Oakton College in Des Plaines, Ill., has seen a profound and measurable impact from implementing Caring Campus, reflected in increased student persistence rates from semester to semester. Known as “The Persistence Project,” at Oakton, the college exemplifies how a culture of care can transform student experiences and outcomes. The Persistence Project encourages faculty to adopt simple, relationship-building behaviors such as learning students’ names in the first two weeks, scheduling individual check-ins with students, and providing early feedback. In fall 2024, the college analyzed outcomes for students enrolled in courses taught by faculty participating in the project. Results showed that first-time Oakton students who took at least one course with a Persistence Project faculty member persisted from fall to spring at a rate 17.8 percentage points higher than their peers — 77.4 percent compared to 59.6 percent. These fall 2024 results align with a consistent trend of increased student persistence seen since the college first implemented the Persistence Project in 2016.
For its dedication to providing students a rigorous education in a positive learning environment, Bonita Unified has been named a “Favorite School District” in the San Gabriel Valley in the Southern California News Group (SCNG) Readers’ Choice Awards for the third year in a row. Each spring, SCNG newspapers—including the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Pasadena Star-News, and Whittier Daily News—invite readers to vote both online and through print for awards across a range of categories.
The Covina-Valley Unified School District Board of Education has appointed longtime educator and District leader Dr. Jonathan Blackmore as interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year, following a Board meeting held on July 10. Blackmore will lead the District while the Board conducts a comprehensive search for a permanent superintendent, which is expected to begin later this year. With more than 31 years of experience in education and over a decade of service to C-VUSD, Blackmore brings expertise and a strong commitment to student achievement, family engagement, and organizational excellence. Since joining the District, Blackmore has served in various roles, including Director of Communications, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Director of 21st Century Learning and Special Projects, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to his tenure in Covina-Valley Unified, he served as a high school principal, assistant principal, counselor, and English teacher.
Upland Unified School District (UUSD) is broadening its acclaimed Career Technical Education (CTE) program with the launch of three new pathways in Elementary Education, Agriscience, and Emergency Medical Responder. These additions will provide students with hands-on training and industry-relevant experience to prepare them for high-demand careers or further education. Building on its robust CTE program, UUSD’s new offerings will be taught by experienced industry professionals and provide students with practical, career-aligned instruction. The District currently offers 12 established pathways in Film, TV, & Video Production; Photography; Computer Science; Health Careers & Patient Care; Sports Medicine; Automotive Technology; Engineering Design; Residential & Commercial Construction; Welding & Materials Joining; Stage Technology and Production; Hip Hop Dance; and Modern Dance.
Bonita Unified School District will welcome seven new administrators for the 2025-26 school year, including three assistant principals, two principals, an assistant superintendent, and a director of transportation. Bonita Unified has appointed Dr. Kendra Peterson-Broussard as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Development and James Foster as Director of Transportation. Kaitlyn Trotter will serve as principal of Allen Avenue Elementary, and Orlando Beltran will lead Lone Hill Middle School. The District also welcomed new assistant principals at Ramona Middle School and San Dimas High School. Most recently Director of Human Resources at Centinela Valley Union High School District (CVUHSD), Dr. Peterson-Broussard brings nearly two decades of administrative experience to her new role. She began her career as a middle school teacher before serving as a recruitment specialist with Los Angeles Unified and later as a secondary site administrator in CVUHSD. She has spent the past four years as CVUHSD’s Director of Human Resources, overseeing personnel programs for both certificated and classified staff. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois Chicago, a master’s in educational administration from Cal State Los Angeles, and a doctorate in leadership from USC.
Arroyo High School’s 2023-24 yearbook, "If You Know Us, You Know," has secured national recognition for outstanding quality and student-led creativity after earning a spot in Varsity Yearbook’s Portfolio, a prestigious showcase of the best yearbooks in the country. Selected from more than 2,100 submissions, Arroyo’s yearbook was one of 617 featured in the 30th edition of Varsity’s Portfolio. The publication highlights yearbooks that demonstrate exceptional design, photography, writing, and storytelling. The school’s 2023-24 yearbook focused on capturing the cornerstones of Arroyo culture, including school spirit and academic and athletic success.
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.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Technology Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) Ricardo Recinos has been named an Adobe Creative Educator (ACE) Innovator and will join a select group of K-12 educators worldwide who are using creativity to lead change in education as part of Adobe’s 2025-26 ACE cohort. Recinos has spent the last seven years as a Tech TOSA after nearly two decades teaching high school Spanish. As part of a Tech TOSA team with partner Teresa Magpayo-Castro, Recinos helps teachers to navigate platforms such as Aeries, Parent Square, and the Canvas Learning Management System, and supports student and parent technology education.
Hacienda La Puente Unified students are tapping into new passions for singing, acting, and dancing while strengthening confidence and leadership skills as they perform together in the District’s first-ever musical performance through the new Broadway Bound Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory. More than 130 elementary, middle, and high school students will showcase Roald Dahl’s “Matilda” with three performances on Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29 at Citrus College’s Haugh Performing Arts Center. Naya Sanchez, a rising Grazide Elementary School fifth-grader, said she always wanted to act and perform, and when her mom saw the flyer announcing the District’s Conservatory and summer production, she seized the opportunity.
