826 is honored to welcome Joel Arquillos as our new Director of National Programs!

Joel Arquillos has been teaching Social Studies at Galileo Academy of Science & Technology in San Francisco for the past eight years. He has served as an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher for the past four years and as the school's Associated Student Body Director for the past two years. Before becoming a high school teacher, Joel was the director of a day program for developmentally disabled adults in Santa Rosa, California.

At Galileo High School, Joel was instrumental in developing the first Academy of Information Technology. Students in the Academy are offered an integrated curriculum and are assigned problem-based learning projects where they utilize web and digital media. Joel was also designated Galileo's Director of Creative Arts & Media, where he provided high school students opportunities to express their artistic and creative talents on stage and video.

826 Valencia had the privilege to collaborate with Joel's Social Studies class on our most recent book project, Home Wasn't Built in a Day, a book of collected stories about family myths and legends. Joel was the very first recipient of our Teacher of the Month award in October of 2002. In August, he will be joining our staff as the new Director of National Programs and we truly could not be any happier in welcoming him into our 826 family. In an article from the San Francisco Chronicle, Dave Eggers wrote, "On the last day of school before Christmas break, at the morning's all-school assembly, Arquillos dressed as the school's lions mascot and frolicked on stage, finishing with an elaborate break-dance routine. The students went nuts."

Welcome aboard, Joel. You're going to fit right in!