Surrounded by cheering students, Chaparral Academy of Technology teacher Alexandra Cruz was surprised when Fontana Unified School District administrators and colleagues came into her classroom carrying a bouquet of flowers and a sign to announce she had been named the 2023-24 District Teacher of the Year on Feb. 20. Cruz was recognized as the FUSD Teacher of the Year for her dedication to supporting both her students and colleagues, along with her engaging classroom lessons and how she has embraced new technology in the classroom.
A.B. Miller High School junior Setsianna Kraynak showcases an unrelenting drive and dedication in everything she does, from competing on the Rebels’ girls wrestling and basketball teams to her work in the classroom. She is regarded as one of A.B. Miller’s top scholars with a 4.0 GPA, and is standout performer both on the mat and the court, where she has earned a combined total of six All-Mountain Valley League honors in wrestling and basketball.
After months of planning, Fontana Unified has launched esports teams at Fontana and Summit high schools for the 2024 seasons operating under the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Esports Initiative. The CIF Esports Initiative aims to connect video gameplay and competition to educational opportunities to make high school esports a place where students prepare for global career opportunities as well as competition. Esports is also creating stronger connections at each school site in Fontana Unified, with 33 students currently rostered on Fontana Unified’s two esports teams.
Three teams of students in Fontana High School’s Bio-Animatronic and Neuroprosthetic career technical education pathway earned special recognition in the International Technology and Engineering Educators’ (ITEEA) REACH Challenge. The REACH Challenge is a nationwide design thinking project that tasks students with creating a viable technological solution to help members of their community thrive. Two Fontana High teams secured semifinalist honors in the REACH Challenge, while a third earned special recognition. All three Fontana High teams were offered discounted registration to ITEAA’s 86th Annual Conference, held on March 6-9 in Memphis.
Fontana Unified School District honored the rich contributions of African and African American heritage and fostered a spirit of excellence in a series of classroom and community activities celebrating Black History Month in February. The District’s second annual Black History Month celebration kicked off on Feb. 3 with a “Harmony in Heritage and Knowledge” event, and concluded on Feb. 28 with a Black History Month Elementary Excellence Awards ceremony. Both events showcased the talents of District students through live performances and displays of their artistic and academic creations. The District also honored its Black scholars during each event, bringing them on stage to receive awards for their academic or artistic excellence.
Fontana Unified School District has appointed three new administrators and a school principal, continuing a transformative first full year under Superintendent Miki R. Inbody. At the District level, FUSD has named Glenn Alegre as Chief Technology and Digital Integration Officer, Jonathan Dunn as Executive Director of Fiscal Services and Tammy Fleming as Director of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports – Academic. The District also selected Monique Martinez to serve as the new Juniper Elementary School principal.
Students filled A.B. Miller High School’s gym abuzz with anticipation as administration revealed the school’s new “Rebel” mascot, showcasing A.B. Miller’s commitment to school spirit and inclusivity during a pair of on-campus rallies on Feb. 16. A.B. Miller’s modern mascot was carefully designed to reflect the school’s “rebellious spirit,” embodying the spirit of resilience and determination the school and its alumni have exemplified since the school first opened in 1991. Staff passed out t-shirts featuring the new mascot during the rallies to students, who posed for photos with the new mascot before heading back to class.
Fontana Unified scholars eager to learn about college life and the role that Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) have played in ensuring equity in education for underrepresented students, are preparing to take the trip of a lifetime when they join the District’s inaugural HBCU Campus Tour. More than 100 students have signed up to join the six-day chaperoned tour, which is scheduled for March 17-22 and will visit Georgia, Alabama, Florida and historic campuses of schools like Morehouse College, Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman University and more. Fontana Unified, which is partnering with On A Mission Youth Travel to organize the tour, will cover the costs of airfare, lodging and meals.
A.B. Miller High School students will get a first look at their school’s new mascot during a pair of upcoming on-campus rallies. The school will reveal its new-look “Rebel” mascot and pass out t-shirts with the new mascot to students in attendance.
Nineteen members of Fontana Unified School District high school football teams have secured prestigious All California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS) division honors, recognizing their outstanding accomplishments in what was a historic football season across the District. A.B. Miller, Jurupa Hills, Henry J. Kaiser and Summit high schools all produced multiple All CIF-SS players in their respective divisions after all four teams qualified for the CIF-SS postseason. The dual-CIF championship Jurupa Hills team had 11 members who earned All CIF-SS Division 8 awards.
