Press Release

Mickey Shaw
(714) 751-5443, ext. 245
mshaw@mindresearch.net

MIND RESEARCH INSTITUTE HONORS OUTSTANDING STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS at FOURTH Annual Awards Dinner Event

SANTA ANA, CA, Sept. 21, 2007 – Orange County-based education researcher, the MIND Research Institute (formerly MIND Institute), will honor eight outstanding principals, teachers and students from throughout Southern California during its fourth annual awards dinner at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa on October 26. The non-profit MIND Research Institute provides its research-based math education program, “ST Math +Music™,” to elementary and middle schools for children in grades K to 8. The organization is honoring participating educators for their excellence in program implementation and raising students’ math test scores, and students for their accomplishments in mathematics and music through the program. ST Math+Music has been proven to dramatically raise student proficiency on standardized math tests, and also teaches children powerful problem-solving skills using a unique, language-independent approach.

Janet and Walkie Ray of Newport Beach are Honorary Chairs for the 2007 event and Maureen Brolick and Sheila Peterson are co-chairing the 40-member volunteer dinner committee. Honorees include three school principals: Ms. Kendra Kecker of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Los Angeles, Mr. Jeff Lagozzino of La Primaria Elementary (Mountain View School District) in El Monte, and Mrs. Marisela Longacre of Jackson Elementary in Santa Ana. Mrs. Patty Kingston of Del Obispo Elementary in San Juan Capistrano (Capistrano Unified) and Mrs. Omie Jurado of La Ballona Elementary in Culver City will also receive awards as Outstanding Teachers. The 2007 Outstanding Students are Diana Murrieta, a fifth grader from Burnett Elementary in Long Beach during the ’06-07 school year; Mirsha Mendoza, a second grader from Wilcox Elementary in the Montebello Unified School District in ’06-07; and Cristian Gonzalez, a third grader from Jackson Elementary in Santa Ana during ’06-07.

Outstanding Principal Kendra Kecker of the K-8 Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, Harvard Site, in Los Angeles: Kecker has been a principal with Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Los Angeles since 2002. The school serves a student population that is 53 percent English Learners and 97 percent low-income. All first, second and third graders are enrolled in MIND’s ST Math+Music program.

“The students love the program and I see kids who normally struggle with math completely engaged and learning,” said Kecker. “After two years in ST Math+Music, the number of third graders at Camino Nuevo scoring at the lowest level on standardized math tests dropped to zero. The number of fourth graders scoring ’Proficient’ or better rose from 35 to 54 percent after three years.”

Outstanding Principal Jeff Lagozzino of La Primaria Elementary, Mountain View District in El Monte: The ’06-07 school year was Lagozzino’s 16th year in education -- nine years of which he taught grades K-6 followed by seven years in administration. While at La Primaria, academic achievement in mathematics has been nothing less than remarkable. Each year, students performed at higher levels on the California Standards Test (CST). For the 2007 spring testing, 78 to 80 percent of students performed at the proficient and/or advanced levels. This is the highest ever. Even more impressive is that 48 percent of second graders and 59 percent of third graders scored at the advanced level on the CST.

Lagozzino believes in the ST Math+Music program, so much that when La Primaria couldn't afford to get another music teacher, he began teaching the music component to the students himself. He also consistently assists with whatever is needed by MIND Research, as well as helping the teachers when they need assistance in the computer lab. Outstanding Principal Marisela Longacre of Jackson Elementary, Santa Ana Unified School District: Longacre was born in Los Angeles to immigrant parents from Mexico. One of six children, she grew up in a Spanish-speaking home, and did not learn to speak English until she started first grade in South Los Angeles where she was raised. Like many of the students she currently serves, on numerous occasions while growing up, she served in the role of translator/interpreter for her parents who did not speak English. Although her mother has a second-grade education and her father completed only up to fifth grade, Longacre’s parents placed a strong emphasis on education. Upon graduating from high school, she enrolled in the local community college where she received her Associate of Arts degree in Sociology. She then enrolled at California State University, Los Angeles where she was awarded a bachelor’s degree in Child Development. A scholarship enabled her to pursue her studies at Claremont University where she received a master’s degree in Education, after which she completed a master’s degree in Administrative Education from Pepperdine University. In addition to a Multiple Subject credential, a Single Subject credential, and an Administrative credential, Longacre also holds a Learning Handicapped credential, as well as a Severely Handicapped credential from the University of California, Irvine. She has been in the education field for over 18 years.

Longacre began her administrative career at Andrew Jackson School in Santa Ana. Appointed as Assistant Principal in 1999, she was then promoted to principal eight months later. Jackson Elementary has been participating in the ST Math+Music program for two years, and its students’ math proficiency levels increased by 12 percent in the last year. Principal Longacre is a strong proponent of the program, with 25 teachers involved.

Outstanding Teacher Patty Kingston of Del Obispo Elementary, Capistrano Unified School District: Kingston has been teaching for 34 years, all at Del Obispo for grades 1 through 3. She has a bachelor’s degree from LaVerne University and received her K-8 Elementary Teaching credential from the University of California, Irvine. She has received numerous awards in teaching, including Del Obispo Teacher of the Year (1985 and 1995) and Dana Point Educator of the Year in 1995.

