Sounding Off:

I hope my daughter Karen doesn’t mind getting her name in the local newspaper.

A few weeks ago, I opened up an envelope of the California Department of Education.

I found out with great pleasure that Karen had scored very high in math. Compared with last year, her English also improved.

In a recent meeting at TeWinkle Middle School, school administrators and her teachers spoke very highly of her. I can only be a happy camper.

It would be easy to give my daughter full credit for all her successes. And it would be much easier to give it to my wife or to me. However, as much as I like to think the credit should stay within my family, a great amount of it should not.

My daughter’s successes are the fruits of teamwork. Family members, friends, community members, all of them usually contribute to success. Whether we accept it or not, the local and the federal governments also have a say.

Had it not been for hard-working teachers at her school, Karen would not have been able to get superb grades on the Academic Performance Index exam. I remember meeting her fifth-grade teacher at Adams Elementary School a few years ago. Like most teachers, she worked extra hours to make sure every child in her class performed at her or his full potential.

I cannot forget Candace Cloud, Adams Elementary school principal. Year after year, she organizes community events to have enough academic resources for her students and staff. Kirk Bauermeister does the same at TeWinkle. Both surround themselves with a crew of teachers and administrative personnel to provide the best of their own for the sake of the students.

Yes, there are a few bad teachers and administrators, but they are just a few among many good ones.

Furthermore, on Friday and Sunday afternoons, Karen meets with other friends at a recreational park in Tustin to practice traditional dances from South America. They don’t get together in Costa Mesa because, unfortunately, our local government doesn’t allow full entertainment at some recreational parks.

A few weeks ago, they performed in front of more than 700 people at Yost Theater in Santa Ana. Rep. Loretta Sanchez and other Orange County public officials were among those who cheerfully applauded their artistic moves.

I can only thank Walter Miranda and his wife, Veronica, for providing leadership in the group. They don’t get a penny for what they do, and yet their impact on my child’s development is immeasurable.

I’m not very sure what Karen will end up doing in the future. She could be a doctor, a professor, a nurse or a chef. It doesn’t matter. As long as she finds something she enjoys, pays her living expenses, and it brings her happiness, I give it thumbs up.

So far my daughter is having a wonderful time at home, at school and in the community. They all contribute to her success.

If a child gets behind, it only means that one of these social environments isn’t working well. Then it’s time to act as a group, not to blame it solely on the individual.

HUMBERTO CASPA lives in Costa Mesa.