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Fontana Unified School District

  • Fontana Unified Educator Selected as Finalist for California State Teacher of the Year Award

    Live Oak Elementary School teacher Michelle Vazquez discovered her calling for teaching and advocacy at a young age, growing up in a family that ran a foster home for adults with special needs. Vazquez credits her childhood for teaching her the importance of dignity, patience, and creating spaces where everyone feels valued. It’s a lesson the Resource Specialist Program (RSP) teacher has carried with her throughout her 16-plus years in education. That dedication helped lead to her recognition as Live Oak Elementary and Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) 2024-25 Teacher of the Year, as well as one of the 2026 San Bernardino Countywide Teachers of the Year. With the county recognition, Vazquez is now a finalist for the 2026 California Department of Education Teacher of the Year award.

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  • Fontana Unified to Expand Student Services by Uniting Award-Winning Continuation Schools

    Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) will strengthen and broaden academic and support services for its continuation high school students as it merges its two Model Continuation High Schools, Citrus and Eric Birch, beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Both continuation schools will consolidate under the name Eric Birch High School, relocating to the former Citrus High site at 10760 Cypress Ave., and adopting the Citrus Jaguars mascot. The FUSD Board of Education approved the merger and an estimated $150,000 cost associated with renaming the Citrus campus to Eric Birch High School during its June 18 meeting. Fontana Unified’s continuation school instruction has been recognized by the California Department of Education (CDE) for its comprehensive excellence. Both Citrus and Eric Birch earned Model Continuation School designations from the CDE for their innovative approach to alternative education, with Citrus earning the three-year status in 2023 and Eric Birch securing recognition in 2024, which extends into the 2025-26 school year.

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  • Fontana Unified to Celebrate Renaming of O’Day Short Elementary School, Honor Family’s Legacy

    Fontana Unified will host a renaming ceremony as Randall Pepper Elementary School officially transitions to O’Day Short Elementary in the 2025-26 school year, honoring the O’Day Short Family, which is remembered for breaking Fontana’s color barrier 80 years ago. District middle school student Cyrus Moss championed the renaming of O’Day Short Elementary. Moss submitted a petition with 132 signatures to rename Randall Pepper Elementary to the Fontana Unified Board of Education in March 2024. The Board unanimously voted to rename the school in September 2024 after all administrative regulations were met.

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Fontana Unified Fire Technology and Law Enforcement Pathways Receive National Certifications of Excellence

Fontana High School’s highly acclaimed Fire Technology and Law Enforcement Public Service pathways were each awarded national certification from the Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN), representing the commitment to excellence and quality of both programs. Both of FOHI’s career technical education (CTE) Public Service pathways join a prestigious cohort of secondary and post-secondary schools across the country to be named a LAPSEN National Program of Excellence (NPE). A LAPSEN national certification signifies a program has reached the apex in terms of preparing students for careers in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency management, legal studies, and related fields. Fontana High’s Fire Technology and Law Enforcement CTE pathways are hands-on electives that prepare students for jobs in the public safety sector, with more than 170 students enrolled across both pathways. The pathways fulfill a student’s A-G requirements and are dual-enrollment programs that articulate with Chaffey College, allowing students to earn both high school and college credits and putting them on a fast track for industry certifications.

Fontana Unified Expands Dual Language Immersion Program to Jurupa Hills High School in 2024-25

Fontana Unified School District will expand its Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program to Jurupa Hills High School starting in the 2024-25 school year to complete a full K-12 DLI pathway and rigorous and enriching educational experience for District students. The DLI program, a cornerstone of academic excellence within the Fontana Unified School District, has garnered widespread acclaim for its commitment to bilingual education and fostering multicultural understanding. Through a comprehensive curriculum, students have the unique opportunity to become proficient in both English and Spanish, equipping them with invaluable linguistic skills and cultural competence.

Two Fontana Unified Schools Awarded on State, National Levels for College and Career Readiness Initiatives

Two Fontana Unified School District schools, Sequoia Middle and Fontana High, have been honored for their success in boosting student achievement and fostering college and career readiness. Fontana High and Sequoia Middle schools were both re-designated as Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) National Demonstration Schools, retaining statuses held since 2016 and 2019 respectively, that reflect the site’s implementation of AVID instruction school-wide. Sequoia had even more reason to celebrate when it was also redesignated a 2024 California Middle School to Watch on March 8.

Fontana Unified Schools to Observe Upcoming Solar Eclipse

All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools will use the upcoming solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each District elementary school has been provided with solar eclipse viewing kits, including safety-certified eclipse glasses, to ensure students can safely observe the natural phenomenon. Teachers will integrate the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this natural phenomenon into a hands-on learning experience. Students will also take educational materials home with them, giving them a chance to discuss the significant astronomical event at home.

Fontana Unified Elementary Schools to Engage in Hands-On Solar Eclipse Learning Experience

All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools will use the upcoming solar eclipse as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each FUSD elementary school will hold observations and classroom lessons about the upcoming solar eclipse. Teachers will integrate the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this natural phenomenon into a hands-on learning experience.

Fontana Unified’s Second Annual Student Film Festival Set to Showcase District Talents and Programs

Fontana Unified School District students will showcase their art during the District’s second annual Film Festival, featuring an evening of standout pieces that illustrate the growth of FUSD’s Career Technical Education (CTE) TV Production pathways. Awards will be presented in categories ranging from Avant Garde to screenwriting and from live-action dramas to news story packages.

Fontana Unified Public Service Pathways Certified for Excellence

Fontana High School’s highly acclaimed Fire Technology and Law Enforcement Public Service pathways were each certified as National Programs of Excellence by the Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN), representing the commitment to excellence and quality of both programs. Both of FOHI’s career technical education Public Service pathways join a prestigious cohort of secondary and post-secondary schools across the country to receive the honor. The LAPSEN recognition signifies a program has reached the apex in terms of preparing students for careers in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency management, legal studies, and related fields.

Fontana Unified Set to Host Second Annual Student Film Festival

Fontana Unified School District student filmmakers will showcase their craft during the District’s second annual Film Festival at 5 p.m., Thursday, May 2, at Steelworkers’ Auditorium. The event showcases standout student films that illustrate the growth of FUSD’s career technical education TV Production pathways. Awards will be presented in categories ranging from Avant Garde to screenwriting, and feature genres including live-action dramas and news reports. Steelworkers' Auditorium is located at 8437 Sierra Ave., Fontana.

Fontana Unified High School Earns First Model School Designation for Empowering Students for Success

Eric Birch High School earned its first-ever Model Continuation School designation from the California Department of Education for its alternative programming designed to empower at-promise youth to pursue academic and personal success. Birch High joined an esteemed list of 31 schools to secure Model Continuation School status in 2024. Model Continuation Schools retain their designation for three years and will be formally recognized during the 2024 California Continuation Education Association Plus State Conference in Los Angeles on April 25-28.

Fontana Unified Student Honored for Accomplishments, Aspiration to Champion Black Representation

Summit High School senior Nicole Bell aspires to reshape the landscape of the film and television industry one day and pursue a career where she can champion Black representation and contribute to fostering positive diversity and inclusion in the industry. Bell's leadership qualities and goal to blaze trails for the Black community led to her being recognized and receiving a $1,000 grant during a virtual Celebrating Black Success event on Feb. 24. She currently serves as co-director of SkyHawk Productions, Summit High’s TV Production program, where she is exploring potential career pathways where she can make an impact in film and television.