I took a break from my usual campaign activities today to participate in a special board meeting of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.  The focus of the board meeting was on K-12 education.  California Secretary of Education David Long attended the meeting and provided insight on how the San Joaquin Valley can improve its educational outcomes.  The challenges in K-12 education in the San Joaquin Valley are staggering.  However, thanks to the leadership of people like Fresno County Superintendent Larry Powell, Merced County Superintendent Lee Andersen, and Drs. Walt Buster and Marcy Masumoto, the Valley is coming together around some key initiatives to improve our educational attainment.  For more information on the Partnership and its many initiatives, please see www.SJVPartnership.org.