This year has been a good school year and I'm thankful that I received some interesting new items for my brag bag. I think what made it interesting was that I received some emails of appreciation from my co-workers. Unfortunately, we as a society don't often say thanks or recognize those who deserve it. Even though much of the appreciation may have been prompted by the fact I may leave El Camino High School, I've always felt confident that I have had their support. Some of the best things I read were from my co-workers who honored me by writing me letters of recommendation so I could apply for this rare opportunity for a full-time activities position. The most intriguing email, though, is from my principal which I will share first...
Derek,
This has been by far the best year that ECHS students have worked together as a team and community, giving back to organizations in need. I’ll never forget my first rally here three years ago and being so very impressed by what you do with ASB; I have never seen a more effective director in my years in education. You have mastered the art of teaching students how to be leaders, not holding their hands along the way, but putting them in an environment where they master the skills necessary to effect change. Look at the award you won this year! That says it all.
Thank you for being Mr. El Camino; I truly value you the person and the teacher. You put ECHS on the map as a positive place and a school where parents want their children to attend and teachers want to teach.
Thank you Derek!
Adele
My boss sent this out to the entire staff which then encouraged further commentary from others.
I completely agree with Adele! Derek, you have done an amazing job with your leadership students!! I have been at 3 other schools where the school spirit and tone of the student body did not even come close to what has been created at El Camino. The rally’s, the lunch time activities, homecoming, sprit days, INSPIRED campaign, and support of students with sound, art, ideas, etc, etc, etc; all of the activities help students to feel more part of the school and help them really enjoy El Camino. I think these things help the students create memories which make them feel proud to attend here and sad to leave when graduation comes. I know you and the students have put in SO many hours before and after school to create this positive, spirited atmosphere and from my perspective, it has paid off. Well done!
2.
Hi Derek, this is my feedback: you are such an awesome person and coworker and teacher. Your students love you and the leadership this year was great as always and the Inspired campaign was really inspiring- to see kids coming together to help others.
Letters
1.
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to recommend Derek Padilla. We worked together in the English department and in activities at El Camino High School for five years, from 2001 through 2006. As the head of the department for a few of those years, I was always grateful for Derek’s sense of the school as a whole. He was, and still is, always thinking of the students’ best interests and their success.
I was inspired as a second-year teacher to emulate his school spirit and to get involved. I followed his lead and eventually became the Link Crew Advisor. Derek provided instruction and support through my adventure in Link Crew. He made sure there was money to get me trained. He encouraged Link Crew leaders to continue their connections to freshmen throughout the year. He and I helped Link Crew carry on the traditions he had established, and these traditions became a crucial part of our school culture.
Now that I’ve moved on to another school, I value Derek’s strengths as a teacher and an activities director even more. I realize, in the dearth of a positive school community here, that Derek, almost single-handedly, made El Camino High School the warm and welcoming place it is. Students care on that campus. They care about each other, and they’re excited to be at school. They look forward to traditions like Link Crew and Homecoming. In Derek’s classes, students know that they will be held to high expectations. The class work is meaningful and rigorous—in English and in leadership. All this makes them better students and better community members.
2.
Derek has been the Activities Director for El Camino High School for over 11 years. For five of those years, I have worked closely with him both on campus and at leadership conferences as one of his class advisors. I have watched him in amazement as he tirelessly makes activities come alive for our campus. He is hard-working, enthusiastic, caring, and conscientious when it comes to students. Any campus should be so lucky to have Derek as their Activities Director.
Positive remarks from students, staff, and campus visitors about the school spirit on our campus are heard all the time. El Camino walls are bursting with pride and everyone notices. Derek’s leadership students create fun, positive and meaningful activities for ALL students and staff to enjoy. Some activities happen weekly, such as the very imaginative “spirit weeks,” while others happen annually like Home Coming. Regardless of the event, Derek’s thoughtfulness and ability to organize on a massive scale are obvious. Throughout the year, Derek has some of the best rallies any school has every experienced. They are timed to the final second and engage our very diverse student body. One of the school’s favorites is the “Lip Sync Rally.” For years it has been Derek’s tradition to get the staff involved lip singing and dancing much to the students’ delight.
Derek’s program is not only entertaining and appealing but meaningful. Just this year, the leadership team created an award-winning program they call INSPIRED. This program was designed to inspire El Camino students to think of others first. For example, this year’s Home Coming theme was childhood. As part of the requirement to earn spirit points, each class had to raise money for their adopted organization such as the Ronald McDonald House or Make a Wish Foundation. They also honor the “Most INSPIRED Student and Teacher of the Month” proudly on their activities board. And, as an entire INSPIRED student body, the school has raised thousands of dollars for the Global AIDS Foundation this year alone.
However, perhaps the most valuable part of Derek is his relationship with students and staff. He works around the clock for his students taking them to endless weekend and summer conferences or raising money with weekend car washes. He cares about students and understands them better than anyone. His interpersonal skills carry over to his relationships with the staff as well. While his demeanor is always professional, he loves nothing more than getting the staff together for the staff softball team or a night out at the Giants. Derek would be an asset to any faculty.
Resume
OBJECTIVE
Full-Time Director of Activities
EDUCATION
January 1996 – January 1997 San Francisco State University
Single Subject Teaching Credential—English
August 1991 – January 1996 San Francisco State University
B.A. Creative Writing; B.A. English Literature, concentration in Education
EXPERIENCE
January 1997 – Current Position El Camino High School So. San Francisco, CA
Director of Activities (1997-present); Link Crew Coordinator (1997-2002)
Subjects Taught: Student Leadership, English, Creative Writing, Film Literature,
CAHSEE Test Prep, and Health/Safety
Student Leadership
Student council advisor, Faculty/Student Liaison, Administrative Council member
CADA member: currently participating in CADA Advisor Certification
Development and Implementation of Link Crew Program
Producer of Video/DVD Yearbook (1999-2005)
Establishment of a School Planner
Creator and Director of S.T.A.R.S. Conference and Inspi(red) Campaign
English
Experience teaching Grades 9 & 11, levels Basic, General, College Preparatory, and Honors
Workshop Experience: 6+1 Writing Traits, SDAIE Training
Targeted Unit Plans Produced: Life Soundtracks, The Scarlet Letter, Billy Budd, American Author
Project, Poetry Book Term Paper, The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, The House on Mango Street, Romeo & Juliet, and Mythology
Creative Writing
Guide Students to discover themselves, trust their words, and express their voices
Editor of School Literary Magazine
Director of School Poetry Slam
Film Literature
Development and Implementation of new course and curriculum
Targeted Units: Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, Director Research Project, Film Noir
CAHSEE
Development and Implementation of new CAHSEE Language Arts Support Class
Targeted Units: Essay Writing, Reading Comprehension, Test Preparation
Spring 1992-2000, Spring 2006-208 El Camino High School So. San Francisco, CA
Assistant Track Coach—Throwing Events and Weight Training
AWARDS
San Francisco State University Graduate Distinguished Student Achievement Award 1999
San Francisco Chronicle Hero of the Bay 2000
CADA Area B Activities Director of the Year 2002
San Jose State University Dorothy Wright Award For Teaching 2002
CADA/CASL Outstanding Activity Program 2007-2008
OK, time to stop the brag bag for now That was kind of fun... maybe I'll have to do that more often... 13 hours away from the job interview...
Let us dance the night away
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