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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 Students Celebrate National Walk to School Day

Palmetto Elementary students, parents and staff celebrated healthy living – as well as school spirit – as they participated in National Walk to School Day on Oct. 10. Dressed in tiger ears and school colors, families walked to school to promote exercise and practices for a cleaner environment. Photos are available.

Fontana Unified Elementary to Hold College and Career Day

Almond Elementary will hold College and Career Day from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 to inspire students to consider future opportunities. Twenty-five guest speakers will travel from class to class, offering information on professional pathways and higher education. Parents will also receive college information, both for themselves and for their children. Almond Elementary is at 8172 Almond Ave., Fontana.

Fontana Unified Collects Donations for Military Care Packages

Fontana Unified is partnering with Burrtec, Inc. and Veterans Partnering with Communities, Inc. to gather donations and create care packages for active duty military members. Fontana Unified teachers, students and staff will be collecting and donating food, toiletries, entertainment items and clothing and writing letters to the military through Friday, Sept. 28. Donation drop-off sites are located throughout Fontana Unified.

Fontana Unified Teacher Recognized by Azusa Pacific University, Hot 103.9

Palmetto Elementary School kindergarten teacher Jeanette Campbell was recognized on Sept. 20 by Azusa Pacific University’s Inland Empire Regional Campus and Jeff Pope of Hot 103.9 under their “Teachers are Heroes” program, which honors a local teacher each month. Campbell, who was nominated by a Palmetto Elementary parent, was surprised with a pizza party for her class.

Fontana Unified Elementary Celebrates Patriot Day with Memorial Service

Shadow Hills Elementary School held a Patriot Day ceremony on Sept. 11 to recognize Fontana’s military and first responders and honor those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Students and staff gave certificates of recognition to family members and community members who are in the military or working as first responders in Fontana. The ceremony also featured a performance from Kaiser High Schools JROTC students. Photos are available.

Fontana Unified, Rialto Unified to Offer Workshop on Black Colleges

Fontana Unified School District is partnering with Rialto Unified School District and U-CAN College Fair to offer a parent workshop on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 at Wilmer Carter High School, 2630 N. Linden Ave., Rialto. The workshop will educate parents on the history and the benefits of attending a HBCU, admission requirements and financial aid information.

Fontana Unified to Engage Families with Parent University Classes

Fontana Unified will offer its second Parent University workshop of the year, continuing efforts to boost family engagement in the educational process. A free session on “College and Career Readiness” will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 at Fontana Adult School, 10755 Oleander Ave.; and from 6 to 8 p.m. at the John D. Piazza Center, 9680 Citrus Ave. Translation services will be available.

Fontana Unified Educator Named a County Teacher of the Year

Shadow Hills Elementary third-grade teacher Theresa Pearce was named a San Bernardino County 2018 Teacher of the Year. Pearce, who was named the district’s Teacher of the Year, has taught in Fontana Unified for 18 years. Pearce will be recognized by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools along with fellow honorees in October.