Kingston not only monitors her own students’ success in ST Math+Music, but she also works with the entire staff that participates in the ST Math+Music program. The other teachers call her at home at night with things they need not only with ST Math, but other school matters. Kingston was responsible for the school’s old computer lab, and worked with the district technician for many hours after school to make sure the ST Math lab would be up and functioning for use. Kingston has volunteered her own time to present at the MIND Research Institute Users’ Conference and special events such as the one held recently for the Orange County Advisory Council.

Outstanding Teacher Omie Jurado of La Ballona Elementary, Culver City Unified School District: Since Jurado attended La Ballona School in her youth, it was a particular thrill for her to return to her alma mater to teach the keyboarding portion of the ST Math+Music program. She brings her rich musical background from working with children’s choirs at church and directing musical productions to the music classes she teaches at the school. Her love of children and outstanding musical talent made her the perfect teacher for their keyboarding class. During Jurado’s first year at La Ballona, she would take down and set up the pianos daily, adding an hour or two to her day. For this, she received no compensation. La Ballona School students have been truly fortunate to be the beneficiary of Jurado’s dedication the school and the program.

Outstanding Student Diane Murrieta, fifth grader in 2006-07, at Burnett Elementary, Long Beach Unified School District: Murrieta came to Burnett as a fifth grader, but her reading skills were at the second-grade level. By the end of the school year, she was reading at grade level. She excels in math, often earning perfect scores on quizzes, chapter tests and trimester tests. In addition to maintaining good marks and exemplary behavior, Murrieta was involved in extra-curricular activities. She was nominated by her classmates to be a representative in leadership council and also participated in the school science club and district science fair. She juggled the completion of her science project and tutoring sessions to improve her reading – both after school activities. According to her nominating teacher, Ms. Mary-Ruth Romo, Murrieta was a joy and an honor to have as a student.

Outstanding Student Mirsha Mendoza, second grader in 2006-07 at Wilcox Elementary, Montebello Unified School District: Mendoza was called the “Pinball Wizard” of the second-grade class, a title bestowed by his peers because of his abilities displayed in the ST Math computer math games. In spite of this notoriety, he remains humble, and encourages others who may be going through the challenges. Mendoza is described by his nominating teacher, Ms. Dinah Pendergast, as a quiet, well-mannered, and very focused student. Pendergast explains that Mendoza comes from a large Hispanic family of six children, and that he needed to work hard to achieve benchmark status in Language Arts. But when he was introduced to the MIND Research program, it was clear that Mendoza had found something at which he excelled. He was the first second grade student at Wilcox to complete 100 percent of the ST Math curriculum. This experience has given Mendoza the confidence to help his classmates who were struggling in math.

Outstanding Student Cristian Gonzalez, third grader in 2006-07, Jackson Elementary, Santa Ana Unified School District: Gonzales was nominated by Jackson’s piano teacher, Ms. Joyce Maxson, who recognized that this student showed great potential and talent in music and math. According to Maxson, Gonzalez displays deep thinking skills and develops great ideas and strategies, which he shares with the class, for playing the piano. They call them his “Pearls of Wisdom.” “Cristian looks at a new song as a whole,” said Maxson, “He immediately sees the obvious patterns in notation and rhythm.” In the computer lab, Gonzalez also excelled, completing 90 percent of the third-grade math games.

The 2007 Awards Dinner is MIND’s primary fundraising event and includes a live auction, entertainment, dinner, awards ceremony and fund-a-school auction. Sponsorships are available for $25,000, $12,000, $6,000, $3,000 and $1,500. Individual ticket prices are $300 each. Lead sponsors of the event to date include: David Horowitz and Michelle Mun, Microsemi Corporation, Marc Levin and Levin Capital Management, Sheila and Jim Peterson, Janet and Walkie Ray, and YUM! Brands Foundation, Inc. Additional major sponsors, include: Maureen and Emil Brolick, Dorothy and Donald Kennedy, Pat and Bill Podlich, Ellie and Mike Gordon, Daranne and Paul Folino, The Troy Group, Kris and Linda Elftmann/Noelle Marketing Group, Don Crevier/Crevier BMW and Ted and Janice Smith. For additional information about the event, please contact Maria Cervantes at (714) 751-5443, ext. 239, or visit MIND’s website at www.mindresearch.net.

The MIND Research Institute is a community-based non-profit research organization formed in 1998 and located in Santa Ana, CA. It is dedicated to neuroscience and learning research and to preparing students in grades K-12, regardless of cultural or socio-economic background, for math success in school, work and society. MIND Research has successfully integrated more than 30 years of breakthrough academic research on the brain and learning at the University of California, Irvine, into applied math education programs for elementary school students and recently completed development of an Algebra Readiness curriculum that has been submitted for adoption by the State of California. Student test results at schools that use MIND’s ST Math+Music™ program have shown consistent dramatic improvements in standardized test scores. There are currently over 250 schools in California, Texas and 10 other states, and more than 40,000 students and 2,000 teachers participating in the program.

For additional information about the MIND Research Institute, please contact Mickey Shaw at (714) 751-5443, ext. 245, or visit www.mindresearch.net.