Excellence
in Teaching
John Loprieno, Actor/Department Chair Theatre Arts,Moorpark College
John has an extensive bio which includes: Educator, Actor, Screenwriter, and Producer. He is
perhaps best known for his thirteen years as Cord Roberts on ABC’s daytime drama “One Life to
Live.” He played Obrist in two Star Trek Voyager episodes. John reminds his students that show
business is a “business” and that actors need to be flexible to succeed. He has won numerous
awards for his achievement in acting, scriptwriting, and production for every forum including television,
feature films, and off-Broadway productions. He was formerly Vice President of Creative
Development at Futurist Entertainment where he managed such special projects as the company’s
“Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Promotion and Contest.”
John sees Moorpark College’s Theater department as a trade school to “teach specific skills and
put students in the workforce.” He believes in the college partnering with community and industry
groups and is proud of his department’s partnership with High Street Theater, a community theater
in Moorpark. Moorpark Dean Patricia Ewins writes: “John was the driving force behind the
development of a course designed to prepare students in Performing Arts Venue Management. He
has worked hard to secure CTEA funding to assure that students in technical theater classes such
as lighting design, set design, and stagecraft have the ability to work with actual state-of-the-art
equipment that will better prepare them to be competitive in the workforce.”
Patricia continues: “John never lets his students forget that 99% of the jobs in the entertainment
industries are behind the scenes. He has a very practical sense and understanding of how the
entertainment business world works and how education can and must effectively interface with
that environment.”
Teaching Nominees
David Avalos, Riverside City College
Esther Frankel, Santa Barbara City College
Alec Hurtado, College of the Sequoias
MikeMorse, Yuba College
Dan Turner, Yuba College
RichardWilliams, Oxnard College
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Pierce College Economic & Workforce Development Department (Laurette Healey accepting for Judith Trester) and San Fernando Valley Consortium of Automotive Dealers (Dr. Lewis R. Linet) |
The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) received ARRA funds awarded to the State of California for Workforce Training Initiatives. The Economic and Workforce Development at Pierce College identified the Automotive Service Industry as a growth industry for the region, particularly in hybrid automotive technology. The department allocated $45,000 to this initiative, developed and implemented screening criteria to qualify workers not presently employed and created innovative trainings comprised of clean energy concepts in fuel emissions, alternative fuel choices, and alternative and renewable fuel systems.
The Pierce College Economic & Workforce Development Department hired Dr. Lewis Linet, a nationally recognized instructor and author credited with designing and installing Community Partnership programs throughout the United States. With Dr. Linet, the department created a non-certificate course entitled, “Automotive Alternative and Renewable Fuel & Sales Concepts.” The course was offered on the Pierce College campus twice during the fall of 2010 and in January 2011.
Perhaps the most difficult programmatic challenge for any community college is to assist with
the task of securing employment. To answer this challenge which was a requirement of the ARRA
funding, the Pierce College Economic & Workforce Development Department secured a seasoned
job-development expert and hand-built a consortium of automotive dealers including: Shaver
Subaru Jeep; Neftin Motors; Galpin Ford; Keyes Honda, Buick, Audi, Chevrolet, and Hyundai;
Woodland Hills Nissan; and Silver Star Buick and Chevrolet. All of these dealers agreed to hire all
graduating trainees. This partnership has accomplished a 100% success rate placing 32 training
participants completing the course in 2010 and offering employment to the January 2011 group of
trainees.
In a time of great economic crisis, the Pierce College Economic & Workforce Development
Department and the San Fernando Valley Consortium of Automotive Dealers together pioneered
an inventive partnership and demonstrated great collaborative vision in maximizing results that
can be achieved in the face of scarce resources.
Partnership Nominees
Potter Family Farm in partnership with College of the Sequoias (Larry Dutto)
Pittsburg High School Process Technology Alliance in partnership
with LosMedanos College (JimMartin)
Ocean View Jr. High School in partnership with Oxnard College
Career Pathways Summer Academy (MarnieMelendez)
Community Action Partnership of Riverside County in partnership
with Riverside City College Culinary Academy (Ron Vito)
North State Building Industry Association in partnership
with Sacramento-Yolo Career Technical Education Partnership (Torence Powell)
Ventura County Superior Court in partnership with Ventura College/Ventura CCD
(Sharon A. Dwyer)
Excellence in
Leadership
James Custeau, Automotive Technology Program Coordinator, Cuyamaca College
Jim Custeau’s impressive résumé includes: Automotive Technology Program Coordinator; ASCCA, San Diego, Chapter 24 Board Member (Education Representative); First Past President, California Automotive Teachers (CAT) Region “D” Governor; Board Member, Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC). He has also been Cuyamaca College Academic Senate President and was recognized as Kiwanian of the Year for the Spring Valley Kiwanas. Jim began his career at Cuyamaca College in 1979. Prior to this he taught Vocational and Adult Education Automotives at Simi Valley High School and Helix High School where he was the ROP Coordinator and the Grossmont District Industrial Arts Program Committee Chair.
He has lead significant, on-going accomplishments that have enhanced the Automotive Technology Program at Cuyamaca College including: a $65,000 grant from the Employment Training Panel to retrain technicians in Computerized Engine Controls; successful launch of the Ford ASSET Program at Cuyamaca College (1 of approximately 50 programs in the nation); Advanced Transportation In-Service grant to provide training of Automotive Technology staff in Alternative Fuels Technology; attracting Hunter Engineering (automotive alignment company) to utilize the college facility as a remote training site, including installation and maintenance of $100,000 of equipment; successful launch of the GM ASEP Program at the college; $150,000 grant to provide equipment and in-service training in emerging Automotive Technology; and attracting the Bureau of Automotive Repair—Consumer Assistance/Referee to utilize college facilities resulting in rental income and free maintenance of emission testing equipment.
Jim’s awards include: National University Leadership Scholarship; Cuyamaca College President’s Award; Cuyamaca College Faculty Member of the Year; Greater San Diego Industry Education Council Award for Outstanding Service; and California Automotive Teacher of the Year.
A colleague writes: “I have always valued Jim’s opinion and found it a pleasure and inspiration to work with a faculty member that can truly be considered a real leader.”
Leadership Nominees
Barbara French, Mendocino College
Carol Higashida, Moorpark College
Kamyar Khashayar, East Los Angeles College
Christina Tafoya, Oxnard College
Stuart Van Horn, Folsom Lake College
