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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 Student Filmmaker Wins Top Award at San Bernardino Valley College Film Festival

When Eduardo Lopez first picked up a film camera in his Jurupa Hills High School TV/Film Production class, he immediately knew he wanted to become a professional filmmaker. Lopez can be found filming with a camera nearly every day as he assists with all of Jurupa Hills High’s productions in the school’s TV/Film career technical education (CTE) pathway, including Spartan TV News – a weekly studio show produced by students – in any way he can. He gained technical and leadership skills that are greatly respected by his Spartan classmates, establishing himself as a solid crew member with a knack for finding the right angle and lighting for a shot.

Fontana Unified to Showcase Student Projects, Innovation Through Future Shapers Academy

Fontana Unified School District showcased its Future Shapers Academy (FSA) and the creative and innovative projects developed by more than 30 students on May 8. The event served as a celebration as FSA wrapped up its inaugural year and provided employers with an opportunity to learn about the Academy’s work firsthand. Throughout the 2023-24 school year, the FSA was tasked with reimagining downtown Fontana as students designed an entertainment center through a series of design challenges.

Fontana Unified to Showcase Future Shapers Academy

Fontana Unified School District will display the creative and innovative projects developed by more than 30 students enrolled in the District’s Future Shapers Academy from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8 at the Jessie Turner Health & Fitness Community Center. The event will provide employers an opportunity to hear about these ideas firsthand and explore opportunities to collaborate for the benefit of Fontana’s entertainment and recreation industry. Jessie Turner Health & Fitness Community Center is located at 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana.

Fontana Unified Showcases District Achievements, Student Talents During State of the District Event

Fontana Unified School District celebrated its achievements in preparing students for success in life, all while showcasing the wide range of student talent during its first State of the District event in five years, held on April 24. Themed “Believing in Every Student: Fostering Future and Fueling Dreams,” the event highlighted FUSD’s work in four areas targeted for innovation and growth: academic excellence, safe and inclusive learning environments, community engagement, and financial stewardship. The presentation also provided a glimpse into the District’s promising future and unveiled a refreshed District logo.

Fontana Unified High School Dedicates Campus Fire Station in Memory of Beloved Instructor

Fontana High School ensured the legacy of Michael McGinnis, founder of the school’s Fire Technology Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway, will forever burn bright as it dedicated its campus fire station in his honor, officially naming it McGinnis Station 815 during an April 17 ceremony. Fontana High’s campus fire station is a hub of hands-on learning where students enrolled in the school’s Fire Technology and Emergency Services CTE pathways explore careers in firefighting or emergency medical industries. It is a living tribute to McGinnis, who died in 2021 and is remembered for how he inspired Fontana High students to pursue careers in public service.

Three Fontana Unified Students Triumph at County History Competition, Qualifying for State Finals

Three budding Summit High School historians, senior Alyha “Gabe” Madrigal and freshmen Nayleen Pulver and Angel Garay, competed at the National History Day California State Finals at Sacramento State from April 19 to 21. Madrigal finished runner-up as a senior individual exhibitor for his project on the Manhattan Project, while Pulver and Garay took runner-up for their senior group exhibit on the Spanish Influenza. The trio advanced to the state competition after taking first place at the San Bernardino County History Day Regionals in March.

Fontana Unified School District Appoints Student Board of Education Representative for 2024-25 School Year

Jurupa Hills High School junior Adriana-Rene Humber will serve as Fontana Unified’s Board of Education student representative during the 2024-25 school year, a role she will leverage to continue her passion for community service. Humber aims to use her position to ensure every student is equipped for success in their educational journey while also promoting an inclusive environment throughout the District and community. Boasting a 3.9 GPA, Humber was selected from a pool of six finalists for the position during a special Board of Education meeting on April 16.

Fontana Unified High School to Host Dedication, Officially Name Campus Fire Station After Beloved Instructor

Fontana High School hosted a dedication ceremony on April 17 for its campus fire station, which is used by its Fire Technology and Emergency Services career technical education (CTE) program. The station was officially named McGinnis Station 815 in honor of the first director of FOHI’s Fire Technology program Michael McGinnis, who played an instrumental role in developing the pathway before he died in 2021. The Fontana Unified School District Board of Education approved renaming the station in October 2023 to honor the legacy of McGinnis, who is remembered for how he inspired Fontana High students to pursue careers in public service and strove to provide them with the best experience possible.

Fontana Unified Schools Join Solar Eclipse Watch Party

All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools used the solar eclipse on April 8 as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each District elementary school was provided with solar eclipse viewing kits, including safety-certified eclipse glasses, to ensure students safely observed the natural phenomenon. Teachers integrated the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this event into a hands-on learning experience. Students also took educational materials home with them, giving them a chance to discuss the significant astronomical event at home.

Fontana Unified Senior Surprised with $40,000 Amazon Scholarship

Fontana High School senior Lucia Otanez was surprised with a $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship during the school’s Class of 2024 assembly on April 9. Otanez was one of thousands of applicants to be chosen for the scholarship, with Amazon set to award 400 students with scholarships this year. Otanez, who hopes to attend USC or UC Berkeley, has a paid internship offer at Amazon after her freshman year of college through the scholarship. This opportunity will allow eligible scholars to gain hands-on, practical work experience with mentorship from Amazon leaders.