About Mr. Vail

Randall Frank Vail randyvail@gmail.com

EDUCATION:

Master of Arts Degree: Education, University of California, Los Angeles, June 1991
Teaching Credentials: Social Studies, English, Art, French (supplemental), Physical Education, CLAD, Administrative (eligible) - University of California, Riverside, June 1984
Bachelor of Arts Degree: Social Science - University of California, Irvine, June 1982

SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION:

MOOC: Blended Learning: Personalizing Education for Students, Relay Graduate School of Education via Coursera, December 2018
MOOC: Developing Innovative Ideas for New Companies: The First Step in Entrepreneurship, U Maryland via Coursera, January 2014
Certificate in Online Teaching for Academic & Business Professionals, A six course program from UCLA Extension, September 2005
School Leadership Licensure Assessment & accompanying LAUSD coursework (Administrative Credential), January 2005
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Certification: Adolescence/Young Adult – Social Studies/History, 2003 - 2013
Earthwatch Institute Expedition to the Pantanal, Brazil. Researched fresh water invertebrates and wild peccaries, January 2000
Spanish (conversational) at the University of Havana, Cuba, part of a Global Exchange Reality Tour, Summer 1996
UC Education Abroad Program: Université de Bordeaux III, Bordeaux, France, Université du Benin, Lomé, Togo, West Africa, 1980 - 1981
Painting course at Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts, Instructor: Françoise Gilot, Summer 1977

CIRCUMNAVIGATION:

For the 2015-2016 school year my wife and I took a sabbatical to travel the world with our children. During the first five months we were in Europe (England, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy). We settled in Cadiz, Spain for a couple months and our kids attended school. Also, we took an Intrepid Family Tour in Morocco. From Italy, we flew to India where we traveled extensively and worked at the Good Shepard Agricultural Mission for about a month. Then, we traveled through Nepal, Vietnam, and Cambodia before flying to Australia. We settled in Sydney, the kids again attended school, and we were able to travel a bit before flying home after 10 months on the road, on the sea, and in the air. Please take a look at my blog: RandomVail.com

EXPERIENCE:

Teacher, Pescadero Middle/High School, La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District. Taught: Art, grade 6, 2017-18, grades 9, 10, 11, 12. 2020 - present
Teacher, Pescadero Middle/High School, La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District. Taught: English grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (Honors), Social Science 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, Conditioning (PE), Introduction to Ideas (S.O.L.E.), and Environmental Field Studies (a UC-approved elective). 2007 - present.
Coordinatorships, Pescadero High School, La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District. Duties included: Helping to set up and run “Panther Camp,” a district-wide, summer school program for K-8 students. Summer 2011. Administering "Safe Routes to School" program for LHPUSD. 2012-13.
Teacher, Half Moon Bay High School, Cabrillo Unified School District. Taught: Physical Education & Social Studies. Summers, 2008 & 2009.
Coordinator, The Home Engineering Academy, North Hollywood High School, LAUSD. Duties included: Meeting with faculty and administration; recruiting students and teachers; attending district conferences; managing budgets for California Partnership Academy grant. Also, served as NHHS Service Learning Coordinator, Mentor Teacher for two years, School Governance Council voting member for two years, Curriculum Council and Coordinators Committee member. 2004 – 2007.
Coordinator, The Naturalist Academy, North Hollywood High School, LAUSD. Duties included: Meeting with parents, faculty, and administration; recruiting students and teachers; attending district meetings and conferences; managing budgets for Specialized Secondary Program grant and School for Advanced Studies. 1999 – 2007.
Teacher, The Naturalist Academy, North Hollywood High School, LAUSD. Taught: Plant and Soil Science, Introduction to Horticulture, Advanced Placement (AP) Government and Economics, AP English Language & Composition, AP World History, AP Human Geography, English 9, Life Skills, Health, and Introduction to Philosophy. Also, sponsored the Ecology Club. 1999 – 2007.
Teacher, The Highly Gifted Magnet, North Hollywood High School, LAUSD. Taught: AP Government (US & Comp.) and Economics, AP English Language, English 9 & 10, United States History, Introduction to Art, and developed HGM Core Course: An Introduction to Ideas. Sponsored HGM student journal "Magnitude." 1992 – 1999.
Teacher, Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet, LAUSD. Taught: Government, Economics, Psychology, US & World History, English 9, and Education and Career Planning (ECP). 1990 – 1992.
Teacher/Counselor, The Humanities Magnet, Hamilton High School, LAUSD. Taught: Introduction to the Social Sciences as part of the Humanities curriculum. As counselor, programmed students for the Magnet. 1989 – 1990.
English as a Second Language Teacher, E.L.S. Language Center. Taught: Conversational English to visitors from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Santa Monica, CA. Summer 1988.
English Teacher, The Utsunomiya American Club, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan. Taught: English to Japanese students at a new private school outside Tokyo. Developed curriculum and proficiency assessment system. 1986 – 1987.
U.S. Operations Coordinator, Chuo Sogo Kenkyujo & Comnes Co., Ltd. Tokyo. Duties included: Set up negotiations for the export of products & publications. Acted as liaison for interests in the convention and trade show business. 1988 - 1992.
Teacher, Alexander Hamilton High School, LAUSD. Taught: Psychology, United States History, English 10, French 1AB, and Future Studies course. Initiated and sponsored the Junior Statesmen Club, acted in school play. 1984 – 1986.
Bilingual Host (French/English), Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. Worked at the UCLA Olympic Village, 1984 Summer Olympic Games.

PUBLIC SERVICE:

Elected President of the California Teachers’ Association for the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District, Bargaining Unit Chair. 2011 – 2015.
Elected member of the Cuesta La Honda Guild Board of Directors, Recreation Committee Director. 2009 – 2012 and 2020 - 2023
Elected member of the Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council, City of Los Angeles Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment. 2005 – 2007.

