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Dei Rossi retiring as SJCOE deputy superintendent
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What started out as a young man’s dream to make a difference in the lives of others, transformed into making dreams a reality for the more than 135,000 kids of San Joaquin County.

After 38 years as an educator, Gary Dei Rossi, who has served as Deputy Superintendent of San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) for 22 years, has announced that he will retire on March 1, 2013.

 “Dei Rossi’s work at the State and County has changed what education looks like forever. As a pioneer of education, we are grateful for his tireless efforts and success in bringing innovative programs to our staff and students,” saod San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools, Mick Founts.

Prior to Deputy Superintendent of Student Programs and Services, Dei Rossi served as Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. During his time with SJCOE, the educational service division grew from 16 staff members to more than 250 due to the number of grants and special projects awarded to SJCOE. Preceding his time at SJCOE, he served as a director of State and Federal Programs, Principal of Lincoln Elementary, as well as a teacher and coach in Manteca Unified School District. Dr. Dei Rossi’s professional career began as seventh-grade teacher of a self-contained class at Moreland Notre Dame School in Watsonville.

“Gary has shown great leadership in the field of history-social science by keeping together the Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee’s History-Social Science Team,” shared Thomas Adams, Executive Director of the Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division at California Department of Education. “In addition, I have always been amazed at the breadth and depth of his knowledge. When Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Academic Performance Index (API) were new, he provided one of the most coherent explanations of the different measures and how they would affect a school site.”

In addition to his leadership role at SJCOE, he served as Chair of California County Superintendents Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee; State History-Social Science committee; and co-chair of the California History-Social Science Framework Committee. Dei Rossi’s extensive list of honors and awards includes CCSESA “Star Award” and California Council for Social Studies Diane Brooks Award for Outstanding Administrative Service to History-Social Science.

Dei Rossi serves on the San Joaquin A+ Literacy Executive Committee to help create awareness and improve literacy in the County. It was in this role that he co-authored “People in Time,” a publication about the County’s founding stakeholders, such as Benjamin Holt the creator of the caterpillar, that is often used to teach student about the history of San Joaquin County, as well as a tool used to persuade potential companies to the County.

 In addition, Dei Rossi serves on the San Joaquin First 5 Commission, Pacific’s Beyond the Gates Committee and Bernard School of Education Advisory Committee; California State University Stanislaus’ Educational Advisory committee; Farm Bureau’s Educational Committee; San Joaquin Head Start Board of Directors; Stockton Civic Educational Advisory Group; Haggin Museum Board; St. Dominic’s Hospital Advisory Council; and the Manteca Area Soccer League. of Voters to start the student poll worker programs and the statewide mock election.

In addition, he currently serves as President of Teachers College of San Joaquin, the first WASC accredited college at a county office of education, as well as an adjunct professor for CSU, Stanislaus for more than 10 years.