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Fontana Unified Elementary School Celebrated as National Success Story for Innovative Teaching Practices

Fontana Unified’s Beech Avenue Elementary School has earned national recognition from the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) for its effective implementation of the Teaching for Effective Learning (TEL) program, highlighting the school’s success in enhancing teaching practices and fostering collaboration among educators to advance student academic growth. Principal Michele Mower launched TEL, a research-based program that equips teachers with tools and strategies rooted in the science of learning, at Beech Avenue Elementary in 2021 to help mitigate learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and bridge achievement gaps, with positive impacts found among all student groups.

Frontier and Sierra Vista High Schools Earn Top Accreditation for Excellence and Student Support

Whittier Union High School District’s Frontier and Sierra Vista high schools have both earned a six-year accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS-WASC), reaffirming their commitment to fostering supportive learning environments and ensuring student success both academically and personally. ACS-WASC accreditation guarantees that a school’s credits and diplomas are recognized by colleges and universities. It also drives school improvement through a rigorous self-study and the development of an action plan focused on student achievement. While all public high schools in California are required to be ACS-WASC accredited, earning a six-year accreditation with a half-way progress report is known as the highest distinction a school can receive.

Fontana Unified Students Honored in National Design Competition for Innovative Assistive Technology

Students in Fontana High School’s (FOHI) Bio-Animatronic and Neuroprosthetic career technical education (CTE) pathway earned special recognition in the International Technology and Engineering Educators’ (ITEEA) REACH Challenge for their work designing adaptive and assistive living devices. The REACH Challenge is a national competition where students create innovative technological solutions to improve people’s lives in their community. This year, four teams of FOHI students earned special recognition for their REACH Challenge projects. The honor comes with a REACH banner and discounted registration for the 2025 ITEEA Conference on April 2-5, 2025 in St. Louis.

Bonita Unified Students Sound out Success at 19th Annual District Spelling Bee

As curtains rose on the 19th annual Bonita Unified Spelling Bee, 53 elementary and middle school students stepped into the Bonita Center for the Arts, ready to battle it out in a war of words on Feb. 3. With vowels and consonants at the ready, students went up one by one, with a cash prize and yearlong bragging rights on the line. The competition unfolded over several rounds and students showcased their skills under pressure as the field narrowed with each passing word. In the end, Gladstone Elementary fifth-grader Iresh Oswal claimed first place, securing a $250 cash prize for himself and an additional $250 for his school’s library. Alex Yang of Shull Elementary finished in second place, followed by Kamsiyochukwu Aniwigbo of Grace Miller Elementary in third.

Hacienda La Puente Unified Celebrates 10th Annual State of the District, Highlights District Growth

Hacienda La Puente Unified’s community came together for the 10th annual State of the District event on Feb. 6, which highlighted the District’s commitment to engaging students to become lifelong learners while celebrating key milestones achieved in the past year. The theme of the night was “Transformative Learning, Pathways for Student Success,” with Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez sharing how the District continues to evolve and invest in rigorous academic curricula and technological advancements to prepare students for future opportunities in rewarding, in-demand careers.

Lynwood Unified Leader Honored as ACSA Administrator of the Year

Lynwood Unified Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services Shawna Dinkins, Ed.D., has been recognized as the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 14 Curriculum and Instruction Administrator of the Year, an award that honors exceptional leadership across 24 school districts, college districts and universities in Los Angeles County.

Bonita Unified Student, Children’s Rights Advocate Accepted to NYC’s Barnard College

San Dimas High School senior Jazmine Cardenas is no stranger to advocacy. Through her involvement as a member of the UNICEF National Youth Council, the YWCA San Gabriel Valley and the Harvard Youth Corps, Cardenas has fought for children’s rights and victims of domestic violence, and helped to unite students from different cultural backgrounds. Cardenas, who has a 4.17 GPA and has taken six Advanced Placement courses and nine dual enrollment college courses, will take her love for policy-making to New York City after being accepted into Columbia University’s exclusive Barnard College, which has an acceptance rate of less than 9%. Cardenas plans to major in political science with a concentration on international relations and a minor in public policy.

Covina-Valley Unified Senior Puts Medical CTE Training to Use, Helps Save Life

When South Hills High School senior Sally Ortega came across an unconscious man in a parking lot, she did not hesitate to put her training into action. Joining a group of individuals taking turns giving the man chest compressions, Ortega helped keep the man stable until Emergency Medical Services arrived. As a student in South Hills High’s Patient Care career technical education (CTE) pathway, Ortega has gained various medical assisting skills, including learning how to take vital signs, recognizing signs of infection, assisting physicians with exams and minor surgical procedures, performing laboratory tests, and earning CPR certification.

Fontana Unified Theatre Programs Shine, Earn Top Honors at Prestigious CETA High School Festival

Three Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) high school theatre programs have once again been recognized with numerous top awards and accolades for stellar performances and craftsmanship at the 2024-25 California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) High School Festival. Fontana High School’s Theatre Production program, Henry J. Kaiser High’s Artistic and Theatrical Society (KATS), and Jurupa Hills High School’s Players of the Palace all wowed judges and earned top accolades at the CETA High School Festival of Scenes, which was held from Jan. 17 to 19 at Fullerton Union High School and featured performances from 17 schools. Performing scenes from their fall 2024 theatrical productions, all three FUSD schools placed in the top four of CETA’s Area 2, where first to fourth place was separated by just 0.12 of a point, while the entire cast and crew received certificates of merit at the prestigious event. All three productions placed in the top 10 of the 75 eligible schools in Southern California, with Jurupa Hills and Kaiser tying for third place and Fontana High taking fourth in Area 2.

Salem Community College Strengthens Culture, Commitment to Student Success Through Caring Campus

Salem Community College (SCC), a close-knit New Jersey institution with fewer than 2,000 students, has long been celebrated by staff and faculty for its caring, family-like atmosphere for both students and employees. Becoming a Caring Campus, however, has added a level of intentionality to the school’s mission, offering students a high-quality, empowering, and personalized experience. Caring Campus administered by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change, intentionally equips college and university staff and faculty with strategies to actively demonstrate care and guide students on their journey to success. Data shows that when students feel personally cared about, they persist and succeed in their studies at higher rates. The culture of compassion supported by Caring Campus resonates deeply with students at SCC, who can express their gratitude by nominating employees who have impacted their lives as “Champions of Caring.”