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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 High School Senior to Play Softball, Continue Education at Utah Valley University

Cheered on by her parents and four older siblings dressed in green and white, Fontana High School senior Victoria Vasquez signed her letter of intent to continue her softball career and education at Utah Valley University. Vasquez has played several sports as a Fontana High School Steeler – including basketball, soccer and volleyball – but softball has been her first love since she picked up a glove at age 7. Her dedication to the sport has culminated in an athletic scholarship that will fund her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. P

Fontana Unified Kicks Off ‘Fontana Santas’ Toy Drive

Fontana Unified has kicked off its 23rd annual Fontana Santas Toy Drive, which collects gifts and donations to provide holidays gifts to FUSD students in need. The annual toy drive is a joint effort by Fontana Unified, Fontana School Police, Fontana Teachers Association, United Steelworkers Local 8599, Fontana Foundation of Hope, Fontana School Police Officers Association and Fontana Management Association. Donations may be dropped off at the Fontana School Police Department, 9680 Citrus Ave., Building 9, Fontana.

Fontana High School Celebrates Four QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship Finalists

Four Fontana High School seniors, known for their excellence in the classroom and leadership on campus, have been named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship finalists. Victor Campos, Vanessa Gutierrez, Fatima Kamara and Ernesto Sanchez are among nearly 7,000 students across the United States in consideration for early admission and four-year full scholarships if matched with a participating university.

Fontana Unified’s Kaiser High Boasts Three QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship Finalists

scholarship to college after being named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship finalists. David Aguilar, Marco Garcia, and Sonia Heyer are among nearly 7,000 students chosen as finalists, joining two seniors from Jurupa Hills High School in consideration for early admission and four-year scholarships to participating universities. Aguilar, Garcia and Heyer are leaders on campus, engaging in activities like Academic Decathlon, AVID, marching band and orchestra, National Honor Society and more. David Aguilar, Marco Garcia and Sonia Heyer are among nearly 7,000 students across the United States chosen as finalists, including two seniors from Jurupa Hills High School. Finalists are selected from a pool of more 18,000 students who apply to participating universities for free and are considered for early admission and a four-year full scholarship.

Fontana Unified Student-Athlete to Play Softball, Pursue Kinesiology Degree at Cal State Fullerton

Bedecked in Titan white, blue and orange, Jurupa Hills High School senior Sophia Guevara brought her childhood dream to life with a flourish of a pen, signing her letter of intent for Cal State Fullerton as family cheered her on during a Nov. 11 ceremony. Guevara, who received a full athletic scholarship, will play catcher for the Titans softball team as she pursues a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.

Fontana Adult School to Provide Free Workshop for Computer Skills

Fontana Unified’s Fontana Adult School is offering District students and families a free five-session workshop on “Getting Started with Computers,” beginning Monday, Nov. 16. Attendees can choose from two sessions, 9 a.m. to noon, or 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Workshops will be offered in-person and cover topics such as using Microsoft Teams, using QR codes, PowerPoint presentations and the basics of Microsoft Excel. To register, call (909) 357-5490. Fontana Adult School is at 10755 Oleander Ave., Fontana.

Fontana Unified Names New Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning

over Fontana Unified’s Division of Teaching and Learning on Nov. 23. Fontana Unified’s Board of Education on Nov. 4 hired Dr. Monica Makiewicz to head the division as the new associate superintendent of teaching and learning. In her new role, Makiewicz will oversee the planning, organization and administration of curriculum development to ensure a comprehensive, articulated curriculum and instructional program.

Fontana Unified Seniors Named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship Finalists

Two Jurupa Hills High School student leaders have been named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship finalists, putting them one step closer to being awarded a four-year full-ride scholarship to an elite university. John Nino Requieron and Jesus Rivera-Zamudio are among nearly 7,000 students across the United States chosen as finalists from a pool of over 18,000 QuestBridge applicants, who receive the scholarship when matched with a participating university.

Fontana Unified to Host Session on Social-emotional Support

Fontana Unified will discuss methods of providing social/emotional support to students during a Parent University virtual session from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17. FUSD’s Parent University aims to build capacity for parents and empower them as vital partners in the education process. Families may register for the virtual session on the Fontana Unified website.

Fontana Unified Teacher Selected As 2021 Teacher Ambassador

Mango Elementary School teacher Janet Nasir was selected as a 2021 Epic Master Teacher Ambassador, one of just 32 California educators to receive the honor. As an ambassador she will instill a love of reading and learning in students, share best practices and influence the future development of Epic – described as the world’s largest digital library for children – by providing their expertise and insight through surveys, interviews, and advisory groups.