Dear Friends,
What a year it has been! From joining a bi-partisan political delegation to Southeast Asia to winning re-election with the top vote, it has been a memorable twelve months. I look forward to sharing the highlights with you and I am excited by what 2012 will bring.
Jay Chen’s 2011 Year-in-review
Getting sworn-in for a second term by State Controller John Chiang on December 8, 2011
I am pleased to report that Hacienda-La Puente Unified had another great year thanks to our outstanding teachers and staff. For the first time our district Academic Performance Index broke the coveted 800 mark and we now have four schools scoring over 900. We are also the only district in California with two National Distinguished Principals!
Prudent fiscal management allowed us to weather another round of state budget cuts without layoffs or furloughs, while allowing room to expand courses; I am thrilled that we broke ground on a new culinary arts program I advocated for that will provide job-ready skills to students.
I am also proud to have made our district the first in California to recognize Fred Korematsu Day; NBC news visited Los Altos High School to report on how we incorporated Mr. Korematsu’s brave fight against WWII discrimination into our curriculum.
The need to teach tolerance was highlighted when opponents of our Mandarin language program tried to recall me, claiming the program was Communist. Thanks to strong community support, the recall fizzled out without garnering a single signature.
Seeking to raise student awareness of the political process, I organized a scholarship competition in April that asked students to formulate their own law to fix a societal problem. Hugely successful, more than 80 students from the San Gabriel Valley participated.
My free college application seminars continue to grow in popularity; volunteers helped a record 70 seniors at La Puente High School with intensive one-on-one college application and career advice.
One of the most memorable events of the year was representing the United States in a bi-partisan political delegation to Southeast Asia. It was fascinating to learn about the politics and culture of Indonesia and Malaysia, and the amazing food still haunts me!
Back home I was honored to be chosen the Democrat of the Year for my region, and I was humbled to be invited to meet President Obama at the White House; a once-in-a-lifetime experience I will never forget.
My year ended on a busy note; after a dedicated campaign I was re-elected to the board with the top vote! I am honored to have strengthened the public’s confidence in me.
However, all of the excitement of 2011 pales in comparison with what will happen in 2012; Karen and I will be getting married in Antigua, Guatemala. Thank you for sharing in our happiness, and I wish you and your family a fantastic 2012!
Sincerely,
Jay Chen
