Bonita Unified Board Appoints New San Dimas High School Principal
The Bonita Unified Board of Education appointed Omar Mayen as the new principal of San Dimas High School during its Oct. 4 meeting. Mayen is an experienced high school educator; prior to coming to San Dimas High, he spent six years as an assistant principal and an additional 12 years as a high school special education teacher in Corona-Norco Unified School District. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands, teaching inclusive practices to credential and master’s degree candidates.
El Monte Union Welcomes Four New Assistant Principals
The top administrative positions at three El Monte Union High School District campuses have a new look for the 2023-24 school year, with four new assistant principals joining El Monte, Mountain View and Rosemead high schools. The new administrators are Sarah McLarty and Brian Covey at El Monte High School; Sandra Salge at Rosemead High School; and Anh Ligutom at Mountain View High School. Covey, Salge and Ligutom are all new to El Monte Union, while McLarty most recently served as El Monte High’s athletic director.
Bonita High School senior Andrew Watson, Chaparral-Vista High School senior Riley Koscielski and San Dimas High School senior Beatrice See stepped up to the podium – and into new leadership roles – before the Bonita Unified Board of Education on Oct. 4, receiving applause and cheers of encouragement as they took the oath of office to serve as the Board’s student representatives for the 2023-24 school year. Watson, Koscielski and See will serve as the voices and advocates of their peers throughout the school year, attending all regular monthly Board meetings to provide school reports and share feedback and concerns. All three students also serve in leadership positions on their campuses.
Fontana Unified Named Semifinalist in National Career Z Challenge
Fontana Unified School District’s plan to expand its work-based learning opportunities through the Future Shapers Academy (FSA) secured it a semifinalist spot in the U.S. Department of Education’s Career Z Challenge. Fontana Unified is one of two school districts in California and 81 nationwide to be named a semifinalist in the $2.5 million multi-phase prize competition. The District will receive assistance and a monetary prize from the federal government for launching the FSA, a systemic work-based learning ecosystem within its career technical education program, in 2023-24.
Río Hondo College Library to Host First-Ever Zine Fest
Río Hondo College Library will host its first-ever Zine Fest over two days, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10 and from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Zine creators and enthusiasts will be on hand to share their zines in hopes of educating the community about zines and inspiring them to create their own self-made zines. Both days will be hosted at the Learning Resource Center, located on the second floor of the campus library. The event will kick off the Río Hondo College Library Outreach Project, where participants can contribute their zine to be included in a printed publication of the Río Hondo College Library Zines. Río Hondo College is located at 3600 Workman Mill Rd., Whittier.
Fontana Unified to Host Hispanic/Latinx Month Cultural Celebration
Fontana Unified School District will host a Hispanic/Latinx Month Cultural Celebration at Fontana High School from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 to commemorate how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large. The event will include mariachi, food trucks, guest speakers, arts and crafts, cultural performances and more. Fontana High School is located at 9453 Citrus Ave., Fontana.
Hacienda La Puente Unified’s Project Life Experience About Democracy (LEAD) program, designed to foster informed citizens by identifying community issues, developing solutions and participating in real-world civic action, has won the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Award for its excellence in amplifying the student voice and promoting change. This unique program, founded in 2014, was developed as an extracurricular experience for students to get involved in local politics and collaborate with various neighborhood affiliations year-round. The award-winning program continues to grow and is now available at eight HLPUSD schools within the San Gabriel Valley.
The program, founded in 2014, was developed as an extracurricular experience for students to get involved in local politics and collaborate with various neighborhood affiliations throughout the year, including the City of La Puente and its Parks and Recreation Department. Project LEAD is also a multi-year recipient of the California Department of Education’s Civic Learning Award.
Baldwin Park Unified orchestra director Paul Grant has a special place in his heart for the teachers who brought the joy of music to his life, helping mold an energetic and mischievous student into a world-class musician and inspiring him to pursue a career as a music instructor. For more than 10 years at BPUSD, Grant has channeled his former mentors, ensuring student success through equitable access to instruments and tailoring classroom lessons to ensure key foundational skills are learned each week. For his passion and dedication, Grant was recently named the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), Los Angeles Chapter’s 2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.For more than 10 years at BPUSD, Grant has channeled his former mentors, ensuring student success through equitable access to instruments and tailoring classroom lessons to ensure key foundational skills are learned each week. For his passion and dedication, Grant was recently named the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), Los Angeles Chapter’s 2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.
El Monte Union High School District honored Clean Air Day on Oct. 4 by celebrating the District's recognition as a Sustainable Trailblazer Award winner from the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCal REN), acknowledging the District’s sustainability efforts, notably its groundbreaking Clean Mobility in Schools Project. SoCal REN, a leading organization dedicated to advancing sustainable energy practices in Southern California, bestows the Sustainable Trailblazer Award upon entities that demonstrate exceptional leadership and innovation in environmental sustainability. El Monte Union’s achievement highlights its unwavering commitment to fostering a greener and healthier future.
Lynwood Unified School District’s Job Opportunity for Youth program (LJOY) has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Golden Bell Award, a recognition bestowed upon school districts that have demonstrated outstanding programs dedicated to supporting student needs and promoting excellence for all. The LJOY program – which provides at-promise students with the opportunity to complete their high school education while gaining valuable work experience within the District – will be recognized by the California School Boards Association at a reception and ceremony on Nov. 30 in San Francisco.
