewide Association of Low Wealth Schools. She has an extensive background in community service, having served as founder and President of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, the Family Violence Project, and as President of the Junior League of Orange County. She was appointed to the Orange County Housing Commission, and has served as a Community Services Commissioner for the City of Irvine. An organ recipient, she is active in advocacy for organ donation, and serves as an Ambassador for OneLegacy. Ms. McInerney was honored as California Woman of the Year in 2003 for the 73rd Assembly District. She has a degree in Economics from the University of Denver.

Irene Oropeza-Enriquez Position: Administrative Services Representative Appointed: February 2008 Term Expires: November 2011

Irene Oropeza-Enriquez has over 20 years in the educational field. She currently works as an Elementary school principal in the Woodland Joint Unified School District. Prior to this position she served as a vice-principal for three years. She holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a BCLAD Emphasis and an Administrative Services Credential from California State University, Sacramento. Ms. Oropeza-Enriquez has an extensive background in bilingual education. In addition to her service as an administrator, she was a bilingual resource teacher from 1997 to 2002 and a fifth grade bilingual teacher from 1996 to 1997. She also served in the Washington Unified School District as a structured English emersion and a bilingual kindergarten teacher from 1986 to 1996.

David Pearson Position: Faculty Representative Appointed: February 2006 Term Expires: November 2009

P. David Pearson serves as Dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley, and as a faculty member in its Language and Literacy program. His current research focuses on issues of reading instruction and reading assessment policies and practices at all levels-local, state, and national. Prior to coming to Berkeley in 2001, he served as the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Education in the College of Education at Michigan State and as Co-Director of the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement. Even earlier, he was Dean of the College of Education, Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Reading, and Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois. His initial professorial appointment was at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Dr. Pearson received his B.A. in History from the University of California at Berkeley, after which he taught elementary school in California for several years, and went on to complete his Ph.D. in Reading Education at the University of Minnesota. He completed post-doctoral stints at the University of Texas, Austin and Stanford University. He has written and co-edited several books about research and practice and has received numerous prestigious awards for his research. In addition, he has been active in professional organizations and currently is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Writing Project, the Educational Advisory Board of the National Geographic Society, and the Board of Visitors of the Colleges of Education at the University of Minnesota and the University of Pittsburgh.

Tine Sloan Position: Ex-Officio Representative of University of California Appointed: May 2007 Term Expires: Ongoing

Tine Sloan is the Acting Director of the Teacher Education Program in the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara. She has taught courses in the Ph.D. and Teacher Education Programs focused on issues in human development, educational psychology, teacher education, and assessment. Her primary research interests revolve around teacher education, particularly with respect to teacher and teacher educator learning, as well as to the role that policy and context play in this learning and in program development. Related to this is her interest in understanding, developing and using valid and reliable assessments of teacher and student learning. All of her work is framed by her primary interest in understanding and advocating for the well being of children in educational contexts. Prior to coming to UCSB, she spent 3 years in Singapore and was a member of the faculty at the National Institute of Education in Nanyang Technological University. Dr. Sloan completed her teacher certification at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1988, and her master's and doctoral work at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1996.

Ting Sun Position: Public Representative Appointed: December 2007 Term Expires: November 2011

Ting Lan Sun has more than 19 years in the field of education and has been actively involved in the charter schools movement for more than a decade as a teacher, administrator, and school operator. The co-founder and Educational Programs Director of the Sacramento-based Natomas Charter School, Dr. Sun directed curriculum, instruction, staff development, and professional growth. From 1997-2000, she was an Educational Programs Consultant in the California Department of Education's Charter Schools Unit where she participated in the development of charter school administrative policies and regulations, and the administration of the federal public charter schools grant program. From 2003-2006, Dr. Sun served as Vice President of Leadership and Quality for the California Charter Schools Association where she has developed and implemented the Association's quality assurance strategy and initiatives, including standards articulation, quality site visits and program reviews aligned with quality initiatives. Dr. Sun was also responsible for technical assistance publications, knowledge briefs, reports and articles commissioned, issued and published by the organization. In addition she has created, directed and implemented effective leadership training programs in all aspects of school administration for charter schools on a statewide basis and served as a mentor for the Leadership for Educational Entrepreneur (LEE) Program at Arizona State University. Dr. Sun is currently a consultant for Cambridge Education (LLC).

Dr. Beverly Young Position: Ex-Officio Representative of California State University Appointed: May 2005 Term Expires: Ongoing

Dr. Beverly Young is currently the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Teacher Education and Public School Programs for the California State University System. She works with the campus Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Deans of Education in order to facilitate changes in teacher preparation within the 23-campus system. She earned her Master's degree in Diagnosis and Improvement of Reading and earned her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to coming to the Chancellor's Office, Dr. Young has served as teacher education faculty at CSU Fullerton and as an elementary school teacher. She has also been involved with the Commission's SB 2042 Panel, the SB 1422 Panel, and the Accreditation Study Work Group.

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Current Commission Vacancies
• Teacher Representative (1 Vacancies)

Updated June 9, 2009