Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Rick Miller

The SAUSD will unveil a free bilingual early literacy program for all city residents on July 22

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2016

Santa Ana Unified School District

Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer, (714) 558-5555 (office), (714) 673-4995 (mobile)

SANTA ANA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT UNVEILS FREE, BILINGUAL EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM FOR ALL CITY RESIDENTS

Santa Ana Unified School District is set to debut Paso a Paso: Together We Read. This event will unveil the District’s complimentary and cutting-edge bilingual literacy program that will support all early learners, from birth through 2nd grade. Through this initiative, all families in Santa Ana—whether they are enrolled in district schools or not—will have free access to the award-winning Footsteps2Brilliance Early Literacy App. Continue reading→

Retiring SAUSD Superintendent launches a literacy program that uses cell phones

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Contact: Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer (714) 558-­‐5555 (office) (714) 673-­‐4995 (mobile)

Superintendent Unveils Citywide Early Learning and Literacy Initiative Using Smartphones and Mobile Devices

Santa Ana, California – July 22, 2016 – Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Superintendent Dr. Rick Miller is hosting Paso a Paso – Together We Read, an Early Learning Literacy Innovation Summit from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PST at Davis Elementary School, located at 1405 French Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

With an invitation open to the entire Santa Ana community, this event will unveil Superintendent Miller’s citywide English and Spanish early reading initiative using smartphones, tablets, and computers. Together, with members of the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education, Dr. Miller will challenge the Santa Ana community to read 1 million words by November 30, 2016. Continue reading→

Sen. Huff questions why the SAUSD is allowing union organizers to misinform parents

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Bob Huff, Education, Labor, Politics, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD 28 Comments

Operate Openly with Trust and Integrity

by Senator Bob Huff

The news that union organizers with the Orange County Labor Federation are working to deliberately misinform parents about the truth regarding California’s Parent Trigger law should come as no surprise. Those who support the concept of school choice and the supposedly “radical” idea that every California child deserves the best education we can give them have been fighting entrenched union interests since Governor Schwarzenegger signed the Open Enrollment Act into law.

The Open Enrollment Act was a cornerstone of President Obama’s ambitious “Race to the Top” education reform effort that swept the nation nearly eight years ago. The President’s goals for reforming our public education system, which former Senator Gloria Romero and I supported, was the implementation of educational policies like performance-based evaluations for teachers and principals, support for charter schools and turning low-performance schools into education powerhouses. Continue reading→

The SAUSD joins the League of Innovative Schools, which focus on digital learning

Posted on by Posted in Education, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Technology 1 Comment

Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools

Digital Promise Professional Services Launches the Leadership Coaching Program

Santa Ana Unified School District will participate in the first cohort of the Leadership Coaching Program

Santa Ana, CA | October 19, 2015 ¬– Santa Ana Unified School District is one of 22 school districts accepted today into the League of Innovative Schools, a national coalition of forward-thinking school districts organized by Digital Promise, an independent, bipartisan nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to accelerate innovation in education.

Santa Ana Unified School District was selected from a competitive and national pool of applicants based on its leadership, evidence of results, innovative vision for learning, and commitment to collaboration. Continue reading→

Republicans aiming to take over the SAUSD School Board

Posted on by Posted in Angie Rosario Cano, Cecilia Iglesias, Education, Gloria Alvarado, Gloria Romero, Jose Hernandez, Labor, Latinos, Marilyn Bernaudo-Delgado, Politics, Republican Party, Reyna Orozco, Rick Miller, Rosie Avila, Santa Ana, SAUSD 11 Comments

Cecilia Iglesias supporters

Have you ever heard of the Parent Trigger Law?  It was authored by a Democrat, Gloria Romero, but has become a tool for Republicans to turn public schools into charter schools.  Locally this has come to the forefront at the Palm Lane Elementary School in Anaheim.

The Parent Trigger can only be used in low performing schools – and Santa Ana has a lot of those.  SAUSD Trustee Cecilia Iglesias was involved in the Palm Lane effort as an employee of State Senator Bob Huff, a Republican in north Orange County.  Now she has recruited a team of candidates to take over the SAUSD School Board.

The candidates include Angie Rosario Cano, Reyna Orozco and Marilyn Bernaudo-Delgado. Cano ran previously for the School Board in 2014. Continue reading→

Our local politicians showed up for the Fiestas Patrias parade today

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Angelica Amezcua, Arts and Culture, Cecilia Iglesias, David Benavides, Jose Solorio, Karina Onofre, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, Lowriders, Politics, Republican Party, Rick Miller, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment
David Benavides at the 2015 Fiestas Patrias Parade

David Benavides at the 2015 Fiestas Patrias Parade

I stopped by today’s Fiestas Patrias parade in Downtown Santa Ana – mostly to take pictures of the local politicians but also to take in the spectacle.  I was not disappointed on either count.

Somethings never change – Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides appeared to be riding in the same car he was in back in 2013 – with his kids. Continue reading→

SAUSD Superintendent talks about the arrest of a former S.A. High School teacher

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Alvar Gonzalez at Santa Ana High School

Media Statement from Superintendent Rick Miller, Ph.D. Regarding Arrest of Former Employee

“The Santa Ana Unified School District was notified today that a former teacher from Santa Ana High School was arrested for allegations of criminal misconduct involving a minor. Once the initial investigation and allegations were brought to the attention of the district, the teacher was immediately removed from the classroom, placed on leave, prohibited from all SAUSD campuses, and the matter was referred to the Santa Ana Police Department. This allegation is deeply troubling and disturbing as it is every employee’s responsibility to provide a safe environment for our students.

