San Ysidro School District Superintendent Dr. Julio Fonseca is leading development of rigorous new curriculum in an effort to boost student performance in response to feedback gathered during stakeholder meetings staged during his first 100 days leading the District.

Fonseca – appointed by the SYSD Board of Education in July – conducted an information-gathering and learning tour during his first 100 days, meeting with parents, administrators, business leaders, community members, student groups, parent organizations and students.

“The first 100 days allowed me to identify barriers preventing our students from pursuing every opportunity to succeed,” Fonseca said. “We are working to remove these barriers by reformatting our instructional design, developing an English learner master plan and a technology plan that will help our students connect with rigorous learning practices.”

In November, Fonseca delivered a comprehensive presentation to the Board of Education covering a wide range of concerns brought by District stakeholders and detailed specific steps to incorporate new curriculum into all schools over the next year, including the integration at San Ysidro Middle School of Project Lead The Way, the nation’s leading provider of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum.

Fonseca called for a series of community engagement forums – called the Great Conversation – where members of the SYSD community will be invited to discuss their hopes and dreams for the school district, providing valuable input on what the District determines to be the most important indicators of success for its students.

The District will also introduce the “No Excuses University” program to elementary schools. “No Excuses” builds a college-going culture for students through intervention, tests and data, while ensuring curriculum is aligned with the new California Standards.

“The 100-Day Transition Plan is a road map for success for the San Ysidro School District,” SYSD Board President Antonio Martinez said. “By seeking out and bringing together the District stakeholders and shaping a plan of action based on their recommendations, we can begin to build a model school system that is among the finest in the nation.”