Joe Coto
Encyclopedia
Joe Coto is an American educator, city councilmember, and a Democratic politician. He most recently served three terms as a member of the California State Assembly
, leaving office late in 2010. He served as Chair of the Assembly's Insurance committee, and held positions on the Elections and Redistricting committee, Governmental Organization committee, and the Revenue and Taxation committee. He also served on the Special committee on Urban Education.
teacher in the Oakland Unified School District
. He worked in a variety of administrative positions and left the school district to serve as a City Councilmember for the City of Oakland. After his four year term on the city council, he ran for Mayor of Oakland and almost beat a long time incumbent. He returned to the school district and ultimately became Superintendent of the Oakland Public Schools in 1984. In 1988, he was recruited to serve as Superintendent
of the East Side Union High School District
in San Jose, and served in that position for the next 14 years. In recognition of his contributions as superintendent of East Side Union High School District
, the Association of California School Administrators named him the 2003 Superintendent
of the Year.
One of his major successes as Superintendent
in San Jose was Senate Bill
1051, an $80 million dollar increase in funding promoting diversity in San Jose's school system. The legislation has since brought close to a billion dollars to school districts in East San Jose over the years. Coto was also able to bring nearly half a billion dollars in grant monies and improvement bonds to the East Side Union High School District.
to represent California's 23rd Assembly district
in 2004.
New laws sponsored by Coto cover a variety of fields including educational bills providing support to underachieving schools, standards for math instruction for blind students, and over $30 million to support English learners and flexibility in spending to support the educational program. He authored a bill to protect students from vendors trying to entice them with gifts to get them to apply for credit cards. Coto was also responsible for establishing an eminence credential for Native American
languages to be taught in California's schools (cosponsored by Assembly member Tom Ammiano
).
In the area of health, one of his bills provides cultural and linguistic training for physicians so that they can serve their patients more effectively and another extends the Healthy Families’ program so that children throughout the state can be eligible for health insurance. Working in collaboration with the California Chamber of Commerce
, as well as other employer groups, such as the California Federation of Labor, he authored legislation to fix part of the workers compensation system in a way that benefits both business and labor.
Coto recently completed a 2 year term serving as Chair of the 26 member Latino Legislative Caucus. Prior to becoming Chair he served 2 years as the Vice Chair. The Latino Caucus is seen as one of the most influential in the legislature. The Caucus’ focus is primarily on improving the quality of life for working families in California. With over 35% of the population in California being Latino, the issues affecting them affect all Californians.
Key legislative priorities identified by the Latino Caucus are: Education, Health, Housing
, Economic Development
and Leadership
.
Due to term limits, Coto retired from the Assembly in 2010.
, one of four children, to Mexican-American parents. His father worked in the copper mines for over 30 years, and was responsible for encouraging Coto and his three sisters to attend college. All four of the siblings would go on to graduate from college. Coto was educated and received his degree from San Diego State University
. He received his administrative credential from Cal State Hayward, as well as a Masters in Administration from the University of Phoenix
. He has also studied at Columbia University
, in New York.
Coto and wife, Camille Coto, have been married for 35 years and have two daughters. Both daughters graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
.
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, leaving office late in 2010. He served as Chair of the Assembly's Insurance committee, and held positions on the Elections and Redistricting committee, Governmental Organization committee, and the Revenue and Taxation committee. He also served on the Special committee on Urban Education.
Prior to elective office
Coto began his career as a Social StudiesSocial studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
teacher in the Oakland Unified School District
Oakland Unified School District
Oakland Unified School District is a public education school district which operates elementary schools , middle schools , and high schools in Oakland, California.-History:...
. He worked in a variety of administrative positions and left the school district to serve as a City Councilmember for the City of Oakland. After his four year term on the city council, he ran for Mayor of Oakland and almost beat a long time incumbent. He returned to the school district and ultimately became Superintendent of the Oakland Public Schools in 1984. In 1988, he was recruited to serve as Superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of the East Side Union High School District
East Side Union High School District
The East Side Union High School District administrates 18 high schools with a combined enrollment of approximately 24,500 students in the area of San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. The schools include 11 comprehensive or traditional and 7 alternative high school programs. An Adult Education...
in San Jose, and served in that position for the next 14 years. In recognition of his contributions as superintendent of East Side Union High School District
East Side Union High School District
The East Side Union High School District administrates 18 high schools with a combined enrollment of approximately 24,500 students in the area of San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. The schools include 11 comprehensive or traditional and 7 alternative high school programs. An Adult Education...
, the Association of California School Administrators named him the 2003 Superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of the Year.
One of his major successes as Superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
in San Jose was Senate Bill
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
1051, an $80 million dollar increase in funding promoting diversity in San Jose's school system. The legislation has since brought close to a billion dollars to school districts in East San Jose over the years. Coto was also able to bring nearly half a billion dollars in grant monies and improvement bonds to the East Side Union High School District.
As an elected official
Coto was elected to the California State AssemblyCalifornia State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
to represent California's 23rd Assembly district
California's 23rd State Assembly district
California's 23rd State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Nora Campos of San Jose.-District profile:...
in 2004.
New laws sponsored by Coto cover a variety of fields including educational bills providing support to underachieving schools, standards for math instruction for blind students, and over $30 million to support English learners and flexibility in spending to support the educational program. He authored a bill to protect students from vendors trying to entice them with gifts to get them to apply for credit cards. Coto was also responsible for establishing an eminence credential for Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
languages to be taught in California's schools (cosponsored by Assembly member Tom Ammiano
Tom Ammiano
Tom Ammiano is an American politician and LGBT rights activist from San Francisco, California. Ammiano is a Democrat who has served as a member of the California State Assembly since 2008, representing the 13th district...
).
In the area of health, one of his bills provides cultural and linguistic training for physicians so that they can serve their patients more effectively and another extends the Healthy Families’ program so that children throughout the state can be eligible for health insurance. Working in collaboration with the California Chamber of Commerce
California Chamber of Commerce
The California Chamber of Commerce is the largest broad-based special interest group in California. Membership represents one-quarter of the private sector jobs in California and includes firms of all sizes and companies from every industry within the state. The CalChamber provides products and...
, as well as other employer groups, such as the California Federation of Labor, he authored legislation to fix part of the workers compensation system in a way that benefits both business and labor.
Coto recently completed a 2 year term serving as Chair of the 26 member Latino Legislative Caucus. Prior to becoming Chair he served 2 years as the Vice Chair. The Latino Caucus is seen as one of the most influential in the legislature. The Caucus’ focus is primarily on improving the quality of life for working families in California. With over 35% of the population in California being Latino, the issues affecting them affect all Californians.
Key legislative priorities identified by the Latino Caucus are: Education, Health, Housing
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
, Economic Development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
and Leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
.
Due to term limits, Coto retired from the Assembly in 2010.
Personal life
Coto was born in Miami, ArizonaMiami, Arizona
Miami is a town in Gila County, Arizona, United States. Miami is a classic Western copper boomtown, though the copper mines are largely dormant now...
, one of four children, to Mexican-American parents. His father worked in the copper mines for over 30 years, and was responsible for encouraging Coto and his three sisters to attend college. All four of the siblings would go on to graduate from college. Coto was educated and received his degree from San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
. He received his administrative credential from Cal State Hayward, as well as a Masters in Administration from the University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
. He has also studied at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, in New York.
Coto and wife, Camille Coto, have been married for 35 years and have two daughters. Both daughters graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
External links
- Official California State Assembly profile
- Voter Information at SmartVoter