Santa Fe High School senior Ezra Tetteh learned how to advocate for herself at an early age. Born in Gabon, Africa, Tetteh moved with her family to the United States in 2015, settling in Houston, Texas. As a native French speaker with no English language skills, Tetteh realized that she would need to stay focused if she wanted to earn an education, as her family continually relocated over the next several years. Coming to Santa Fe High as a freshman, Tetteh began taking intermediate classes in English, quickly moving on to Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses in her sophomore year. With a 3.31 GPA, Tetteh is on track to complete her A-G course requirements and attend a four-year university in the fall. For her resilience and ability to overcome adversity, Tetteh was presented with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees during its Jan. 16 meeting.
Río Hondo College will continue its mission to remove barriers to educational opportunity for students, as the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) selected Río Hondo as one of 10 community colleges statewide to implement the Hire UP pilot program. Hire UP is a five-year program designed by CCCCO to acknowledge and address historic racial inequity and socioeconomic barriers to workforce participation. Students who participate in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and RISE Scholars Program, along with former foster youth, are eligible to apply for the Hire UP program, where they will be provided with stipends to help them meet the true cost of college attendance and gain clear access to academic programs and workforce support.
When Fontana High School career technical education (CTE) instructor Lamar Hanger arrived on campus at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year to lead the school’s building and construction pathway, he had a vision to transform the traditional woodshop into a modern commercial and residential construction lab while conducting his classroom as a job site. In less than three years, Hanger’s passion for teaching – and passing on his knowledge of the construction industry – has nearly tripled the number of students in FOHI’s Career Connections program, a CTE pathway in general construction. For his dedication and enthusiasm in guiding the next generation of homebuilders, Hanger has been honored by the Associated General Contractors of California (AGC) with their Construction Education Friend Award. Hanger will be presented with the award at the AGC Installation and Awards Gala on Feb. 2 in San Francisco.
Whittier Union High School District is starting off the new year with a reorganized Board of Trustees, including Trustee Gary Mendez filling his new role as President and Trustee Josefina E. Canchola stepping into the role of Vice President, as the Board members collectively continue to pursue their mission “To Achieve and Maintain Excellence.” The Board also selected Trustee Irma Rodríguez Moisa to serve the Board as Clerk. Outgoing Board president Jaime López and Dr. Russell Castañeda Calleros close out the Board, serving the community as members. Under their new roles, members will continue to ensure that all Whittier Union students have access to the opportunities and resources that they need to succeed.
HLPUSD Middle School Girls Unlock Potential During STEM Celebration
An impressive group of Hacienda La Puente Unified eighth-grade girls journeyed to Whittier College to hear inspiring words and success stories from innovative female leaders and young women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), at the 29th Annual American Association of University Women Math and Science Conference, held on Jan. 11. The cutting-edge and highly anticipated conference, titled "Unlimited Potential," aimed to ignite passion and motivate females to dream big, work hard, and pursue careers that have historically been underrepresented.
FUSD TV Production Students Partner for Launch of New Program
Fontana Unified School District students and staff from Summit and A.B. Miller high schools partnered with students in Baldwin Park High School’s sports media club to share best practices and mentorship in preparation for BPHS’ launch of a news broadcast, the Braves Sports Network, on Jan. 17. Summit and A.B. Miller students shared filming and editing techniques they have learned through their schools’ career technical educational pathways in TV/film and video production.
Henry J. Kaiser High School theatre students qualified for the prestigious California Educational Theatre Association’s (CETA) State Festival and walked away with several awards for their production of William Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” on Jan. 13. Kaiser’s fall play impressed judges at the Regional CETA Festival in December, resulting in a first place win out of 16 schools and a spot in the State Festival. This is Kaiser High School’s 13th year competing and their first top win at the regional level.
Bonita Unified Diving Prodigy Seeks to Qualify for Summer Olympics
Arroyo High School alumnus and girls basketball coach Mike Gorball is celebrating multiple achievements during his 34th season at Arroyo High, after becoming the first girls basketball coach in San Gabriel Valley history and only the 12th coach in CIF Southern Section history to earn 500 victories. Gorball completed the milestone when Arroyo defeated Schurr High School 40-22 in December 2023. The El Monte Union Board of Trustees will honor Gorball during a meeting in February.
Hacienda La Puente Unified showcased a year of growth and success during its ninth annual State of the District on Jan. 18. With a theme of “Engage, Experience, Connect: Deep Learning Every Day,” Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez led the event with a comprehensive presentation packed with animations and lively photos highlighting the past year’s accomplishments in front of a crowd of distinguished guests, administrators, staff, community and HLPUSD Board of Education members. At the conclusion, the District premiered its showcase video, which recognized the dedicated staff that make Hacienda La Puente Unified the ideal educational choice for families.
Coffee Talk with Río Hondo College’s Superintendent/President
The Río Hondo College community is invited to join Superintendent/President Dr. Marilyn Flores for an in-person coffee talk event, Un Cafecito, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 10. Dr. Flores will use this opportunity to meet with members of the community, hear their ideas, and establish camaraderie with those who participate in the event. Un Cafecito is hosted at the Río Hondo College Administration Building’s Board Room, located at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
