Principal Quotes

IPSF presented over $1.4 million in grants and donations to the Irvine Unified School District last year and has pledged a similar amount for the 2011-2012 school year. A significant portion of the contribution in both years is designated for class size support to mitigate the impact of larger classes across all Irvine schools. The funds IPSF raises for class size support from the community and local businesses are combined with a generous matching grant from the City of Irvine to directly impact the classroom.

IUSD allocates IPSF’s donation for class size support to each school site based on a formula calculated by the District. Each principal then has the discretion to use those funds in the most critical instructional areas at the school. In elementary schools, these funds are frequently used to hire or supplement hours for instructional assistants, to enable smaller learning groups in key areas. At the middle and high schools, these funds are primarily used to add sections for core subject matters where enrollment is large, thus enabling smaller class sizes across the schedule.

To find out how your school site is using the large class size support funds, check out the testimonials from each IUSD principal below.

(Schools are listed in alphabetical order)

Alderwood Elementary, Dr. Cindy Chaffee, Principal
“We funded 1 additional instructional assistant for primary grades. We were also able to add hours for both combination classroom instructional assistants. IPSF provides amazing opportunities for children to receive a well-rounded education in IUSD. This partnership truly provides a world-class education for kids.”

Bonita Canyon Elementary¸ Principal Bob Curley
“We are grateful to IPSF for their tangible support that enriches the educational experience for Bonita Canyon students. At a time when state and local resources are limited, IPSF has stepped in and filled this gap. IPSF funds allow us to create small reading groups for our larger classes. These groups are taught by highly qualified instructional staff. We are also able to maintain an overall rich program with music lessons for primary students and support for Upper Grade music classes and experiences, such as the Honors Concert.”

Brywood Elementary, Christine Amoroso, Principal
“IPSF funds 60 hours per week of instructional assistants here at Brywood. During RTI, these assistants work directly with students reducing the adult to student ratio in both primary and upper grade classrooms. Their support allows teachers to pull small groups when more intense and direct instruction is needed. We see increased student learning as a result of this support. Thanks IPSF!”

Canyon View Elementary, Dr. Susan Kemp, Principal
“In each of our grade levels, we used class size support funds for instructional assistants for RTI. This enabled us to get our student to adult ratio down in order to target instructional needs for every child. We couldn’t do RTI without this support! In addition, we were able to add a daily 30 minute re-teach, enrichment or study support small group opportunity for students. IPSF helps support high caliber programs that are a key to the success of students at Canyon View and the Irvine Unified School District. We are thankful for everything IPSF does to help us meet the needs of our students. Thank you, IPSF!”

College Park Elementary, Alan Battenfield, Principal
“We hired 6 credentialed teachers as instructional assistants. Each one is assigned to a specific grade level. They teach small group math, reading and support groups. I can’t think of a more effective way to support students at the elementary school site.”

Culverdale Elementary, Aaron Jetzer, Principal
“Our classroom support money from IPSF helps support our RTI program in 1st through 6th grades. The additional support allows us to reduce our student to adult ratio to 10:1 or lower while working with struggling learners in both Language Arts and Math. Thank you for also supporting the music programs in our school. Through your support we are able to provide primary music to our students this year!”

Deerfield Elementary, Kathy McKeown, Principal
“This classroom support funding has proven to be vital to our success of providing a more differentiated curriculum for all students! I have been able to hire several instructional assistants, including credentialed teachers, all of whom directly work with students to improve and enrich their reading and math skills at each grade level. Indeed, the additional monies enable us to daily provide a lower student to instructor ratio allowing for greater focus on individualized learning to meet student needs at all achievement levels.”

Eastshore Elementary, Lisa Kadam, Principal
“We hired instructional assistants for every grade level who assist with RTI and a variety of other instructional programs and support. IPSF provides immeasurable support to our schools including class size support dollars, primary music, quality health care support, ITAP (innovative teaching) grants and the list goes on. We are so fortunate to have IPSF as a partner in our quest to provide the best education for our students.”

Greentree Elementary, Tamara Brown, Principal
“We used our class size support money to fund instructional assistant hours to help reduce our student to teacher ratio during our RTI times. IPSF does so many wonderful things that touch the lives of all students in Irvine – ranging from support of our health clerks to music for our K-3 students to funding grants for teachers. Amazing!”

Irvine High School, Monica Colunga, Principal
“At Irvine High, we were able to add 1 section of American Literature, 1 section of British Literature and 1 section of Algebra 2. Through IPSF’s support, we have been able to add these core academic sections, which also helped us reduce class sizes. We are grateful for the support and partnership we have with IPSF.”

Lakeside Middle School, Gina Cuneo, Principal
“We are incredibly lucky to have support from IPSF. The funds they have given us, in terms of teacher support, have allowed us to expand our Spanish program and have given more students the opportunity to begin mastering a world language. During these tough economic times, it’s so heartening to know that we have a community and an organization that are still committed to doing what’s best for our kids.”

Meadow Park Elementary¸ Lisa Livernois, Principal
“Meadow Park has been able to hire additional instructional assistants for RTI and to support students in Math and Writing. Many of the aides we have hired are actually credentialed teachers. This allows us to have highly trained aides inside classrooms working directly with children. If anyone ever asks to see where the money goes; all you would have to do is walk down the hallways, peer into the classrooms to see the student learning taking place.

Northwood Elementary, Dr. Stuart Payne, Principal
“In this time when public education is experiencing a scarcity of resources, IPSF has played a critical role in ensuring that each learner in IUSD is supported. We used our large class size support funding to ensure that each and every teacher received instructional aide support which has been crucial with our larger class sizes.”

