A school year filled with prestigious recognitions continued for Wayne Ruble Middle School math and computer science teacher Zahra Razi, who recently earned two national honors for creating transformational learning environments and enriching students’ understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Razi was named one of the International Society for Technology in Education and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ISTE+ASCD) 20 to Watch Award recipients, making her one of just 20 early-career educators worldwide recognized for innovation and impact. She was also selected as a Generation AI Luminary, one of 10 educators nationwide honored for advancing AI-powered instruction and ethical technology use. Razi is the only educator in the country to be selected for both awards this year.
Fontana Unified will start the 2025-26 school year, welcoming more than 30,000 students back to campus on Wednesday, Aug. 6. The new academic year marks the beginning of a new era for O’Day Short Elementary School – previously known as Randall Pepper Elementary – as it officially opens under its new name in honor of the O’Day Short Family, which is remembered for breaking Fontana’s color barrier 80 years ago.
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.
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.
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.
From classroom simulations to real-world takeoffs, A.B. Miller High School’s career technical education (CTE) aviation program continues to soar, as students work toward earning their pilot’s licenses, complete major flight training milestones, and launch careers in the aerospace industry. Senior Jesse Cuba is set to earn his private pilot license this summer after completing a major milestone: his first solo flight. Cuba would be the fourth A.B. Miller student in the last three years to secure a private pilot license the summer of their senior year. The A.B. Miller aviation program is a two-year course offering pathways to several rewarding careers in aerospace. It serves as a flight training school and includes a pilot training class, an airline mechanic class, and a flight simulator lab.
Six Fontana Unified School District elementary and middle school students are preparing to showcase their teamwork, coding, and critical thinking skills on a world stage at the 2025 World Robot Olympiad Open Championships to be held in Panama this October. Mango Elementary School’s Luis P. and Roman H., West Randall Elementary’s Joey Santana, and Wayne Ruble Middle School’s Flora F., Angel F., and Ivanna V. all qualified to represent Team USA Robotics and the United States Engineering League (USEL) at the World Robot Olympiad. They will compete in the challenge-based “RoboMission” category in the elementary and junior divisions, respectively.
More than 2,900 Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) Class of 2025 graduates celebrated a milestone to remember, capturing joyful moments, from walking across the stage to singing alma maters and celebrating under streams of confetti, on phones and handheld camcorders to relive for years to come. Fontana Unified held eight commencement ceremonies for its seven high schools and one adult school on May 22 at the Ontario Convention Center and May 27-28 at the Toyota Arena. This year’s graduating class includes multiple QuestBridge and Gates scholarship winners and more than 370 students who earned the California State Seal of Biliteracy after demonstrating a high level of proficiency in bilingualism and biliteracy. Fontana Unified’s Class of 2025 will embark on a range of post-graduation paths, including continuing their education at top universities such as UCLA, Barnard College, Boston University, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and UC San Diego; joining the armed forces; or launching directly into the workforce. Many graduates are equipped to pursue high-wage, high-demand careers as a result of Fontana Unified’s 39 career technical education pathways.
Four Fontana Unified School District representatives, including volunteers, a principal, and a teacher, have been honored for their dedication to student achievement, leadership, community service, and commitment to education in San Bernardino County. Fontana High School Principal Ofelia Hinojosa earned a Distinguished Service Award, a highly selective distinction, from the San Bernardino County School Boards Association (SBCSBA) and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS). Established in 1998, the award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication, and long-standing service to public education in San Bernardino County. A.B. Miller High dance teacher Nicole Robinson and Redwood Elementary community volunteers Jade Centeno and Maria Medina also received Education Medals of Honor during the SBCSBA and SBCSS awards ceremony.
Seventy-five Summit High School students are headed to New York for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their musical talents on the iconic Carnegie Hall stage, after the school’s Fortepiano String Orchestra earned an invitation to perform at the prestigious National Band and Orchestra Festival in April 2026. Summit High is one of nine high schools or colleges nationwide selected to perform at the festival. The invitation-only event is coordinated by WorldStrides, an educational travel and experience provider that offers immersive learning opportunities. This will mark Summit High’s second appearance at the event after first qualifying in 2019.
