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Scottish Educators Visit Franklin-McKinley’s College Connection Academy

Franklin-McKinley School District (FMSD) has partnered with the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) to create a new educational program, the College Connection Academy. To give our students the skills to prepare them for college and professional careers, graduates from the Academy will earn both a high-school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree.

The SQA is a national agency that has been successful in developing assessment systems to build a curriculum that not only provides an education in basic subjects (i.e. math, science, reading and writing), but also high-level career education and workforce development. Their School-to-Work programs have influenced the Franklin-McKinley College Connection Academy to guide our students to bright futures.

On October 21^st, delegates from SQA visited Seven Trees Elementary School to experience our diverse school district culture and educational programs. The SQA delegates visited 4-6 grade classrooms, where they observed teachers using innovative instruction strategies in English language arts and mathematics.

Students also performed traditional folk dances from various regions of Mexico. The performance was followed by a reception with parents, staff and members of partner organizations such as San Jose State University, The Nascent Group and Project G.L.A.D. (Guided Language Acquisition Design).

Dr. John Porter Jr.

John R. Porter, Jr. is Franklin-McKinley School District’s Superintendent of Schools in San Jose, California. Before coming to Franklin-McKinley, he served as Superintendent of Ridgewood Public Schools in Ridgewood, New Jersey and Superintendent in the Oroville Union High School District in Oroville, California.

In the years between his two previous superintendent positions, he worked at the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing and enriching education and human resource institutions through policy analysis and development, institutional design and technical assistance. At NCEE, Porter led the implementation of the America’s Choice School Design in 32 high schools and twelve school districts around the country. He also coordinated three regional educational reform initiatives with business leaders and higher education partners.

A former teacher, principal, and director of curriculum and instruction, Dr. Porter has utilized his educational expertise to create a series of unique school, district, and community designs. These designs employ the concepts embedded in standards-based reforms, academic and applied learning integration, and new forms of youth apprenticeships.