Ron Pope

Member

Ron Pope was employed as an instructor by the Chico Unified School District (CUSD) at Chico Senior High School and for The Inspire School of Arts and Sciences for 34 years. For the first nineteen of those years he taught electronic technology and electronic systems analysis and repair. In 1999 Ron authored Chico High’s first California Partnership Academy grant application and began to work with teachers across the curriculum, implementing the school-within-a-school program–The Academy of Communications and Technology (ACT). In the ACT program Ron taught, along with electronic classes, video and audio production, animation, and a leadership class which produced performances that targeted themes such as anti-bullying and appreciation of individuality, which his students shared with elementary students throughout California. Ron also taught Radio/TV systems classes for Butte County Regional Occupational Programs and Radio Frequency (RF) systems classes at Butte Community College. During his teaching career at Chico High, Ron served as advisor for the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (now known as Skills USA) where he advised more than 400 regional, 75 state, and 13 national VICA Skill Olympics medalists in both technical and leadership areas and was recognized as the California VICA State Gold Medal Advisor of the year. In 1991, Ron created one of CUSD’s first elementary school computer learning labs at Parkview Elementary School, which was dedicated in his name by the district in 1993. Ron served as a member of the State-Wide Vocational Education Steering Committee, the California Council of Electronic Instructors (CCEI), the State Model Grants Screening Committee, and the CUSD Long Range Planning, and High Schools of the Future committees. Over the years Ron authored the CUSD Carl Perkins Vocational Educational Plan, a successful State Consortium School Site Visitation Team grant application and it’s reauthorization, successful California Partnership Academy grant applications for the ACT program and Stage Academy (a drama and music performance-based academy program), the CUSD Revised Vocational Education Plan, and successful West Ed Portfolio Development and 1D Arts, Media and Entertainment Facilities grants. He also co-authored the State Curriculum Guide in Electronics, a School Improvement Program Quality Review application, and Inspire’s initial Charter School Grant application. Ron was recognized as a Chico Sr. High Outstanding Staff Member, and his electronics program was awarded two CDE Vocational Education Model Site Grants, voted Outstanding County Vocational Training Program, and nominated for the Governor's award for Outstanding Programs. He was personally presented with the Chico Chapter Rotary Teacher of the Year and the CUSD Hall of Fame Teacher of the Year awards. Ron’s academy program was identified as an exemplary cross-curricular educational program by the California State Department of Education (CDE). Ron is also proud to have served as a state consultant for the California Department of Education, working with schools in the L.A. area, designing programs integrating academic and career/technical courses. For the last three years Ron has volunteered in the classroom, assisting with instruction in Audio Recording Technology and Pop Band Performance courses.