We take any form of misconduct involving our student’s well-being very seriously, and the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education, and I remain committed to providing an educational environment that promotes safety and a common bond of trust. Continue reading→

SAUSD State of the District breakfast set for Nov. 14

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Education, Entertainment, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

SAUSD Superintendent's Breakfast

Support the Talent of Tomorrow: Santa Ana Unified School District State of the District

On Friday, November 14th from 7:00 am to 8:30 am, Santa Ana Unified School District hosts its Superintendent’s State of the District & Partnership Breakfast.

Individual tickets are $25 and sponsor tables range from $500 to $5,000. Proceeds support Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation to fund student scholarships, music and arts education and Educators Make A Difference Grants. Continue reading→

The SAUSD’s Superintendent welcomes students back to school

Posted on by Posted in Education, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

SAUSD Superintendent Dr. RIck Miller

One of my complaints about the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) over the years has been that they communicate via phone for the most part and don’t usually email the parents.  But today is the first day of the new school year and the SAUSD’s Superintendent, Dr. Rick Miller, sent out an email to parents with useful information for the new school year – including the introduction of the district’s new smart phone app!

Here is Dr. Miller’s Back to School message:

Greetings,

I am Rick Miller, Superintendent of the Santa Ana Unified School District. I hope you have had a good Labor Day Weekend with your family as well as a restful, productive summer. I am looking forward to working with you as the new school year begins on Tuesday. Continue reading→

SAUSD Superintendent named a Broadband Champion for his work in Riverside

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CETF

For Immediate Release: March 26, 2014

Contact: Mary Anne Ostrom, Director of Communications, Cell: 510-381-3070 maryanne.ostrom@cetfund.org

California Emerging Technology Fund Names Southern California School Leaders 2014 Broadband Champions Santa Ana Unified Superintendent Rick Miller and Fullerton CTO Jay McPhail Act to Close the Digital Divide

Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA – March 26, 2014 – The California Emerging Technology Fund is pleased to announce Santa Ana Unified School District Superintendent Rick Miller and Fullerton School District Chief Technology Officer Jay McPhail are 2014 Broadband Champions. Fifteen individuals are being recognized for their groundbreaking work and strong commitment to close the Digital Divide. (They are primarily being honored for their work while Dr. Miller served as Superintendent of the Riverside Unified School District and Mr. McPhail was the district’s Director of Innovation and Learner Engagement.) Continue reading→

Welcome breakfast for new SAUSD Superintendent Dr. Miller set for 11/21

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Dr. Miller welcome breakfast

Santa Ana Unified School District and Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation Host a Welcome Breakfast for New SAUSD Superintendent Dr. Rick Miller

THE EVENT: Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education together with Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation are holding a Welcome Breakfast for New District Superintendent Dr. Rick Miller. The event will take place on Thursday, November 21, 2013 from 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. at Godinez Fundamental High School.

Proceeds from this event are to benefit the SAPSF Scholarship fund, music and art programs, and the Educator Make a Difference Grant programs. Please post on your community calendar and consider providing coverage for this community event that will bring state, county, and city elected officials and business and community leaders of Orange County together to support the students and staff of the Santa Ana Unified School District community. Continue reading→

No surprise – the SAUSD overpaid their new Superintendent

Posted on by Posted in Education, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

Dr. Rick Miller

Santa Ana Unified School District officials were less than excited last week to share their new superintendent’s salary contract – one that makes Rick Miller one of the highest-salaried school district superintendents in California, based on the latest figures from the state Department of Education, according to the Voice of OC.

The new Superintendent’s “contract includes a $300,000 salary, a $7,200 annual car allowance and other benefits – is set to receive a $35,000 salary increase over the previous superintendent at a time of major financial challenges at the district.” (That is crazy money but Miller is still making less than Randy Barth, the CEO of Think Together, who banks $330K a year!).

This is of course what we predicted would happen.  Miller is very old and does not figure to work in Santa Ana for very many years.  He is spiking his retirement pension with this huge salary – at our expense. Continue reading→

Did the SAUSD hire the right Superintendent in Dr. Rick Miller?

Posted on by Posted in Education, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Seniors 8 Comments

SAUSD Superintendent Dr. RIck Miller

The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has finally settled on a new Superintendent, hiring a guy in his 60’s, Dr. Rick Miller, away from the smaller Riverside Unified School District.

So what do we know about Miller? According to his official bio, he only worked at the Riverside Unified School District since 2009.  How long before he ditches the SAUSD – after forty years in education he is surely going to spike his pension at our expense!  Keep in mind the fact that he ditched the Oxnard School District after only four years too, according to his LinkedIn Page.  And he only lasted two years at the Kelseyville Unified School District! Continue reading→

The SAUSD hires a new Superintendent from Riverside

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Dr. Rick Miller

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rick Miller, Ph.D. New Superintendent of Santa Ana USD

SANTA ANA, CA – September 24, 2013 – After conducting a nationwide search, the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education has appointed Rick Miller, Ph.D., as its new superintendent. “Our community demanded that this Board find a proven leader that would have a genuine commitment to the success of the students and families of Santa Ana. I believe that we have delivered with the appointment of Dr. Miller,” said Board President José Alfredo Hernández, J.D.

Dr. Miller brings 40 years of educational experience to Santa Ana, including twenty-two years as a superintendent in both California and Idaho. For the past five years, he has served as superintendent for the Riverside Unified School District. He holds four academic degrees including a Ph.D. in education; Ed. Sp. (Education Specialist) in educational administration; M.Ed. (Masters in Education) in educational administration and higher education; and a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He has also authored several articles and presented at state and national conferences. Continue reading→