EL MONTE – Dignitaries, elected officials and members of the El Monte Union High School District community came together to celebrate the opening of the District’s new Community Education Center (CEC) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, held Sept. 15 at the District office.

The CEC will provide a central hub for distance learning, collaboration and community events. Currently staffed by six teachers and serving more than 250 students, the CEC features state-of-the-art technology allowing students and teachers to connect through formal lessons, as well as tutoring and informal instructional support.

“In the CEC we have teachers leading online classes throughout the day while offering individualized support to our students whenever they need it – whether that’s through chat, email or video calls,” said Justin Lim, Teacher on Special Assignment for Online and Personalized Learning. It has been an invaluable resource – I don’t know what we would have done without it this fall.”

Originally envisioned as a space to meet the emerging demand for online learning pre-pandemic, the CEC has arrived as a timely and key resource for the increased number of students studying independently due to COVID-19.

Post-pandemic, the center will welcome students and community members in person to meet, work together and study. Its light and open space is organized into collaboration centers with high-speed internet, large touch screen monitors and walls that double as white boards. It will also feature an outdoor patio with umbrellas, tables and charging stations, providing flexible, alternative settings for learning.

“For decades to come, the CEC will be a centralized resource for all of our schools to support independent learning, collaboration and 1-to-1 student-teacher engagement,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “This center will be a place that anticipates, responds and adapts to the changing needs of our students.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS

EMUHSD_CEC_1: Superintendent Edward Zuniga welcomes guests and offers opening remarks at El Monte Union High School District’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Community Education Center.

EMUHSD_CEC_2: Dignitaries and guests mingle in El Monte Union High School District’s new Community Education Center after the District’s ribbon-cutting on Sept.15.