New book calls for changes in public education

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers NOVELIST- Patti Kokinos, former vice principal of Oak Park High School, signs a copy of her new novel, "Angel Park," at the Oak Park Library on Jan. 31. The novel takes place in the world of public education. The public education system needs to change, not only for the health and well-being of children but also for the future of America, according to Patricia Kokinos, a former Oak Park assistant principal.

To help raise awareness of the issue, Kokinos has just published her first novel, "Angel Park," a mystery that takes place in an East Coast public school. The Ventura resident launched her 350-page book at the Oak Park Library on Jan. 31, surrounded by friends and former colleagues from Oak Park High School.

"Everyone needs to wake up. We've got to take better care of what we're doing with our kids. We have factory model schools, not family model schools," Kokinos said. "To me, schools and how they serve kids are the bedrock of the whole country."

Classes are too large for students to create connections with teachers and with each other. Teachers are overworked, particularly at the middle and high school levels, dealing with as many as 150 students each day. .

"It's like kids are going through a conveyor belt. Teachers can't support and help that many," Kokinos said. "Why should high school be a trauma for everyone?"

There have been attempts to make changes, but they don't last long, she added.

"There's a lot of inertia in the system that goes back to how political the whole school system is," Kokinos said. "Times have changed but the structure of the system hasn't. Kids can't read; kids can't write. We need to do something better."

Charter schools are more in line with what kids today need, serving smaller groups, according to Kokinos.

A California native, Kokinos holds two master's degrees, in English and educational administration. She worked as a journalist for a Bakersfield publication, then became a high school English teacher in Central California. In 1984, she was named Kern County Teacher of the Year.

She later worked in school administration in districts on the East and West coasts. From 1998 to 2004, Kokinos was assistant principal of Oak Park High School before retiring. Her novel incorporates events that occurred during her 25 years in education.

In deciding to write a novel about public education, Kokinos researched other books about the subject. She found 475,000 nonfiction books about education but not one novel. iUniverse, an online publisher, describes "Angel Park" as "a compelling philosophical mystery about racism, power politics, blind tradition and the stranglehold they have on the inert body of public education- and the American Dream."

"I needed to say something deeper about public education to a wider audience," Kokinos said. "This is an American story. I hope people will find some meaning."

Kokinos started writing the book in 2000 while still at her job at Oak Park High, but working 70hour weeks left little time for anything else. Returning to Oak Park to debut her book was a homecoming. Many friends and former coworkers stopped by the library conference room to greet Kokinos, her husband, Richard Melillo, and son, Rob Campbell. Kokinos donated several copies of "Angel Park" to the Oak Park Library.

"Patti Kokinos was a wonderful administrator at Oak Park High School; she always had a big smile, and she loved the kids," said Oak Park Parent Faculty Club President Diana Traficante. "I am excited for her, and I wish her much success; she deserves it."

Several Oak Park staff members have read the book, including office manager Toni Paulson, who said she "couldn't put it down," and athletics director Ann Pettit, who described it as "entertaining, fabulously written and oh, so much truth to it."

"Angel Park" has received a number of awards, including the Publisher's Choice distinction from iUniverse. The book is available through iUniverse, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. The Ventura and Santa Monica Barnes & Noble stores are featuring "Angel Park" on the new paperbacks tables through May 7.

Kokinos said she is already working on her next book, "Salamander Dreams."