Student Support Services: Workforce Investment Act

The SCCOE-operated Sueños Academy has served more than 470 students since its inception in 2001. Through the instruction and support of the Academy teachers, 95% of the students receiving services from the program have shown a 50%-90% post-test score improvement on workplace math and reading skills. Several of the participants have gone from below average students to college ready. With the help of our program guidance counselor and career mentor, two students have received full scholarships to the Fresno State School of Engineering.

The Academy operates in Watsonville from 3:30 – 6:00 pm at 18 West Beach for students eligible for services under the Workforce Investment Act. ‘Sueños’ is a Spanish word that translates to the word ‘dreams.’

The Academy is funded through the Santa Cruz County Workforce Investment Board, and is part of the Sueños Collaborative. This collaborative is comprised of the SCCOE, Career Works, Your Future is Our Business, Barrios Unidos, and the City of Watsonville. The collaborative is committed to delivering services to eligible youth in Watsonville. The collaborative strives to help bring the future dreams of Watsonville youth to fruition.

Spring/Summmer 2004 Update

The Academy focuses on developing a participant’s academic and workforce skills through a wide array of career focused projects, field trips and leadership opportunities. Last spring several Suenos Academy students had an opportunity to attend the Leon Panetta Lecture Series at the Panetta Institute for Public Policy located on the campus of California State University Monterey Bay. This series was an exciting opportunity to expose youth to the leaders of our country in a forum that allowed for an exchange of ideas and questions from the audience. Guest Speakers included former U.S. Senators George Mitchell and Fred Thompson, U.S. Representative Richard Gephart, and the host of Fox News Channel’s Weekend Live, Tony Snow. One lecture focused on domestic issues such as jobs and the environment and the struggle to balance policy and partisanship in the Democratic and Republican Parties, the other focused on foreign policies. Youth participants gained a new understanding of the complexities of our governmental process, and some are even considering a future career in politics or journalism.

Students from left to right: Anthony Ramirez (Watsonville High School), Emmanuel Ballesteros (Watsonville High School), Gustavo Moreno (Renaissance High School), Chun Kin (Mason) Wong (Watsonville High School), Miguel Zavala (Watsonville High School)

As the Academy begins its fourth year, we look forward to the new students that will be with us, new adventures in searching for their sueños, and making new friends. We also look back upon our former students with pride as we watch them inch closer toward their sueños. We invite all to come and pay us a visit at the academy and don’t be surprised if we take your picture or ask you a bunch of questions. We especially welcome career professionals who enjoy sharing their career experiences with young folks. See you in the classroom, or in the computer lab, or at the courthouse, or the fire station, or the…

2003-2004 Summer Photo Project

The Sueños Academy participants are exposed to a wide breadth of future career opportunities and are linked to varied career mentors.

Jenny Angelacos, Photography Project Coordinator, and Yesenia Murillo, student worker, viewing captured images on the digital camera.

Jose and Yesenia working at their laptop computers.

This summer two young people from the Watsonville community, Jose Guillen and Yesenia Murillo, are working on an exciting project for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Under the direction of Photography Project Coordinator, Jenny Angelacos, Jose and Yesenia are working to create posters for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, as part of the Workforce Investment Act. Over a two month period Jose and Yesenia are gaining valuable work experience by taking photos and designing posters that highlight the programs offered by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Upon completion of the project, these posters will be displayed on the walls of the County Office.

"My name is Yesenia Murillo am 15 years old. I was born in Michoacan Mexico, and now I live in Watsonville. I have 1 brother and 2 sisters. I’ll be starting 10th grade at Watsonville High School this fall. I chose this summer job because it is something that I was looking forward to, and because it is really cool and you get to learn new things that well help you in your future."

"My name is Jose Luiz Guillen; I am 15 years old. I was born in San Miguel Michoacan, and now I live in Watsonville CA. I have 2 brothers and 3 sisters. I am a sophomore at Watsonville High. Some of my hobbies are playing soccer and swimming. I also like hanging out with friends, talking on the phone, and going cruising to visit new places. I chose this summer job because it matches my personality and I like to take pictures."

Workforce Investment Act - Sueños Academy:
Project Coordinator: Jo Ann Allen
831.479.5246

Teacher: Marco Lucadano
831.763.8887

Guidance Counselor: Beatriz Munoz
831.477.5461