Northwood High School, Leslie Roach, Principal
“At Northwood High School, we added a section of Algebra I and Integrated Science 2 to reduce class size. We also added an additional 9th grade Humanities Core with a section in both English and History, which used to have 20:1 student teacher ratio. We are really excited about the new Naviance program for our students. We think it will be a huge support in their post-high school planning. I appreciate IPSF’s willingness to continue to reach out to schools and identify needs that would best support the educational needs of our students.”

Oak Creek Elementary, Carlo Grasso, Principal
“In addition to all the programmatic support and opportunities provided by IPSF, the Class Size Support funds have really empowered us to make a difference in the level of instruction provided during RTI. For example, in upper grade RTI, aid support funded by IPSF allows us to split a class into four smaller groups, creating a 1:8 adult to student ratio. During this time, we are able to implement strategies to assist our struggling students with their reading skills. On behalf of our students, we thank IPSF for their ongoing commitment to enhancing the educational experience of students in IUSD.”

Plaza Vista School (K-8), Heather Phillips, Principal
“At the elementary level, we funded five instructional assistants to support RTI and larger class sizes. IPSF funds supported our middle school students by covering the cost of a section and allowed Plaza Vista, as a smaller middle school, to cover the salaries of nine full-time teachers. IPSF is, without question, a true partner in supporting the students of Irvine Unified. This organization has provided enrichment opportunities for our children in the areas of science and fine arts, as well as financial support to help mitigate the impact of large class sizes. As an administrator and an Irvine parent, I am so grateful to IPSF.”

Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, Scott Bowman, Principal
“At Rancho, we used the funds to keep humanities classes at a lower number of students by adding a section. I have been involved with IPSF since its start, as a teacher and now as an administrator. We could not offer the same quality programs that we have without IPSF support. Thank you.”

Santiago Hills Elementary, Corey Pace, Principal
“We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from IPSF each year. This year, we have used the monetary support to hire three additional instructional assistants for the sole purpose of working with all of our students in RtI. We also pay for additional time for our guidance counselor to be available to our students all day, instead of parttime. Thanks IPSF, you truly are making a difference in our students’ lives!”

Sierra Vista Middle School, Lynn Matassarin, Principal
“The support that we receive from IPSF enriches the academic experience of every child at Sierra Vista Middle School. The funds that we receive support reductions in class size in mathematics and science.”

South Lake Middle School, Bruce Baron, Principal
“We were able to lower class size in 7th grade English and History – two classes with a very heavy focus on reading and writing. IPSF provides fundamental support to our school each and every year. In recent years, IPSF grants have truly enhanced our science program and our performing arts program. Thank you!”

Springbrook Elementary, Dr. Elaine Keeley, Principal
“Springbrook School has used class size support fund for a team of incredible instructional assistants. In collaboration with teachers, these instructional assistants help to deliver a strong program that is differentiated to support individual needs of students. IPSF supports us in each child receiving the best education we can envision.“

Stonecreek Elementary, Michael Shackelford, Principal
“Stone Creek funded all of its instructional assistants with IPSF funding. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of IPSF!”

Stonegate Elementary, Stan Machesky, Principal
“Our ability to specifically engage in direct instructional support for our variety of learners is greatly enhanced by the funding provided by IPSF. We used our funding to add instructional assistant support for Reading and Math interventions.”

Westpark Elementary, Ann Marie Simmons, Principal
“Westpark’s educational programs are enhanced by the generous support of IPSF. The instruction students receive in Reading is targeted to increase their skill and comprehension due to the instructional assistants supported by class size support dollars from IPSF. The programs that Westpark students benefit from through IPSF supported funding include an outstanding Music program which begins in the primary grades. IUSD schools are very fortunate to have a thoughtful organization that works so diligently to provide students in IUSD with an enriched educational experience.”

University High School, John Pehrson, Principal
“We have used large class size support funding to add sections of English, History, Science and Math. IPSF’s funding of the Naviance web-based college and career planning system will help our students, families and counselors better prepare for the future. UHS is a better place for kids because of IPSF.”

University Park Elementary, Kara Rydman, Principal
“University Park is incredibly thankful to IPSF for providing additional support to our instructional program. The IPSF funding source allowed UP to hire instructional assistants to further differentiate instruction in Reading classes. These instructional assistants were instrumental in providing a quality Response to Instruction model.”

Venado Middle School, Bob Valdez, Principal
“IPSF funds helped support the construction of our Read 180 class by keeping lower numbers in our other Language Arts classes.”

Vista Verde (K-8), Catherine Holmes, Principal
“We used large class size support funding to hire instructional assistants to work directly with reading groups across all grade levels K through 5. We were also able to add additional instructional assistant support during math or writing instruction in our largest classes. Large class size support funding has allowed us to provide more differentiated instruction and better meet our students’ individual needs. We are so grateful to IPSF and our community for their support – you do make a difference for our students and teachers!”

Woodbridge High School, Jason Viloria, Principal
“The direct impact of IPSF funds at Woodbridge High was the addition of 4 sections into our master schedule, but the indirect impact is reduced class size across the entire school. The support that IPSF has provided to IUSD by funding Naviance will change the way we work with students and families regarding career and college planning. Students will now be provided an account starting in 7th grade and have access to tools that can support them throughout the rest of their time in IUSD and beyond.”

Woodbury Elementary, ChrissAnn Shane, Principal
“Each grade level receives outstanding classroom support through instructional aid funded by IPSF. These professionals work with individuals, and small groups of children to meet their needs. Students may review math material preview upcoming social studies vocabulary and concepts. Small group instruction based on student need impacts the students’ learning. We are grateful for IPSF’s impact on our school and each child. Thank you for all that you do for students!”