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Fontana Unified School District

  • Fontana Unified Educator Selected as Finalist for California State Teacher of the Year Award

    Live Oak Elementary School teacher Michelle Vazquez discovered her calling for teaching and advocacy at a young age, growing up in a family that ran a foster home for adults with special needs. Vazquez credits her childhood for teaching her the importance of dignity, patience, and creating spaces where everyone feels valued. It’s a lesson the Resource Specialist Program (RSP) teacher has carried with her throughout her 16-plus years in education. That dedication helped lead to her recognition as Live Oak Elementary and Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) 2024-25 Teacher of the Year, as well as one of the 2026 San Bernardino Countywide Teachers of the Year. With the county recognition, Vazquez is now a finalist for the 2026 California Department of Education Teacher of the Year award.

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  • Fontana Unified to Expand Student Services by Uniting Award-Winning Continuation Schools

    Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) will strengthen and broaden academic and support services for its continuation high school students as it merges its two Model Continuation High Schools, Citrus and Eric Birch, beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Both continuation schools will consolidate under the name Eric Birch High School, relocating to the former Citrus High site at 10760 Cypress Ave., and adopting the Citrus Jaguars mascot. The FUSD Board of Education approved the merger and an estimated $150,000 cost associated with renaming the Citrus campus to Eric Birch High School during its June 18 meeting. Fontana Unified’s continuation school instruction has been recognized by the California Department of Education (CDE) for its comprehensive excellence. Both Citrus and Eric Birch earned Model Continuation School designations from the CDE for their innovative approach to alternative education, with Citrus earning the three-year status in 2023 and Eric Birch securing recognition in 2024, which extends into the 2025-26 school year.

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  • Fontana Unified to Celebrate Renaming of O’Day Short Elementary School, Honor Family’s Legacy

    Fontana Unified will host a renaming ceremony as Randall Pepper Elementary School officially transitions to O’Day Short Elementary in the 2025-26 school year, honoring the O’Day Short Family, which is remembered for breaking Fontana’s color barrier 80 years ago. District middle school student Cyrus Moss championed the renaming of O’Day Short Elementary. Moss submitted a petition with 132 signatures to rename Randall Pepper Elementary to the Fontana Unified Board of Education in March 2024. The Board unanimously voted to rename the school in September 2024 after all administrative regulations were met.

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Fontana Unified Elementary School Launches After-School Video Production Program

Almond Elementary School students are being encouraged to put on their director’s caps and call out ‘lights, camera, action!’ as the school launches its Pacer Production Studios afterschool video program, where Almond students are learning the basics of filmmaking with the assistance of Summit High School TV production students. Nearly 50 Almond Pacer fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students meet after school three days a week to learn a variety of film production techniques, including lighting, camera positioning, editing, scriptwriting, adding music and title sequences, and how to be an on-air personality.

Fontana Unified to Hold Parent Meetings for Dual-Language Program

Fontana Unified School District will hold virtual information meetings for its Spanish Dual-Language Immersion (DLI) program on Tuesday, Nov. 16 and Thursday, Nov. 18. The District’s DLI program, which begins in kindergarten and is offered at Redwood Elementary School and Dolores Huerta International Academy, aims to foster bilingualism and biliteracy, sociocultural competency and high levels of academic achievement. For meeting times, language options and links, visit the FUSD DLI page.

Fontana Unified Students Recognized as ‘Academic Trailblazers’

Canyon Crest Elementary fifth-grader Matilda Vinuela and Fontana High School senior Miranda Ordoñez were recognized by San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. as District 5 Academic Trailblazers during the Oct. 6 Fontana Unified Board of Education meeting. The award, given in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage month, recognizes high-achieving students for their academic and civic achievements. Ordoñez, who serves as the District’s 2021-22 Board of Education student representative, balances Advanced Placement classes with a variety of campus clubs and activities. Vinuela came to Fontana Unified not speaking any English; despite being in unfamiliar surroundings, she immediately began to blend in as she listened, asked for help, and made friends quickly.

Fontana Unified CTE Teacher Appears on CBS Show ‘Tough As Nails’

While Fontana High School’s newest career technical education instructor, Lamar Hanger, guides students in developing carpentry skills in the classroom, his own expertise is being showcased across the U.S. on the television show “Tough As Nails” – which premiered Oct. 6 on CBS. Hanger brings versatile experience in construction, welding, metal-stud framing, and lath to the CBS competition series for working-class professionals and to his new position at Fontana High School, where students are receiving a hands-on education that can lead to apprenticeships and career opportunities.

Fontana Unified to Host COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for Community

Fontana Unified School District has partnered with Walgreens to offer a COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9 at Fontana High School, 9453 Citrus Ave., Fontana. The clinic is open to anyone ages 12 and up who is interested in receiving their first, second or booster does of the Pfizer vaccine. No appointment is necessary.

Fontana Unified CTE Instructor, Carpenter to Appear on CBS Show ‘Tough As Nails’

While Fontana High School’s newest career technical education (CTE) instructor, Lamar Hanger, guides students in developing carpentry skills in the classroom, his own expertise will be showcased across the U.S. on the television show “Tough As Nails” – airing Wednesday, Oct. 6 on CBS. A 32-year member of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters (SWRCC), Hanger brings versatile experience in construction, welding, metal-stud framing, and lath to his new position at Fontana High School (FOHI). Following a successful teaching stint through the apprenticeship program at SWRCC, Hanger was inspired to bring the union’s existing education program, Career Connections, to Fontana Unified. Career Connections is a CTE program that provides students with a practical STEM education, supported by a state- and District-approved curriculum that features projects and hands-on learning.

Fontana Unified Middle School Named Microsoft Showcase School

Southridge Tech Middle School has been redesignated as a Microsoft Showcase School, reaffirming the school’s commitment to providing its students with access to digital platforms and bridging the technology gap. Southridge Tech was first designated in 2018. The middle school is one of just three schools in California and 30 schools across the United States to receive the designation in 2023, joining a global network of schools from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, and Australia.

Fontana Unified’s New Aviation & Space CTE Pathway Takes Flight

A.B. Miller High School students are exploring careers in the aerospace industry and learning what it will take to be part of the next generation of astronauts and space explorers through the school’s new Aviation & Space career technical education (CTE) pathway. Students are engaging in two new CTE classes, held on Saturdays at Ontario International Airport and developed in tandem by Barboza Space Center and Shades of Blue Aviation. The weekend courses, which run through December, are teaching students the basics of aviation while training to successfully complete the FAA’s Private Pilot Certificate written exam, as well as building Tiger Teams of junior astronauts, engineers, scientists, and drone pilots while developing life forms that could survive on Mars and support human exploration in space.

Fontana Unified’s New Aviation & Space CTE Pathway Takes Flight at Ontario International Airport

A.B. Miller High School students who wish to explore careers in the aerospace industry and learn what it takes to be part of the next generation of astronauts and space explorers will meet at Ontario International Airport (ONT) on Saturday, Sept. 11, when the school launches its new Aviation & Space career technical education (CTE) pathway. Students will receive an overview of two new CTE classes, developed in tandem by Barboza Space Center CEO Bob Barboza and Shades of Blue Aviation founder Capt. Willie Daniels; discuss career opportunities with ONT Chief Operating Officer Bruce Atlas, as well as representatives of the FBI and TSA; meet the Ontario Police Department K-9 corps; and receive a tour of Ontario International Airport.