GRANTS:

Wrote and received a Pacific Coast Teacher Innovation Network grant from UC Davis for professional development, and field trip grants from the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Asso., Silicon Valley Community Foundation, & the TomKat Foundation, 2007 – 2010.
Wrote and received initial implementation and sustaining grants from the California Department of Education for a new ‘California Partnership Academy’ with a Construction and Building Trades theme: “The Home Engineering Academy,” 2004.
Wrote and received for North Hollywood High School an Advanced Placement Challenge Grant ($5,000) and a Nutrition Network Grant ($10,000), both funded by the State of California, 2000 & 2001.
Wrote and received a four-year ‘Specialized Secondary Program’ Grant ($260,000) from the California Department of Education for a new Smaller Learning Community with an Environmental theme: “The Naturalist Academy,” 1998.
Wrote and received an Urban Resources Partnership grant ($10,000) from the Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department in support of the Naturalist Academy and the North Hollywood High School Community Garden, 1998.
Wrote and received two small grants from the California Arboretum Foundation and the National Gardening Association in the process of revitalizing the North Hollywood High School Agriculture Area, 1995 & 1997.
Wrote and received two collaborative grants from the Los Angeles Educational Partnership (LAEP) & Toyota USA, and helped with a $750,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health, while at Bravo Medical Magnet, 1991.

TELEVISION APPEARANCES:

“Monster House” Arranged for and appeared in the segment “Monster Shop” for the Discovery Channel Cable show, featuring the transformation of the North Hollywood High School Woodshop into a state-of-the-art Construction Technology Lab. 2005
“Beyond Brown” Advised and appeared in the PBS documentary exploring the aftermath of Brown vs. Board of Education 50 years later. Focused on examples of continued institutional segregation, including at North Hollywood High. 2004
“Gaijin Karaoke” Performed in the Japanese prime-time variety show featuring singers from around the world (TV-Tokyo Ch. 10). Group won the Friendship Prize. 1987

PRESENTATIONS:

"Morale & Morality – Redesigning your Academy Culture” - California Partnership Academy Conference. San Diego, March 2007
“Classroom Ethics: Morality and Values for Teachers and Students” - LAUSD Salary Point Class, NHHS, LA, April 2006,
“To be Young, Gifted, and Multicultural: Education for Diverse, Gifted Students” - LAUSD Salary Point Class, March/April 2005; District 2 (LAUSD) Gifted Conference, LA, May 2005
“Plagiarism.Not: Academic Integrity and the Internet” - District B (LAUSD) Gifted Conference, June 2002 & May 2004; California Partnership Academy Conference, Anaheim, March 2002
“School Gardens: The Ultimate Interdisciplinary Catalyst” - LAUSD Salary Point Class, NHHS, 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007; Ecofarm Conference (with Alice Waters) Asilomar, January 2002; California Department of Education, Tech Prep Conference, Anaheim, Feb. 2005
“Service Learning: Natural Style” - District B (LAUSD) Salary Point Class, NHHS, LA, June and November 2004; National Service Learning Conference, Long Beach, March 2005
“An Ecology of Ideas: Interconnections for Relevance” - District B (LAUSD) Gifted Conference, LA, May 2004
“Dangers to Teenagers: Keeping Gifted Children On Track” - District B (LAUSD) Gifted Conference, LA, June 2003
“Creating the Naturalist Academy: Successes and Challenges” - Specialized Secondary Program Regional Meeting. LA, September 2002; UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden Apprenticeship Program, June 2003
"Standards of Living: Linking your Academy to the Content Standards” - California Partnership Academy Conference. Millbrae, March 2003
“School Gardening at North Hollywood High” - Garden-in-Every-School Conference, NHHS, LA, 2000 & 2001

STUDENT & PERSONAL TRAVEL:

Intrepid Tour: Sacred Land of the Incas - Peru & Bolivia (Panama). See randomvail.com for details. Summer 2019
East Coast Road Trip: Miami to Boston. See randomvail.com for details. Summer 2018
Circumnavigation Sabbatical: Europe, Asia, & Australia. See randomvail.com for details. 2015-2016
Implemented the course “Environmental Field Studies” at Pescadero High School and arranged approximately 15 curricular field trips per semester visiting local state parks, farms, camps, open space regions, marine environments, and historical sites, 2007-2008.
Organized and led a two-week educational “eco-tour” for Naturalist Academy students throughout Costa Rica, June 2001.
Organized and led camping trips to Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park - May 2000, and to Catalina Island - April 2001.
Helped plan and implement four educational summer tours for students to Europe, January 1993 - July 1995. Destinations included: Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Nice, Aix-en-Provence, London, Athens, Istanbul, Florence, Rome, etc.
Planned and implemented five student trips for Highly Gifted Magnet seniors to Yosemite National Park, 1995 – 1999.
Organized curricular field trips to the Huntington Library, the Natural History Museum, the Theatricum Botanicum, etc.; extra-curricular field trips to various musicals, plays, films, etc.; and annual hikes to Rustic Canyon in Will Rogers State Park, 1992 – 2007.
Traveled throughout Europe - 1973, 1975, 1980, 1993, 1994, 1995; Togo, Upper Volta, & Nigeria – 1981; Mexico, Belize, & Guatemala - 1983, 1991, 1996; across the United States - 1982, 1990; Japan & the Philippines – 1986; Cuba – 1996; Singapore, Malaysia, & Thailand – 1999; Brazil - 2000; Costa Rica – 2001; China – 2001; and Canada - 2002.

On top of Half Dome at Yosemite National Park. Highly Gifted Magnet Senior Trip - 1999.