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Amador Valley High School captured first place in the ‘We the People” state finals Friday in Sacramento.
Foothill High finished in fifth place behind Irvington High of Fremont, whose coach and teacher is Pleasanton City Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio. Finishing in second place was Centennial High School of Bakersfield followed by Arcadia (Calif.) High School.
The five schools were honored at a banquet Friday night in Sacramento by Congressman Tom McClintock (R-Rocklin), who is the keynote speaker.
Last year, Amador Valley and Foothill took second and fourth places in the state finals with Arcadia taking first place. In that competition, Irvington High School came in third and Centennial High in Bakersfield finishing fifth.
Amador last won the statewide competition in 2009, the eighth year that Amador competition civics teams had won state championships and competed in the national contest. The school fielded teams in the nationals in 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
In 1995, Amador won the national championship.
More than 300 students from 11 high schools participated in the academic competition, which tested their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Amador Valley High School now advances to the We the People national finals, April 30–May 2, in Washington, D.C.
Students demonstrated their understanding of the Constitution before a simulated congressional committee consisting of constitutional scholars, lawyers, civic educators, and government leaders who judged the classes’ performances. The judges tested the students’ comprehension of the six units of the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution text.
Other schools also were recognized for their achievements during Friday night’s awards banquet.
Officially called “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution,” the program has reached more than 30 million students and 90,000 teachers since its inception in 1987. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education under the Education for Democracy Act approved by Congress and directed by the Center for Civic Education.
Karen Whitaker, Program Manager for the Center for Civic Education in Woodland Hills, which handles the California program, said that independent research shows that high school students who participated in the We the People program scored significantly higher on a test of political knowledge than their peers.
“We the People classes scored 30 percent higher than matched comparison government classes on a comprehensive test that measured understanding of core values and principles of democracy, constitutional limits on governmental institutions, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship,” she said.
The competing schools and their teachers/coaches that entered this year’s competition were:
Arcadia High School, Arcadia, Teacher: Kevin Fox;
Arvin High School, Arvin, Teacher: Robert Ruckman;
Centennial High School, Bakersfield, Teacher: Ryan Coleman;
Liberty High School, Bakersfield, Teacher: Eric Ball;
Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, Teacher: Christopher Chiang;
Granite Hills High School, El Cajon, Teacher: Ronald Whitney;
Irvington High School, Fremont, Teacher: Cheryl Cook-Kallio;
Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, Teacher: Keldon Clegg;
Foothill High School, Pleasanton, Teacher: Jeremy Detamore;
Martin Luther King Jr. High School, Riverside, Teacher: Dan Cleary, and,
Yerba Buena High School, San Jose, Teacher: Maryann Haggerty.
“These are the best and brightest students not only in the state but in the nation,” said David Richmond, the program’s state coordinator. “California classes frequently place in the top ten at national finals, including a first-place win last year by Arcadia High School.”
Congrats to Keldon Clegg and the team! The AV tradition continues. Except for a blemish last year (2 pt loss to Arcadia, who won nationals), this makes 5 out of the last 6 years AVHS has won the state championship. What a record!
Keldon has been in jeopardy of losing his job because of the teacher layoffs during the last several years – this shows you why seniority is just plain wrong. This guy pours his guts out for the team every year, and has the results to show it. Thank god they find a way to keep him. Teachers like him are the reason we send our kids to school – to be stimulated and challenged.
Congratulations to both Amador and Foothill Comp Civics teams for all your dedication and hard work to make it to state finals! And congrats and best wishes to the AVHS team and Mr. Clegg as they head to nationals! Way to go!
That’s fantastic!
Congratulations to both Amador and foothill. Each year the difference between first and fifth is only a handful of points. Each group should be proud, as should last years Avhs team. To call them a blemish demonstrates a misunderstanding of the mission of the We The People program and the center for civic education which is to promote civically minded young people who will go on to serve their communities. – Avhs comp civix alum ’99
Congratulations to Amador Valley for a job well done. We look forward to having you represent us well in DC.
