December 2011 Speaker:
Dennis (Coach) Snyder

Personal Information:

Has resided in Escondido, California since July 4, 1957

Married his high school sweetheart, Diane (maiden name: Galindo) - July 9, 1966

Education & Career Information:

Graduated from Escondido High School - June 1961

Graduated from Palomar College with an A.A. Degree - June 1963

Received Bachelor of Arts Degree from San Diego State - 1965

Received Master of Education Degree in Secondary Education - University of San Diego in 1973

Employed as a teacher in the Escondido Union High School District for 30 years -
from September 1966 until becoming the Executive Director of Escondido Charter
School District in August 1996:

Escondido High School – September 1966 to April 1987
Orange Glen High School – April 1987 to June 1992
Center City High School – June 1992 to August 1996
Escondido Charter High School/District – August 1996 until the present

Coaching assignments:

Escondido High School – September 1966 to April 1987:
Served as an assistant football coach at Escondido High School for
12 years (fall 1966 - fall 1977)
Served as the head Varsity football coach at Escondido High School for
9 years (fall 1978 - fall 1986)

Orange Glen High School – April 1987 to December 1993:
Served as an assistant Varsity football coach at Orange Glen High School
as the Defensive Coordinator for 7 years (fall 1987 - fall 1993)
Selected by the Los Angeles Times as the “San Diego County Football Coach of the Year” after winning the Avocado East Championship and reaching the CIF semi-finals – December 1978

Founded Escondido Charter High School in August 1996 - serving 9th –12th grades

Employed as the Executive Director of Escondido Charter High School
and the Escondido Charter High School District from August 1996 until the present

Selected as the “Volunteer of the Year” by the East Valley Parkway Business
Association in Escondido – July 2000

Member of the East Valley Parkway Business Association

Served on the Escondido Chamber of Commerce’s “Education Committee”

Selected as a “2002 Chargers Champion Educator” by the San Diego Chargers
organization for “…dedication and service…exemplary leadership to my school
and community…” and “…making a difference in the lives of so many…” – May 2002

Constructed first charter school campus in California funded by private bonds – as opposed to bonds that are funded by property taxes – completed Phase I – August 2003

Selected by the City of Escondido to serve on the East Valley Parkway Citizens Committee – February 2003

Elected as Region 9’s representative to the “California Network of Education Charters” (CANEC) newly created Member Council for the California charter school movement. (The state-wide organization is comprised of nine regions.) – May 2003

Founded “Heritage K-8 Charter School – August 2003 – serves kindergarten through eighth grade

2004 – 2007 – Served as Board President of “Charter Voice,” the lobbying arm of Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC), a statewide organization representing charter schools throughout the state of California

2004 – California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) – Elected as a member of the “Membership Council” – representing Region 9 that includes the area of Orange County to San Diego County

2007 – Serving on Congressman Brian Bilbray’s “Education Advisory Board”

December 2007 – Selected as a “Top Influential” by The Daily Transcript San Diego Source

January 16, 2008 – Presented the “Community Spirit Award” by the City Council of Escondido, CA

September 2, 2009 – Started a radio program, “CharterSchoolRadio.com,” on wsRadio.com (internet/satellite radio) providing a “A Voice for Choice”

April 2011 – Appointed to the Escondido Mayor’s Economic Advisory Board

Additional background: When ‘Coach’ Dennis Snyder organized and founded Escondido Charter High School in 1996, his goal was to establish a “Back to Basics” school that focused on student learning because he believed/believes that competition will force public schools to be more accountable. This is the same reason he organized and founded Heritage K-8 Charter School in 2003. In support of the charter school movement, Snyder generously gives of his time to advise and consult with other charter schools.