Vern Biloff, Vice President for Education

                  

Vern has been with the Central California Conference since 1997, and is responsible for our 25 schools, including six academies. His office reviews all school budgets, handles contracts for the Conference’s 130-plus teachers, manages curriculum, and ensures that all schools maintain accreditation with the church and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.Beyond the technical aspects of running the Conference’s educational program, Vern’s main responsibility is working with people. “Adventists today are very diverse, philosophically and culturally,” he states. “I try to make sure our teachers are placed where their talents will be used best.”

Vern is passionate about providing a Christian education for impressionable young minds. “We have a great responsibility in educating our young people,” he says. “We want the tenets of our Adventist faith to come through, but most of all we want to make sure that in the end, our young people are Seventh-day Adventist Christians. We want them to have a Christian education and adopt a Christian approach to life and the human family.”

 

Prior accepting the call to the CCC, Vern was Vice-President for Education in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference. He has spent over 35 years in Adventist education, as a teacher, principal and conference administrator.

 

Vern’s hobbies include photography, reading and sailing in the Monterey Bay with his wife, Janet, the Conference's Director of Planned Giving and Trust Services.  His favorite scripture is Galatians 5:5-6, "For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love."

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Ken Bullington, Associate Superintendent

Ken Bullington, born and raised in Fresno, has been with the Central California Conference since 1992 after 14 years at Bakersfield Adventist Academy as a teacher and principal. Over the years, he has seen the effects of CCC Adventist education firsthand. “Our students grow up and start to give back,” says Ken. “It’s exciting to see so many actively involved in churches and schools now.”

As Associate Superintendent, Ken has many responsibilities:

He authorizes all secondary curriculum, chairs the Secondary Curriculum Committee and works with teachers to upgrade and improve curricula. He is a member of the Union Curriculum Committee, where a key goal is to incorporate Adventist values into all parts of the curriculum.

   

He assists schools in maintaining accreditation through the Adventist Accreditation Association and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. He also assists assigned Union schools in getting and maintaining accreditation.

Ken’s office provides programs for students and teachers. Student-oriented programs include the Friendship Games sports program, choral festival, Bible challenge, and much more. He supports teachers through the Mentor Teacher program, in which veteran teachers provide one-on-one mentoring to new teachers,as well as teacher conventions, etc. A benchmark service learning program has been developed in recent years through collaboration among the conference’s secondary schools and Ken’s office.

He also sits on school boards, recruits teachers, and does many other things to help make Adventist secondary education first-rate.

“We are constantly working to connect kids to Jesus through everything we do,” says Ken. “I love watching our students, teachers and principals develop their walk with God. When I hear the students telling how Jesus has changed their lives, I realize that all the behind-the-scenes work we do is worthwhile.”

Ken’s wife Deanna teaches first grade at Fresno Adventist Academy and their son Kyle is a fifth grader there. A lover of all sports, Ken especially enjoys running because of the quiet time it allows him with Jesus. One of his favorite scriptures, 1 Timothy 6:12, fits well - “Run hard and fast in the faith.”

 

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Illeana Espinosa, Associate Superintendent

Costa Rican native Ileana Espinosa calls herself a “product of Adventist education.” She attended Adventist schools as a child and then taught in Adventist and public schools for 27 years. Since 1998, she has provided guidance and support for Central California Conference’s 11 elementary schools.

 

As Associate Superintendent, Ileana chooses curriculum for the Conference’s elementary schools, attends board meetings, hires and works with all elementary school personnel, and cares for many other details to ensure that each school provides excellent education to its students. She also plans services and programs, such as Bible challenges and spelling bees that add to the educational environment of students and teachers. On weekends, she travels to churches across the conference promoting Adventist education.

 

“I love working with teachers and students,” Ileana says enthusiastically. “Being a part of the learning, synergy and excitement in a classroom energizes me. I firmly believe that Adventist elementary schools are the best place for an Adventist child to be. Our church pioneers thought it was important to build an educational system. I believe it’s still viable and the best way to pass on the beliefs of our church to the next generation. It’s a place where children can be safe, and where we can promote the kingdom here on earth and in the future.”

 

Ileana loves reading and traveling with her very supportive husband, Ernesto, a liaison for the public school system, ensuring that families get the appropriate services needed for their children. The Espinosa’s have three grown children: Oscar, Michelle and Pamela, and three grandchildren.

 

Ileana’s favorite scripture is Philippians 4:19 - “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

 

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Norma Maynez, Administrative Secretary to the Education Department

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Delfina Wisener, Secretary to the Education Department

Delfina joined the Central California Conference Education Department in 1995, after working with the Fresno Unified School district for 13 years. Her time there prepared her to ably assist Ken Bullington in his work with secondary schools.

 

She tends to all the various needs of the department, including coordinating events such as sports meets and spelling bees, working with teachers in their employment and certification needs, and assisting Ken with various aspects of the secondary curriculum.

 

In addition to her work at the conference, Delfina works part-time as a massage therapist. She has a strong interest in natural health and reads extensively on the subject. She is also an animal and nature lover, a conservationist, and an excellent cook. She and her husband Doug, a 2^nd grade public school teacher, enjoy traveling together.

 

Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” “Without His guidance I’d just be doing things on my own,” she explains. “I want Him to constantly lead my life.”

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Karen Anders, Secretary to the Education Department

Daughter of long-time CCC employee Gerald Reynolds, Karen practically “grew up” at the conference office. She left Central for several years to get her degree in elementary education from Walla Walla University in Washington. Shortly after her graduation, a position opened in the Education department, and Karen gladly returned in early 2006 to use her new skills in familiar territory. Karen was just recently married to David Anders.

 

As office assistant, Karen’s duties are primarily secretarial. She assists with set up and take down for meetings, helps with organization of the department’s many events, answers phone calls and assists with other projects as needed.

 

Karen is constantly looking for new ways to share Jesus, especially through the Internet. She shares links to Christian sites, posts encouragement at online communities and keeps with touch with people via MySpace. “I want people to know that God is always in control of our lives,” she says, basing her comment on her favorite text, Romans 8:28 - “For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”