COVINA, CA – Covina-Valley Unified School District welcomed teachers and staff to the start of the new school year with celebrations, appreciation, and a powerful keynote speaker at their convocation on Aug.18.

The convocation included two spotlight videos celebrating the 2022-23 Teacher of the Year and Classified Employee of the Year, as well as a showcase video highlighting the amazing programs and culture in Covina-Valley Unified. The District also recognized their 2022-23 Volunteers of the Year.

The presentations and videos were followed by a keynote speech by Dr. Pedro Noguera, a nationally renowned author and speaker, and Dean of the Rossier School of Education at USC. Dr. Noguera’s latest book is A Search for Common Ground: Conversations About the Toughest Questions in K–12 Education.

Noguera’s thought-provoking speech highlighted the need for teachers and staff members to create equitable and empowering educational experiences by building strong student/teacher relationships that address students’ social-emotional learning, and also by creating school environments that foster rich, rigorous, and engaging lessons to produce the greatest outcomes for all students.

“Our teachers and staff are strong advocates for our students,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Blackmore said. “It’s about wanting to help every student that walks through that door.”

After his keynote speech, Noguera met with the staff of each high school in smaller breakout sessions to delve deeper into the practice of equity and how to create excellence through equity.

“The atmosphere at today’s convocation reflected the deeply caring and supportive nature of the District in creating educational excellence for every student, every day,” Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer said.

Dr. Noguera will return in September for breakout sessions with the staff of the District’s elementary and middle schools.

Photo Captions:

CVUSD_Convocation1: Dr. Pedro Noguera delivers his keynote speech at Covina-Valley Unified School District’s Welcome Back Convocation.

CVUSD_Convocation2: Covina-Valley Unified School District employees gather for the Welcome Back Convocation on Aug. 18.