Instructional Support Services

MISSION STATEMENT

Stanislaus County Office of Education's Instructional Support Services department will foster communication with our clients, support districts in meeting the needs of their students, and promote effective practices to improve student achievement.

Stanislaus County Office of Education's Instructional Support Services support staff will work together to inspire our staff and achieve a culture of success with fairness and integrity. Together, we will focus on positive communication and interactions. Our priorities are fostering, creating, and ensuring respect for ourselves, colleagues, and community.

VISION STATEMENT

The Instructional Support Services department provides knowledgeable leadership, promotes collaborative partnerships with districts and schools, and establishes productive networks with educators to increase teacher excellence and student achievement in a diverse and ever-changing world.

Contact Us

1100 H Street
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 238-1300
(209) 238-4236 Fax
dpowell@stancoe.org

FIND KEY CONTACTS

Social

Instructional Support Services provides county-wide school and district support in a multitude of areas and disciplines. This department works with local and regional partners to build the capacity of educators and school leaders to close the achievement gap and help every student become college and career ready. Additionally, ISS provides a full range of credentialing services including teacher and administrator induction programs. ISS also provides leadership development and California State Standards support for teachers, administrators and districts. This department strives to address both the academic and social-emotional development of all students from PK through grade 12.

MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support)

NAMI on Campus High School Clubs

Stanislaus County High School Clubs

NAMI on Campus High School Clubs are student-led clubs that raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma on campus through peer-led activities and education. Student leaders in Stanislaus County High Schools are empowered to learn about mental health and how to be wellness-advocates on campus.

The Club is open to all students-those with mental health conditions, those with family members with a condition, or students who are interested in a profession in the field of mental health, social work and advocacy.

Together, with NAMI we provide education, advocacy and support to raise public awareness to improve the lives of people with mental illness and their families.

What We Do

Through a proven model of collaboration and cooperation, NCHS Clubs in Stanislaus County encompass an innovative community portal for planning and implementation. Through this unique approach Stanislaus County NCHS clubs organize outreach and advocacy activities, create a supportive network for information sharing, coordinating student-led activities, campus events and rallies, contest and numerous county-wide events.

What We Do

Educate and increase the awareness of students, teachers, faculty, and school administration about mental health and wellness
Offer support to students who are living with mental illness
Provide information about school and community resources
Encourage people to recognize early signs of mental illness
Encourage students who are having mental health issues to get help
Work to end the stigma that surrounds mental illness
Create an inclusive, safe, and supportive school environment
Let students know there is help available if they need it

How to Start a Club

How to Start a Club:

Step 1:

Click here to download the NCHS Information Packet

Step 2:

Once you’ve reviewed the NCHS Info Packet, complete the Online Interest Form to let NAMI California know you would like to form a club!

Step 3:

NAMI California will receive your completed Interest Form and connect you to our Stanislaus County Office of Education NAMI on Campus community. Clubs must attend an Orientation Webinar prior to submitting their Online Club Application. The Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) will help coordinate the Orientation training with NAMI CA, and include you in the county-wide collaboration. You'll begin receiving our local NAMI on Campus Club's monthly newsletter and be invited to attend our Advisor trainings.

Step 4:

You are now ready to complete the Online Club Application! NAMI California will provide that to you during Step 3, but here is a preview of what you’ll need to have ready in order to complete it:

A group of at least 4 students (with at least 50% being in class levels besides senior)
An adult Advisor that is committed to helping lead the club, is comfortable talking about mental health and is on-campus during school hours
The approval of your school principal
The approval of your local NAMI Affiliate (SCOE will help connect you during this process)
Register for a NCHS Training-you can attend after submitting application, you just need to show that you will attend.
Confirmation that your school has distributed the Parent Mental Health Awareness Letter or NCHS Parent Information Flyer via school website, parent newsletter or mailing.

Step 5:

Once your Online Club Application is completed, you can turn it into NAMI California for review. We'll take a look and make sure everything is there and you will be notified that your Club has been approved! NAMI California will send you Advisor and Student Manuals, and get your New Club Training scheduled.

Step 6:

After your Club members and Advisor have attended a NCHS Training, NAMI California will send you the certificate officially recognizing your club as a NAMI on Campus High School Club!

Need more information?

