Unequivocally, Tom Alessandri was one of those special educators America should hold in the highest esteem.

America’s lowest achieving students need the support of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. And yet, her voice has been notably silent.

During the presidential primary debates and town halls for both parties, no candidate in either camp was asked important questions about education.

I opened Microsoft Word and opened a new blank document to write my final weekly column for San Jose Inside. I am doing so with a heavy heart.

As I write my penultimate column, I reflect on the most critical issues confronting our region’s future progress and economic vitality. There is little doubt that the quality of public education is number one.

Writing once a week on the subject of education since being elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Education has been a privilege. In two weeks I will pen my 300th and last column.

Last week was amazing. The Supreme Court delivered two major victories to move our country forward, the President exhibited strength and eloquence in the aftermath of a tragedy, and a young woman of unparalleled courage graced us with her presence.

There is a new beginning in California for economic development and ending mass incarceration. Yesterday, Gov. Jerry Brown agreed to allot an additional $265 million to fund early education for low-income children.

Local leaders in transportation, education, housing and equity convened last week in Mountain View’s Computer History Museum for the 2015 Silicon Valley Regional Economic Forum.

Three years since a study to look at school district consolidation in Santa Clara County, we have not been able to make any progress due to the controversial nature of the topic.

I implore you to take an extra moment this week and reach out to thank a teacher for the extraordinary work they do each and every day.

Annual reports given to the Santa Clara County Board of Education this past weekend show that local charter schools are not reflective of their communities when it comes to accepting special education students.

An Atlanta judge last week sentenced eight public school teachers, principals and administrators to jail for conspiring to inflate students' state test scores. The sentencing was a tragic end to the Atlanta testing scandals that began in 2009.

Spring can be a period of new beginnings for all of us. Or it can be more of the same: a war of words and posturing while some of our children fail to achieve their academic potential.

A child's early education alters the course of their life, Santa Clara County Board of Education trustee Joseph DiSalvo writes.

It is an outrage that Silicon Valley education leaders continue to choose battle ground over common ground. Despite extraordinary innovation that occurs everyday in our region, our education leaders too often choose to protect the status quo.