Bob Hoover Academy at MCOE Received CSBA Golden Bell Award

Bob Hoover Academy at MCOE Receives Prestigious Golden Bell Award
Monterey County Office of Education Receives Apple For Excellence Award

Salinas, Ca. – The Monterey County Office of Education, alongside the Bob Hoover Academy, received a top state educational honor for the success of its ongoing partnership in providing Monterey County students with an exciting diploma track program.

The California School Boards Association (CSBA) today presented a Golden Bell Award to the Bob Hoover Academy at Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE), a unique aviation program that helps struggling high school students meet their graduation requirements while gaining STEM-based knowledge and hands-on experience in the field of aeronautics. The model program not only provides an opportunity for students to learn to fly, it inspires, motivates, and builds a sense of purpose for students who have been unsuccessful in a traditional classroom setting. Additionally, the Monterey County Office of Education received the Apple For Excellence Award.  This award is bestowed upon the top County Office of Education program that is a winner of the CSBA's Golden Bell Award. 

Monterey County Board of Education President Mary Claypool, alongside Bob Hoover Academy Chairman and Co-Founder Sean D. Tucker, accepted the Golden Bell Award and Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Deneen Guss accepted the Apple For Excellence Award at the association’s annual meeting in San Francisco.

“This program is a bold and brave approach to inspiring youth to undertake what they never imagined they could do,” said Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Deneen Guss. “Through active collaboration, community support, and a strong desire to succeed, this program is growing and expanding, and is filled with student success stories.” 

“I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious award and grateful for the strong partnership we have built with MCOE, where we are working together to instill passion in our local youth,” said Tucker.  “I share this recognition with each of our students who have embraced the exhilarating challenge of learning to fly.  Their courage and commitment is their launching pad to success.”

Since 2016, the Monterey County Office of Education’s Alternative Education program has partnered with the Bob Hoover Academy, who funds the ground school, flight instructors, and a full-time Operations Director that helps to organize the volunteers, coordinate field trips, and provide essential resources to students. The program’s facilities, academic instructors, and counselors are all funded through MCOE.  This partnership is a great example of the public and private sectors coming together to provide opportunities for students who need them the most.

About the Bob Hoover Academy: The Bob Hoover Academy (BHA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating through private donations.  The BHA originated from an after-school program in Salinas called Every Kid Can Fly, which was started in 2014 by air show pilot and Salinas native Sean Tucker, an aerobatic specialist, who is best known for his airshow performances in the Oracle Challenger. For more information about BHA,  go to https://bobhooveracademy.org

About MCOE:  The Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) provides the leadership, support, and service excellence needed to prepare the diverse students of Monterey County for success. MCOE provides vital resources to support the county’s 24 school districts and charter schools, and is a vital component of the K-12 education system, serving as a critical link between county schools and both state and federal governments. For more about MCOE, go to www.montereycoe.org.