Implementation Overview

PBIS Implementation Training Overview

Are you ready to implement Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at your school? The Stanislaus County Office of Education is offering a three-year training and implementation program that will help your school implement and sustain PBIS. Each year will include four days of training to prepare and equip site leadership teams to implement schoolwide PBIS using the blueprint published by the National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.

The Effects of Effective PBIS

What outcomes are associated with effective implementation of PBIS?

Schools that implement PBIS with integrity and durability have learning environments that:

Are less reactive, aversive, dangerous and exclusionary
Are more engaging, responsive, preventive, and productive
Address classroom management and disciplinary issues (attendance, tardiness, disruptive behavior)
Improve supports for students whose behaviors require more specialized assistance (emotional and behavioral disorders, mental health)
Most importantly, maximize academic engagement and achievement for all students

PBIS schools organize their evidence-based behavioral practices and systems into an integrated collection, or a multi-tiered system of supports framework. This three-tiered prevention logic requires that all students receive supports at the universal or primary tier. If the behavior of some students is not responsive, more intensive behavioral supports are provided, in the form of a group contingency (selected or secondary tier) or a highly individualized plan (intensive or tertiary tier).

Begin this year to implement a system to organize and expand on evidence-based strategies to reduce discipline rates, promote a positive school climate and improve student achievement. PBIS is an effective strategy to include in Local Control Accountability Plans as it effectively addresses multiple priorities, especially student achievement, student engagement and positive school climate. A well-trained and organized leadership team can help ensure effective and sustainable implementation.

What does the training look like?

What does training look like?
PBIS implementation is driven by school teams representative of the school environment, with five to eight members including the site administrator, teachers, classified staff, counselor and a parent. This team participates in PBIS training that is broken down in to the universal level (Tier 1), secondary level (Tier 2) and tertiary level (Tier 3):

Tier 1 Universal PBIS training involves four days of training for the PBIS site team; rules, expectations, acknowledgement systems and data decision making are covered
Tier 2 Secondary training covers targeted group interventions such as Check In Check Out; teams learn to review data on targeted group interventions and identify potential intensive individual intervention
Tier 3 Tertiary training is designed to support the individual student system with emphasis on practical function based assessments, behavior support plans and school-based wraparound supports

Need more information?

Instructional Support Services Calendar

Print Element

RSS Feeds Subscribe to Alerts

July 2025

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Sunday, June 29

Monday, June 30

Tuesday, July 1

Wednesday, July 2

Thursday, July 3

Friday, July 4

Saturday, July 5

Sunday, July 6

Monday, July 7

Tuesday, July 8

Wednesday, July 9

Thursday, July 10

Friday, July 11

Saturday, July 12

Sunday, July 13

Monday, July 14

Tuesday, July 15

Wednesday, July 16

Thursday, July 17

Friday, July 18

Saturday, July 19

Sunday, July 20

Monday, July 21

Tuesday, July 22

Working at the Speed of Trust: Building a Culture of Trust

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Wednesday, July 23

Thursday, July 24

Friday, July 25

Saturday, July 26

Sunday, July 27

Monday, July 28

Tuesday, July 29

Wednesday, July 30

Thursday, July 31

Friday, August 1

Saturday, August 2

Calendar & Category Legend:

Instructional Support Services Main

Key Contacts

Christine Sisco

Titles: Assistant Superintendent, Instructional Support Services

Email:

Phone Numbers:
Work: 209-238-1329

Alison Beech

Titles: Director II, School & District Support

Email:

Phone Numbers:
Work: 209-238-1338

Erin Cross

Titles: Director II, School & District Support

Email:

Phone Numbers:
Work: 209-238-1310

Jill Polhemus

Titles: Director II, School & District Support

Email:

Phone Numbers:
Work: 209-238-1326

Dawn Powell

Titles: ISS Programs Manager

Email:

Phone Numbers:
Work: 209-238-1331

Aurora Contreras

Titles: Professional Development Manager

Email:

Phone Numbers:
Work: 209-238-1309

Heather Murillo

Titles: Fiscal Manager, Instructional Support Services

Email:

Phone Numbers:
Work: 209-238-1328

Eric Ranes

Titles: Program Manager, Wellness

Email:

Phone Numbers:
Work: 209-238-1319

Warren Scott

Titles: Consultant, ISS

Email:

Phone Numbers:
Work: 209-238-1318