Santa Clara County Local News

As early learning program options continue to expand to meet the needs of families, Santa Clara County will need more child care providers, teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals and wellness staff to serve our county’s youngest learners.
Within Santa Clara County, 89% of preschool demands are being met, according to the 2024 Early Care and Education Facilities Study. Only 28% of the demand for infant and toddler care is being met in Santa Clara County as of 2023, with a need for infant and toddler care in every city. More spaces are also needed to serve children with disabilities, as only 9% of providers have self-identified as having experience serving preschool-age children with disabilities.
Early childhood educators work in a variety of settings with children from birth through age eight. The Santa Clara County Office of Education developed the Early Childhood Career Pathways website to provide career-seekers with information on requirements, advising services and scholarship opportunities for 20-plus career options in early childhood education. Careers are categorized into two sections on the website, “Careers in Childcare and Preschool Programs” and “Careers in the Public School System.” Detailed information is provided on each position’s educational requirements and Santa Clara County educational institutions that support those pathways, along with helpful contacts in the event additional questions arise. This informational hub also includes professional development opportunities and job search resources.
With more than 240,000 students in Santa Clara County, the office of education understands the need for educators is ongoing. That’s why the office of education, in partnership with local organizations, coalitions and institutions of higher education, is working together to develop supportive pathways for professionals who wish to serve and support children.
In its commitment to promote student and public-school success, the office of education has developed a pipeline through its Educator Preparation Programs to support individuals seeking or clearing a teaching credential, a public pupil service credential, or an administrative services credential. Knowing that students are more successful when they have diverse and highly skilled educators available to them, the programs continue to be a valuable resource for new and returning educators.
Join educators who are already on a path toward a fulfilling career in early childhood education.
Visit https://sccoe.to/EarlyChildhoodCareers to find your pathway.
San José Spotlight columnist Mary Ann Dewan is the superintendent of schools for Santa Clara County. She has more than 33 years of experience in the field of education. Her columns appear every third Monday of the month.
The post Dewan: Pathways to careers in early childhood education appeared first on San José Spotlight.

Give blood

Terming out of office hasn't kept San Jose policymakers from sticking around City Hall as paid lobbyists. But the business of swaying former colleagues is becoming a crowded field.
Councilmember Sergio Jimenez is jumping into the elected official to lobbyist pipeline. He's already formed a new consulting firm before terming out of his council seat at the end of this year. Joining him is former Councilmember Raul Peralez, a San Jose police officer who started his own consulting business after leaving office. Together, under the newly formed Brownstone Strategies, they plan to lobby San Jose officials and other public agencies — for clients such as nonprofits and companies — in areas that include land use, development and crisis management.
It’s the latest instance of San Jose’s "revolving door" through which government officials become paid lobbyists, which has prompted concern over the years about unfair deal making advantages. As a result, San Jose enacted a "cooling off" period in which former councilmembers and employees can't lobby the city for two years after leaving office. Last year, officials cut that period to one year.
The firm's work is already in full swing. Jimenez said he's nabbed two clients so far, but declined to disclose them. He said he understands he's subject to the city's revolving door policy.
“You should not expect me to be lobbying any city of San Jose councilmembers at least for a year after I'm out of office,” Jimenez told San José Spotlight. “What I would say is, that doesn’t necessarily apply to Raul, because he is already out of that revolving door timeline.”
Peralez, who took office in 2015 and termed out in 2022, said he's had his own consulting business, Raul Peralez Consulting LLC, for about a year. He only recently agreed to partner with Jimenez and, as of yet, hasn’t taken on any work.
"I filed for my LLC last year. It is solely as a part-time business, but I haven’t been doing much outreach and I do not have any clients right now. I do intend to keep my own company active for now," Peralez told San José Spotlight. "My job with SJPD is and will remain my primary job. I will only conduct consulting work in a part-time capacity adhering to the restrictions of my work permit with SJPD."
As a police officer, “it’s my understanding (Peralez) can do some work in San Jose but it would need to be outside of public safety work,” Jimenez told San José Spotlight.

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After angry community protests, San Jose officials are scrapping plans to sell Santa Clara County a tiny homes site to house incarcerated people with mental health issues on the south side of the city.
Councilmember Arjun Batra, who has vowed to stop the sale, confirmed to San José Spotlight that the city will put the brakes on the county’s proposed purchase of the city's Monterey/Bernal tiny homes site at 6066 Monterey Road for a jail diversion program for those needing mental health services. However, the city may still move forward with its sale to the county of 1072 and 1082 Vermont St., which it uses as temporary housing for homeless residents.
"Based on my discussions with the city staff, we expect city staff will soon make a public announcement that this site is no longer being considered for sale to the county for its jail diversion program," Batra told San José Spotlight. "This will be a  significant achievement for all of us."

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Haunt your neighbors and win

The bittersweet tributes poured in during the only item on the regular agenda at Council, Sept. 3: final professional goodbyes to Los Gatos Town Manager Laurel Prevetti, who spent a decade at the helm of the Silicon Valley community.

More than 100 apartments for older adults and a medical facility could be coming to Sunnyvale within the next few years.

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