Two longtime Whittier Union administrators have been recognized by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) as Region 15 Spring Award winners, highlighting their unwavering commitment to student success, innovative leadership, and empowerment of education communities. Pioneer High School Principal Mary Chapman was recognized as ACSA Region 15 Secondary Principal of the Year, while Whittier Union Adult School (WUAS) Assistant Principal Juan Anzaldo received the ACSA Region 15 Adult Education Administrator of the Year award. Region 15 covers all of Los Angeles County except for L.A. city schools.
As Fontana High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) marksmanship team delivered one of its strongest finishes in program history during the MCJROTC National Air Rifle Championship in Utah from February 5 to 7, freshman cadet Victoria Avila’s dedication and hard work cemented her place alongside her team on the national stage. Avila’s path to the national competition was equally shaped by her growth in the classroom as well as on the range. During her first semester, her grades fluctuated, and at times threatened her eligibility to travel with the team. Determined to earn the opportunity, she pushed herself to improve and used the competition as motivation to stay focused on her academics.
Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School students are putting the pedal to the metal through the new Bike Tech Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathway and Ride Club, opening a space for the school’s vibrant bicycle and eco-green culture to come alive and gather student enthusiasts for bike rides throughout Southern California. The pathway, which debuted at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, engages students through hands-on learning and prepares them for a growing workforce demand in eco-mobility and sustainable transportation.
Bonita Unified ProStart culinary students enjoyed an opportunity to rub elbows with Michelin-starred chefs and National Football League (NFL) legends – while contributing to the fight to end student hunger – during Taste of the NFL 2026, a culinary and gridiron extravaganza held during Super Bowl weekend in San Francisco. Taste of the NFL raised $2.2 million for GENYOUth, a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to ending student hunger, increasing access to physical activity, and elevating student voices. The money will increase access to nearly 150 million school meals for 540,000 students in 1,000 schools across the nation.
Jurupa Hills High School juniors and seniors gathered along the street in front of campus on the morning of Feb. 23, where they were met with a tragic scene: a staged car crash involving their classmates, designed to confront them with the real-life consequences of driving under the influence. The simulation is part of Jurupa Hills’ participation in the national “Every 15 Minutes” program, challenging students to reflect on the dangers of impaired driving. Throughout the school day, one student was pulled from class every 15 minutes, symbolizing the lives lost to alcohol-related crashes. By the time students assembled outside, they were faced with a powerful visual reminder of how quickly a single decision can alter countless lives.
Chaparral-Vista High School Dean of Students Kendra Lewis has been recognized by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) as its 2026 Region 15 Promising Administrator of the Year, highlighting her leadership, innovation, and deep commitment to equity in education and student success. Lewis is now in her third year at Chaparral-Vista High, after serving more than 10 years as a math and AVID teacher in another district. Lewis turned to administration because she wanted to make an even bigger impact on student success.
Faculty and staff at Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) are strengthening a culture centered on human connection, embracing Caring Campus as a framework for intentionally supporting students at a time when higher education is increasingly shaped by technology.
Whittier High School has successfully renewed its six-year accreditation status from the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ASC-WASC), demonstrating that the school has the capacity, commitment, and competence to support high-quality student learning and ongoing school improvement. The ASC-WASC accreditation status received by Whittier High School is for six years, running through June 2032, with a mid-cycle progress report due during the 2028-29 school year. This is the highest level of ASC-WASC accreditation, and the third consecutive six-year/mid-cycle report accreditation status the high school has received.
After four years of excellence both inside and outside the classroom, four El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) students earned coveted QuestBridge Match Scholarships, securing early admission to some of the nation’s most respected universities with combined award amounts totaling more than $1 million. Arroyo High School seniors Samuel Ye and Thomas Mach, along with South El Monte High School seniors Ailani Rodriguez and Henry Liem, are among 2,550 of the nation’s highest-achieving students receiving this honor. They will represent EMUHSD at top universities in the fall, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Northwestern University, Claremont McKenna College, and Princeton University.
More than 350 Covina-Valley Unified students with exceptional needs, from transitional kindergarten through the Adult Transition Program, gathered at the District Field on Feb. 5 for the second annual Sports Festival, a high-energy event centered on inclusion, accessibility, and community. Students sported their schools’ shirts as they rotated through a variety of activity stations, including frisbee golf, javelin throw, basketball, soccer courses, bean bag toss, long jump, ribbon dance, and races, along with sensory areas, face painting, and cool-down spaces. Students earned bracelets and medals, heading home with flair and smiles.
