A school year filled with prestigious recognitions continued for Wayne Ruble Middle School math and computer science teacher Zahra Razi, who recently earned two national honors for creating transformational learning environments and enriching students’ understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Razi was named one of the International Society for Technology in Education and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ISTE+ASCD) 20 to Watch Award recipients, making her one of just 20 early-career educators worldwide recognized for innovation and impact. She was also selected as a Generation AI Luminary, one of 10 educators nationwide honored for advancing AI-powered instruction and ethical technology use. Razi is the only educator in the country to be selected for both awards this year.
Fontana Unified will start the 2025-26 school year, welcoming more than 30,000 students back to campus on Wednesday, Aug. 6. The new academic year marks the beginning of a new era for O’Day Short Elementary School – previously known as Randall Pepper Elementary – as it officially opens under its new name in honor of the O’Day Short Family, which is remembered for breaking Fontana’s color barrier 80 years ago.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will welcome students and families back to its annual Back-to-School Extravaganza, continuing its tradition of providing students with free backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year.
Upland Unified School District is transforming school meals from the ground up with a robust, innovative farm-to-school program that connects students with fresh, healthy, and locally grown produce, straight from local farms and gardens at each of the District’s 14 campuses. Every school site in the District now features a regenerative garden, maintained with the help of student interns from federally funded agriculture programs, Upland Unified students, and volunteers. These spaces serve as more than just gardens; they are outdoor classrooms and community hubs that foster hands-on learning, sustainability, and healthy eating habits.
Covina-Valley Unified is opening new doors for middle school students through a pilot career technical education (CTE) summer program, giving incoming seventh- and eighth-graders early exposure to hands-on, real-world learning. The program, open to Las Palmas, Traweek, and Sierra Vista middle school students, quickly reached full capacity after its launch. Organized into three sessions, the program offers students the chance to explore two CTE programs per session, including studio art and business entrepreneurship, sports patient care and medical patient care, aviation/aerospace, and theater production.
Oakton College in Des Plaines, Ill., has seen a profound and measurable impact from implementing Caring Campus, reflected in increased student persistence rates from semester to semester. Known as “The Persistence Project,” at Oakton, the college exemplifies how a culture of care can transform student experiences and outcomes. The Persistence Project encourages faculty to adopt simple, relationship-building behaviors such as learning students’ names in the first two weeks, scheduling individual check-ins with students, and providing early feedback. In fall 2024, the college analyzed outcomes for students enrolled in courses taught by faculty participating in the project. Results showed that first-time Oakton students who took at least one course with a Persistence Project faculty member persisted from fall to spring at a rate 17.8 percentage points higher than their peers — 77.4 percent compared to 59.6 percent. These fall 2024 results align with a consistent trend of increased student persistence seen since the college first implemented the Persistence Project in 2016.
For its dedication to providing students a rigorous education in a positive learning environment, Bonita Unified has been named a “Favorite School District” in the San Gabriel Valley in the Southern California News Group (SCNG) Readers’ Choice Awards for the third year in a row. Each spring, SCNG newspapers—including the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Pasadena Star-News, and Whittier Daily News—invite readers to vote both online and through print for awards across a range of categories.
The Covina-Valley Unified School District Board of Education has appointed longtime educator and District leader Dr. Jonathan Blackmore as interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year, following a Board meeting held on July 10. Blackmore will lead the District while the Board conducts a comprehensive search for a permanent superintendent, which is expected to begin later this year. With more than 31 years of experience in education and over a decade of service to C-VUSD, Blackmore brings expertise and a strong commitment to student achievement, family engagement, and organizational excellence. Since joining the District, Blackmore has served in various roles, including Director of Communications, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Director of 21st Century Learning and Special Projects, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to his tenure in Covina-Valley Unified, he served as a high school principal, assistant principal, counselor, and English teacher.
Upland Unified School District (UUSD) is broadening its acclaimed Career Technical Education (CTE) program with the launch of three new pathways in Elementary Education, Agriscience, and Emergency Medical Responder. These additions will provide students with hands-on training and industry-relevant experience to prepare them for high-demand careers or further education. Building on its robust CTE program, UUSD’s new offerings will be taught by experienced industry professionals and provide students with practical, career-aligned instruction. The District currently offers 12 established pathways in Film, TV, & Video Production; Photography; Computer Science; Health Careers & Patient Care; Sports Medicine; Automotive Technology; Engineering Design; Residential & Commercial Construction; Welding & Materials Joining; Stage Technology and Production; Hip Hop Dance; and Modern Dance.
Bonita Unified School District will welcome seven new administrators for the 2025-26 school year, including three assistant principals, two principals, an assistant superintendent, and a director of transportation. Bonita Unified has appointed Dr. Kendra Peterson-Broussard as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Development and James Foster as Director of Transportation. Kaitlyn Trotter will serve as principal of Allen Avenue Elementary, and Orlando Beltran will lead Lone Hill Middle School. The District also welcomed new assistant principals at Ramona Middle School and San Dimas High School. Most recently Director of Human Resources at Centinela Valley Union High School District (CVUHSD), Dr. Peterson-Broussard brings nearly two decades of administrative experience to her new role. She began her career as a middle school teacher before serving as a recruitment specialist with Los Angeles Unified and later as a secondary site administrator in CVUHSD. She has spent the past four years as CVUHSD’s Director of Human Resources, overseeing personnel programs for both certificated and classified staff. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois Chicago, a master’s in educational administration from Cal State Los Angeles, and a doctorate in leadership from USC.
