We kicked off our Education Day for the 2024 Leadership Lodi at the Lodi Unified School District’s James Areida Education Support Center, learning an overview about the district, its teachers, and programs, presented by Dr. Robert Sahli, Associate Superintendent, and other staff.  LUSD serves over 27,000 students in over 50 schools within its district, covering Lodi and portions of Stockton and San Joaquin County.  From there, the class boarded its bus for the day and headed to Lincoln Technical Academy, home to LUSD’s Career Training Education (CTE) programs and Lodi Adult School.  Leadership Lodi toured the facility, viewing classrooms, and hearing about each program offered by the experts themselves, the instructors, and teachers. 

Lincoln Technical Academy offers many programs that certify and prepare students to be able to enter the workforce right out of high school, in jobs that provide a pathway to success.  The next stop on Education Day was Ronald E. McNair High School for lunch, provided by culinary students in their newly opened student-ran café.  Leadership Lodi enjoyed pizzas and paninis from a student-created menu concept.  After a delicious lunch, Leadership Lodi took a much-needed coffee break at Trail on the University of Pacific (UOP) campus, taking time to discuss the class’s non-profit project for 2024, benefitting The Village: Adult Developmental & Community Center.  After refueling and some planning, Leadership Lodi walked to Benerd College for an introduction to UOP and the programs that Benerd offers, including their newest degree completion programs geared towards working adults.  Benerd staff provided information answered questions; and gifted Leadership Lodi with goodie bags commemorating Benerd College’s 100 Centennial Celebration.  Next on our tour of UOP was their sports programs and facilities, led by Mike Hermann, Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Operations. 

Leadership Lodi was chauffeured to numerous sports complexes in style on UOP golf carts, visiting Klein Family Field, Alex G. Spanos Center, Douglass M. Eberhardt Aquatics Center, Stagg Memorial Football Plaza, and other state-of-the-art facilities along the way.  The last stop at UOP was the Conservatory of Music.  Dean Witte shared the Conservatory’s rich history, including that the Conservatory was the first in California and the first to admit women.  He led a tour, popping in on a few rehearsals taking pace, providing Leadership Lodi a glimpse at the immense talent of the students attending the Conservatory.  From there, Leadership Lodi boarded its bus and made their way back to LUSD to end their day.  Education Day is an important part of Leadership Lodi, providing a look at local education available to students and adults right in our own backyard, raising awareness about programs that exist to help better lives and provide opportunities to Lodi, its residents, and its community.