BUENA PARK, CA – Buena Park School District and all of its schools were named 2022 California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) award winners by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, shining a light on innovative programs created during the 2020-21 school year.

Buena Park School District was one of 121 districts to be recognized for programs that focused on either student engagement, distribution of technology, nutrition services or social-emotional well-being. The CAPP awards were created to acknowledge districts that created unique opportunities to support student growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Early on during the pandemic, we knew the value of social-emotional learning, keeping students connected, providing mindfulness activities and physical activities,” Chief Academic Officer Dr. Yvette Cantu said. “I’m really proud of our District being recognized for understanding the importance of connectedness during distance learning.”

The District had seven of its schools named to the list of 727 school award winners, including Gordon H. Beatty Middle School for its social-emotional well-being programs, Buena Park Middle School for its child nutrition program, Emery and Pendleton schools for their student engagement programs, Corey School for its program to close the achievement gap, Gilbert School for its distribution of technology and Whitaker School for its social-emotional well-being and student engagement programs.

The District’s programs ranged from expanded guidance counselor center updates, drive-thru meal distributions and enhanced equitable instruction to the distribution of laptops, Chromebooks, iPads and Wi-Fi hotspots to students for improved connectivity and community building.

“It is a major honor to be named to the California Pivotal Practice award winner list – to show how our District, even in the midst of a global pandemic, found new ways to innovate and boost student success,” Superintendent Dr. Ramon Miramontes said. “Thank you to our amazing administrators, teachers, staff and parents for their hard work in achieving this accomplishment.”

The full list of 2022 CAPP School awardees can be seen here.