FONTANA, CA – Fontana Unified School District highlighted its commitment to its four pillars of focus for innovation and growth and celebrated its achievements in preparing students for success in life, all while showcasing the wide range of student talents during its State of the District event on April 24 – the first event of its kind in five years.

Superintendent Miki R. Inbody led the audience through the multimedia State of the District presentation in Jurupa Hills High School’s theater. The event, which included an introduction from Board of Education President Mars Serna, highlighted the District’s work in four areas targeted for innovation and growth: academic excellence, safe and inclusive learning environments, community engagement, and financial stewardship.

“Our mission in Fontana Unified is to prepare our students for college and career opportunities, so every student has the ability to find success on a local, national, and global level,” said Inbody, who began as Superintendent in March 2023. “We have stayed true to this mission over many years and is our guiding light as we move forward in the years to come.”

Themed “Believing in Every Student: Fostering Future and Fueling Dreams,” Fontana Unified’s first State of the District since April 2019 provided a glimpse into the District’s promising future. The program included the unveiling of a refreshed District logo and celebrated the upcoming expansion of its Dual Language Immersion program to Jurupa Hills High and the recent groundbreaking of a new middle school in the north end of Fontana.

The event drew a diverse audience of elected officials, distinguished guests, District staff, families, and other community members. Among the esteemed dignitaries who attended were City of Fontana Councilmember Jesus “Jesse” Sandoval, San Bernardino County Board of Education Trustee Laura Mancha, and representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Norma Torres, Senator Richard Roth, San Bernardino County Supervisor Jesse Armendarez, and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre.

FUSD students took center stage to showcase their diverse range of talents, as 11 student organizations from eight District schools performed throughout the event. Five school musical ensembles and three Ballet Folklórico groups performed during the event, while culinary students prepared and served food for the event’s reception.

Inbody celebrated the impact of a wide range of District early-learning and college-and-career readiness programs, including its TK-12 Literacy Plan, i-Ready pilot, K-12 International Baccalaureate Continuum, 39 career technical education pathways, and its first-ever Historically Black Colleges & Universities Campus Tour.

The State of the District also shined a spotlight on the District’s award-winning efforts and its commitment to safety and inclusivity, evidenced through its pilot with the CENTEGIX Crisis-Alert System, a rapid incident response safety solution.

During the 2023-24 school year, Fontana Unified’s expansion of work-based learning ecosystems through the launch of the Future Shapers Academy earned it semifinalist honors in the Career Z Challenge, while 29 schools earned California Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) awards, and six high schools were honored on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 Best High Schools rankings. The District was also named a Model School Attendance Review Board by the California Department of Education.

Throughout the State of the District, Inbody highlighted the work of its District staff and teachers, concluding the event by celebrating their impact on the next generation.

“Without hesitation, I can confidently say across the system and all job responsibilities, Fontana educators believe in every student and are truly making a difference,” Inbody said. “‘Fostering Futures, Fueling Dreams’ takes our collective efforts, passion, and beliefs, but there is truly no other job or profession that can make such a profound impact on the lives of our scholars – I believe in our students, I believe in our staff, and I believe in our community.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

FUSD_SOD1: Fontana Unified Superintendent Miki R. Inbody presents the 2024 State of the District, which was themed “Believing in Every Student: Fostering Future and Fueling Dreams” on April 24. The presentation focused on the District’s commitment to its four pillars of focus for innovation and growth and celebrated its achievements in preparing students for success in life.

FUSD_SOD2: Hemlock Elementary School’s choir sang “What a Wonderful World” and “Here Comes the Sun” during the 2024 Fontana Unified State of the District on April 24. It was one of five musical groups to perform during the event.

FUSD_SOD3: Culinary students from Henry J. Kaiser and Summit High schools helped prepare and serve food during the reception of Fontana Unified’s 2024 State of the District on April 29. It was FUSD’s first State of the District in five years.