Vista High School teacher Dr. Claudio Toledo was recognized as Lynwood Unified’s 2024 Teacher of the Year for his positive impact on students, colleagues, and the District community. Toledo, an educator at Lynwood Unified for more than 20 years, has helped foster a collaborative and supportive educational environment for at-promise students, guiding and inspiring them toward positive journeys. Toledo’s award was announced during the Board of Education meeting on April 25, where he received a standing ovation and an enthusiastic round of applause from friends, family, and colleagues.
When Eduardo Lopez first picked up a film camera in his Jurupa Hills High School TV/Film Production class, he immediately knew he wanted to become a professional filmmaker. Lopez can be found filming with a camera nearly every day as he assists with all of Jurupa Hills High’s productions in the school’s TV/Film career technical education (CTE) pathway, including Spartan TV News – a weekly studio show produced by students – in any way he can. He gained technical and leadership skills that are greatly respected by his Spartan classmates, establishing himself as a solid crew member with a knack for finding the right angle and lighting for a shot.
The San Dimas High School sports medicine program wrapped up its season in top form, finishing in sixth place in the American Academic Competition Institute (AACI) 2024 California High School Sports Medicine Competition, Small Schools Division, held in March at Cal State Northridge. The outstanding effort paves the way for the team to advance to the AACI National competition, held throughout May, for the fourth consecutive year. San Dimas senior Andrew Reyes also earned an individual fifth-place finish out of nearly 340 AACI competitors in the Novice Division. The AACI competition consists of 150 general knowledge questions, followed by a series of sports medicine procedures, including tape jobs, anatomical palpations, first-aid skills, and orthopedic examinations.
Fontana Unified School District showcased its Future Shapers Academy (FSA) and the creative and innovative projects developed by more than 30 students on May 8. The event served as a celebration as FSA wrapped up its inaugural year and provided employers with an opportunity to learn about the Academy’s work firsthand. Throughout the 2023-24 school year, the FSA was tasked with reimagining downtown Fontana as students designed an entertainment center through a series of design challenges.
Bonita Unified School District is offering 18 graduating students or recent graduates the opportunity to jumpstart their careers and become certified welders with an 11-week course through the Welding Certification Center in Pomona, offered in partnership with Pomona Valley America’s Job Center. The County of Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity will cover the cost of tuition for the 18 students, to be selected following an application and interview process, to attend the accelerated course that begins July 8. At the Welding Certification Center, the only state-licensed private welding school in Los Angeles County, students will be trained in shielded metal arc welding, also known as stick welding, and become certified welders licensed by both the American Welding Society (AWS) and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
Whittier Union Adult School CTE Tours Boost Student Career Options
The Whittier Union Adult School hosted tours and information sessions for Whittier Union high school students on April 23 and 24, giving students the opportunity to explore the possibilities within the Adult School’s career technical education (CTE) programs and experience firsthand the hands-on, dynamic learning environments that fast-track their journeys to high-demand careers. During the CTE tours, students explored construction, medical assistant, and electrician classrooms, witnessing current Adult School students in action and hearing from them and their dedicated instructors. The Whittier Union Adult School offers a diverse range of CTE options, including medical assistant, cybersecurity, and plumbing pathways, all of which empower students to find their passions and unlock their potential in the workforce.
Bonita Unified Students Honored for Perseverance, Acts of Kindness
Nearly 150 Bonita Unified students received a moment in the spotlight to honor actions that often go unseen – including perseverance in the face of adversity and acts of kindness toward others – during the 2023-24 La Verne/San Dimas Educational Foundation Awards on April 29. The ceremony is one of the foundation’s signature events and provides awards and scholarships to students who overcome physical, emotional, or academic challenges and complete charitable acts in their community. Students from Bonita, Chaparral-Vista, and San Dimas high schools also received scholarships for demonstrating excellence in career technical education courses.
Whittier Union Educator Honored with Prestigious Award
Whittier Union High School District Education Specialist Adonis Chacon has been recognized by the California Teachers Association with its We Honor Ours (WHO) award, which goes to outstanding educators who demonstrate excellence, dedication, innovation, and leadership in their roles within the education community. As an education specialist, Adonis works as an Independent Study teacher at Sierra Vista High School in addition to providing special education support to Frontier High School students. In his 17 years at Whittier Union, Chacon has supported and empowered students to succeed in class despite personal struggles.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s Workman Elementary School and Newton, Sierra Vista, and Sparks middle schools received 2024 Civic Learning Awards from the California Department of Education, honoring the schools for their commitment to promoting civic education and engaging the entire District community in civic learning initiatives. Newton Middle School was one of three schools presented with the Award of Distinction, and Workman Elementary School was one of four that earned the Award of Merit. Additionally, Sierra Vista and Sparks middle schools were two of 11 campuses to receive an honorable mention.
Gladstone Elementary School held its annual “Be You” Night on April 17, an all-inclusive family celebration focused on embracing neurodiversity and encouraging Gladstone students to be accepting of classmates who think and act differently than they do, including students with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The Gladstone campus was a buzz of activity, with students playing hopscotch with hula hoops, navigating an obstacle course, shooting hoops, making multi-colored rainsticks and sensory bottles, completing a scavenger hunt using communication boards, relaxing with a therapy dog and playing with animals in the petting zoo.
