A Class Act! 10 Questions for Kara Binkley

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Kara Binkley

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Name: Kara Binkley

Family: I have a hubby and three kiddos: McKinley, McKenzie and Madden.

School: Denair Charter Academy

Experience and education: One year of teaching fifth grade, three years teaching kindergarten and I am starting my sixth year of Independent Studies with high school students! I also love that I have the opportunity to coach students in my cross training class and lead counseling sessions for students on campus.

What most inspires you about teaching? Teaching can be exhausting, yet the most rewarding career! I am truly inspired every week by my students and their drive to succeed! DCA has given me the opportunity to see my students not only as a “student,” but also as a young person opening up and sharing their life experiences both good and bad. Their transparency gives me the push to better myself and for that I am thankful.

What are your biggest challenges as a teacher? Helping students to believe in themselves and their potential for college is one of my biggest challenges.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? My favorite weekly activity is “Bink’s Vocab!” My students are required to read each night and choose one word that they didn’t know the definition of. The word must be quoted from the book and defined. Each student writes it on my whiteboard for all to see. I find myself learning new words weekly!

How has Common Core affected your classroom strategy? DCA is unique in the fact that we meet one on one with our students. As teachers, we are finding creative ways to teach the common core standards. Last year, I had my junior and senior students use digital media to give an oral presentation on any U.S. president. It was such an incredible feeling to see them stand with pride and most definitely built up their confidence. Continue reading “A Class Act! 10 Questions for Kara Binkley” »

Oppose the Proposal to Redraw the School District Boundary

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Let your voice be heard! Oppose the petition submitted by Ron B. Katakis, a local developer, to transfer land from Denair Unified School District to the Turlock Unified School District. The redrawing of the district boundary would divert future students and school funding away from Denair schools to Turlock Unified.

The Stanislaus County Committee on School District Organization will hold two public meetings.

Date:              Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Time:              5:00 p.m.
Location:       Turlock Unified School District
Professional Development Center
Located on e-Cademy campus, corner of Minarete and Marshall, next to Turlock Public Library

Time:              6:00 p.m.
Location:       Denair Unified School District
Coyote Center (Gym)
Denair Middle School ~ Lester Road
 
Supporting documents:

Tough Schedule Takes Toll on DHS Football Team

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DHS Coyotes Football

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The meat grinder that is the Denair High football schedule finally ends this week. In the space of a month, the Coyotes will have faced the four powerhouses of the Southern League – Mariposa, Gustine, Orestimba and, this week, Ripon Christian.

Combined, those schools have an overall record of 23-4. Gustine and Orestimba are tied for first place with perfect 7-0 marks. Third-place Mariposa lost only to Orestimba. Ripon Christian’s league losses are to Gustine and Orestimba.

The Southern League is stacked this year.

“Coming in to the season, we understood where we’re at and where we want to go,” said first-year Denair coach Anthony Armas, whose team suffered a 42-6 homecoming loss Friday to Orestimba at Jack Lytton Stadium. “We’re putting in new offense and new defense. We’re trying to change the culture.

“I do see improvement. We’re improving at practice. … We’re dealing with numbers, dealing with injuries. We’re trying to establish and program.”

Denair (2-5, 1-3) hung with Orestimba for the first quarter Friday. The Coyotes moved the ball well on their opening drive before stalling, but then gave up a touchdown on the Warriors’ first offensive play.

They didn’t get down, though. Denair marched down the field to score its only touchdown, cutting the lead to 7-6.

But after that, Orestimba’s size, speed and depth made the difference. The Warriors did all their scoring before the first half ended. The final two quarters were played with a running clock. “They called off the dogs,” Armas said. Continue reading “Tough Schedule Takes Toll on DHS Football Team” »

Community Members Learn How to Oppose Boundary Change

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

More than 70 people turned out Thursday night to learn how they can fight a proposal by a Turlock home developer to redraw the Denair Unified School District’s boundaries. The initiative could cost the district more than $2 million in the first year and hundreds of thousands of dollars annually after that, Superintendent Aaron Rosander told the crowd.

“That is a game-changer, folks,” said Rosander.

The boundary initiative involves 169 homes to be built at the northwest corner of Tuolumne and Waring roads by developer Ronald Katakis. The property in question is about a half-mile from the Denair schools complex on Lester Avenue, but more than two miles away from Turlock High School.

The land has always been within the Denair district, but Katakis petitioned the Stanislaus County Office of Education to move it to the Turlock Unified School District.

The county office formed a 10-person committee of current and former school board members to consider the change. The panel will hold back-to-back meetings on Wed., Oct. 28 in Turlock (5 p.m.) and Denair (6 p.m.) to hear public comment about the proposal.

Not surprisingly, the parents, students, staff members and Denair residents who showed up Thursday were unanimously against the idea. They listened as Rosander and a district attorney explained the financial and legal implications of the proposed boundary change, and then had a chance to ask questions.

Rosander assured the crowd that “I’m going to fight to the bloody end to make sure this boundary doesn’t get changed. We would argue this is not reasonable or proper. This is territory that belongs in the Denair Unified School District.” Continue reading “Community Members Learn How to Oppose Boundary Change” »