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Welcome to
THE Whole Child Institute

The mission of the Torlakson Whole Child Institute is to identify, develop, and serve as a catalyst to successfully scale innovative, whole-child and whole-community solutions to key challenges facing California public school students.  Presently, the Institute’s main emphasis centers on supporting students, their families and educators at the middle school level.

The Institute was founded by Tom Torlakson, Former California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (2011 to 2019). Tom has been an educator and elected official for over 40 years and has always kept the benefit of California’s children at the forefront of his priorities and public service. This depth of experience began for Tom as a high school teacher and track coach,  as well as a community college instructor.

Among his many educational accomplishments, Tom created middle and high school initiatives which led to greatly expanded career technical education, hands-on learning and biliteracy programs.  He also established very successful after-school and summer learning initiatives, both national leaders today. In the budgetary arena, Tom fought to restore cuts to childcare, early learning and mental health funding. Tom’s leadership role — championing the whole child approach to teaching and learning —  resulted in significantly higher graduation rates as Tom led the way in designing and implementing new reforms.

A hallmark of Tom’s career and approach has always been teamwork. The Whole Child Institute will continue this emphasis on collaboration to transform challenges into opportunities through innovative solutions.

Tom

Help Tom and The Whole Child Institute make a difference!

Exciting Middle School Students About
hands-on learning and Careers in the Building Trades

To fully realize a skilled and diverse building trades workforce in the years to come, successful outreach to middle schoolers will make a valuable impact in attracting new workers to the building industry.  Additionally, for students to whom a four-year college education may not be the most appropriate or attainable option, the benefits of apprentice programs and subsequent union careers can be life-changing for themselves, their families and communities.

Whole Child Institute partnership
with The Toolbox Project

The TWCI and The Toolbox Project Middle school pilot program partnership is exploring the power of a dedicated in-depth Human Development Course with lessons delivered several times per week in an “elective” or designated “advisory” period.  This Human Development Course represents a paradigm shift —addressing the missing piece in middle schools — to help close ongoing cultural/societal equal opportunity and achievement gaps.

This partnership is an important opportunity to advance the Whole Child Institute’s mission to identify, develop, and serve as a catalyst to successfully scale innovative/proven, whole-child and whole-community solutions to key challenges facing public school students in California and beyond.

Op-Ed by Tom

newspaper

Whole Child Institute Founding Partner

California Casualty Insurance logo Blue and yellow

Labor and management must work together
to improve teacher wellness in California

Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated in May, but in terms of solving California’s teacher shortage and retention challenges, it should be celebrated every month.

Tom’s Team
Advisory and Board Members

Dacher Keltner
Dr. Dacher Keltner

Founder, Greater Good Science Center
Professor of Psychology,  UC Berkeley

Dr. Rudolfo Mendoza-Denton
Dr. Rudolfo Mendoza-Denton

Professor of Psychology and
co-director of UC Relationship and Social Cognition Laboratory, UC Berkeley

Jan Gustafson Corea
Jan Gustafson-Corea

CEO of the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Former School Principal

Arron Jiron

Arron Jiron

Social entrepreneur and strategic advisor to foundations, unions,
and the nonprofit sector

Dr. Belinda Campos
Dr. Belinda Campos

Associate Professor, Chicano/Latino Studies and
Ph.D., Social-Personality Psychology / UC Irvine

Dr. Pedro Noguera
Dr. Pedro Noguera

Dean of USC Rossier School of Education
Previous Director of UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools

Jason Spencer

Jason Spencer

Green Light Get Outside  – Director, Education Strategist and Trainer;
Principal Advisor to Tom at CDE (2010-2018) *

Michael Marcus

Michael Marcus

Sports Marketing Professional & Television Producer, including 15 years with Shriver/Kennedy non-profit; pro bono advisor to Tom at CDE *

Dr. Magaly Lavadenz

Dr. Magaly Lavadenz

Director, Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) and Distinguished Professor of English Learner Policy, Research and Practice / Loyola Marymount University

*(TWCI Board Director)

Dr. Jacquely Ollison

Dr. Jacquelyn Ollison

Director, Center For Research on Expanding
Educational Opportunity – UC Berkeley*

Glen Price
Glen Price

Founder of the Glen Price Group, supporting public and nonprofit organizations in the education field;  Tom’s Chief Deputy Superintendent (2015-2018) *

Dawn Beverly
English Language Development teacher at MLK Jr.
Junior High in Pittsburg, CA. Teacher of the Year
at both Foothill Elementary & Hillview JH schools.
Claudio Medina
Claudia Medina

Equity and Inclusion Professional; Family Involvement & CommunityEngagement Programs Coordinator Alameda Unified School District

Whole Child Partners

Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union 342
UA Local 342

Boilermakers Local #549
Pittsburg, CA

Ironworkers #378
Benicia, CA

 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 
IBEW 302

Whole Child Gold Sponsors

Gold Sponsors
TWCI Gold Sponsors
We would also like to thank
UA Local #398

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 62

Trico Pipe

Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Local 447

Libitzky Holdings

Law Offices Of David Hellman

UA Local 442

UA Local 246

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