Congrats to all the students and teachers who participate in this program. These students are the adults that will serve us well in the future. It is inspiring to see what they know and how they apply it. In the words of one of my students when asked what this experience has meant to her, she said that now she knew what is was to be an adult. She had always wondered where that line was and now she knew. It wasn’t about right or wrong answers but about the choices one makes and how those choices are supported, not just in answering the questions but in life.
I am proud of my students and I am proud of the two high schools in this district who regularly turn out participatory citizens that benefit our community! Thanks Jeremy Detamore (Foothill) and Keldon Clegg (Amador Valley). It is a wonderful journey for all of us.
Congrats to all of the schools that made to the states finals. You all performed wonderfully.
My bad..blemish was the wrong word. I was trying to convey that the team sets its goals very high.
Our kids are priviledged to have teachers like Keldon Clegg and Brian Ladd take them on this journey.
Wow! I’m so proud of all of you who participated from both Foothill High School and Amador High School, and your wonderfully dedicated teachers! I am also very proud of my colleague’s efforts and results from Irvington, Vice Mayor Cheryl Cook-Kallio! Well done. You all bring honor to yourselves, your families, and your communities. Thank you! Best of luck to our Amador team in the next round of competitions. Bravo!
Jennifer Hosterman
Mayor
City of Pleasanton
Great job Comp Civics and Mr. Clegg. We are lucky that we were able to keep you. With all the “Huzzahs” from the Mayor and Councilwoman Cooke-Kallio, perhaps they can help fund the teams trip to DC? The expenses are not insignificant. The students rely on the generosity of the entire community. Lets see if we can help. Go DONS!!
Rock on AVHS! Good luck in DC! Congratulations to both schools – Comp Civics takes a lot of work and dedication!
AVHS ’96
This is a fabulous program! One of my kids was on the team a few years ago with Mr. Ladd and he was absolutely terrific. This amazing experience stuck with my daughter even after college and she said it prepared her for several 7-hour job interviews she had recently. When she was in the program, they took kids who were not necessarily highly academic but who had a competitive spirit. The kids learn so much about out government – I can’t say enough good things about We The People.
It’s not easy to find a teacher who is capable of this large undertaking so Mr. Clegg had better be able to stay in his job.
Congrats to the team, Mr. Clegg, and everyone who supports this gropu at the school and community level.
This is an amazing program due to the dedication of the students, parents, teachers, and volunteers who offer to help judge during many, many practices.
GOOD LUCK Dons in DC!
Congratulations to Amador! What a great track record!
What has happened to the Foothill program? While they should be congratulated for making it to the State finals, they have slipped a long way from thier former glory of being a top national contender.
Good news is Cook-Callio’s team didn’t make it (not intended as a knock on her team).
Glad to see the spirit of good sportmanship exhibited by Fuzzy Wuzzy. (sarcasm)
So it makes you feel better to say it is not a knock on her team?
This is the kind of community you want? WOW! Just mean spirited and truly someone who does not know the meaning of the Comp Civix program.
I am personally asking for your help again.
Today is Call-in-Day. We the People (comp civix) is part of the Education for Democracy Act which reaches more than 2.5 million students nationwide each year. Please call and register your support of this program. It serves EVERY congressional district in the country. Remember democracy requires an educated citizenry.
Please call
Senator Barbara Boxer (202 224 3553)
Senator Dianne Feinstein (202 224 3841)
Rep Jerry McNerney (202 225 1847)
Rep Pete Stark (202 225 5065)
today before 2 PST.
If you don’t live in the CA 11 or CA 13 you can google it!
They will probably ask your zip code and tally the calls. All you need to say is that PLEASE support the Education for Democracy Act and We the People.
Help fight the elimination of funding to the Center for Civic
Education’s “We the People†Program. (Education for Democracy Act ALSO supports many other important programs too!)
Thank you so much for taking the time for this important message!
Cheryl Cook-Kallio gives alot of her time (along with countless other professionals and Comp Civics Alumni) in helping get the AVHS team ready for the National Competition.
She truly supports the overall program!!!