Mountain View High School English teacher Coreen Pineda is fueled by her love for her students, working tirelessly every day to inspire them to achieve great things and have confidence in their abilities. These qualities have earned Pineda recognition by the El Monte Promise Foundation, honoring her with the Bobby Salcedo Esperanza Award for Outstanding Educators, an annual award presented to educators who are committed to student success in education. Pineda received her award at the foundation’s 20th annual Tamalada Gala on Dec. 7. As a Mountain View High alumna, Pineda was inspired by her teachers to pursue a career in education. She went on to major in English at Cal Poly Pomona and has been teaching at her alma mater for the past 23 years.
El Monte Union High School District’s male students honed their leadership abilities through workshops during the District’s inaugural California Boys Acquiring Lifelong Learner Educational Resources On Success (CABALLEROS) event on Nov. 18 at El Monte High School, which included keynote speakers and activities geared toward personal growth and success. The engaging workshops covered essential topics such as image and etiquette, mental health, physical fitness and financial literacy. Attendees were also treated to a continental breakfast and nutritious lunch, where they took part in a rotating lunch activity, and received commemorative event T-shirts.
A group of El Monte Union students with a strong interest in environmental science and sustainability received an inside look at the important work being done by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) at their newly built state-of-the-art Riverside Headquarters on Nov. 8. While the students enjoyed the tour, the District’s newest all-electric school bus used for travel, was able to plug-in to the facility’s charging station and recharge. The field trip began with an overview of CARB, providing students with valuable insights into the organization's mission and the pivotal role it plays in safeguarding air quality and promoting clean energy solutions in California. The experience also gave students the opportunity to see themselves conducting work to help these efforts and be a part of the solution.
El Monte Union Students Visit California Air Resources Board
A group of El Monte Union students with a strong interest in environmental science and sustainability received an inside look at the important work being done by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) at their newly built Riverside Headquarters on Nov. 8. The field trip began with an overview of CARB, providing students with valuable insights into the organization's mission and the pivotal role it plays in safeguarding air quality and promoting clean energy solutions in California. The experience also gave students the opportunity to see themselves conducting work to help these efforts and be a part of the solution.
EMUHSD Receives Support from Longo Toyota for CTE Programs
Longo Toyota, the world’s largest Toyota dealership, hosted an online auction for a Limited Edition 2023 Toyota GR Corolla MORIZO from Oct. 18 to Oct. 24, with all proceeds set to be donated to the El Monte Union, El Monte City school districts and Vision To Learn. El Monte Union will earmark a portion of the proceeds toward supporting the District’s transportation career technical education program that provides students with hands-on automotive industry experience. Training includes vehicle diagnostic testing, brake system adjustments and electronic computer component testing.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) has selected Arroyo High School mathematics teacher Catherine Flores as the District’s 2023-24 Teacher of the Year, recognizing her dedication to giving back to the same school and District that helped shape her as a student. The EMUHSD Board of Trustees recognized Flores with an award and her name on the District’s Teacher of the Year honoree display plaque at its Oct. 4 Board meeting. Each Board Member praised Flores’ accomplishments as a classroom teacher and for the impact she has on her students. Flores was also honored by the Los Angeles County Office of Education during a luncheon on Sept. 22.
El Monte Union High School District’s five comprehensive high schools are being celebrated for their academic excellence and commitment to college and career, receiving recognition among the top-performing public high schools in the state and nation, according to the 2023-24 Best High Schools rankings by U.S. News and World Report. This is the third consecutive year that all five El Monte Union high schools were recognized in the Best High Schools rankings. Arroyo, El Monte, Mountain View, Rosemead and South El Monte high schools each earned high rankings among nearly 1,603 high schools in California and boast a graduation rate of 90% or higher.
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.
The Coalition for Clean Air met with El Monte Union school leaders and air quality experts at the District’s Bus Depot to speak with the press while spotlighting a fleet of vehicles that are among the first electric school buses in Los Angeles County, celebrating California Clean Air Day on Sept. 28. Attendees received the opportunity to take a ride on the all-electric buses following the event, which also introduced a student-driven campaign to address air quality issues, including the creation of an El Monte Union Clean Mobility in Schools animation which encourages students to use clean energy to get to school.
Mountain View High School’s VISTA Academy “The Art of Talking” student podcast team hosted a successful live event with two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and cartoonist, Lalo Alcaraz to discuss his new animated short, “Taking a Healthy Ride on the Green Side” on Sept. 19. In partnership with the District's Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project and the California Air Resources Board, the animation focuses on how choosing green transportation options to get to school can improve community health. The short features the voices of El Monte Union students and administrators, which Alcaraz recorded in the VISTA podcast studio. During the live event, Alcaraz spoke on his creative process, shared insights into his artistic journey, and highlighted the significance of using art as a vehicle for activism and societal change.
