Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez has been selected as a 2022 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), emphasizing his great leadership and dedication to students, parents, staff and the District. The annual award is presented to 25 school district leaders with less than five years of experience as a superintendent who has demonstrated dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core. Dr. Jiménez, who is in his third year as Superintendent for Hacienda La Puente Unified, brings nearly 27 years of expertise in the field to the District. According to the NSPRA, Dr. Jiménez was chosen to receive this honor from a record number of nomination submissions that they received this year.
Hacienda La Puente Unified’s new Board of Education members, Gino Kwok and Nancy Loera, as well as returning Board member Jeffrey De La Torre, took the Oath of Office during the Board meeting on Dec. 13. State Senator Bob Archuleta swore in Kwok and Loera, while De La Torre was sworn in by daughter Anna Maria De La Torre, mother Maria De La Torre and wife Elena De La Torre. During the meeting, the Board reorganized for one-year terms, electing Christine H. Salazar as Board president, Stephanie Serrano as vice president and Jeffrey De La Torre as clerk, with Leora and Kwok serving the community as Board members.
Hacienda La Puente Unified’s Board of Education celebrated two of its longest-standing Board members, honoring the contributions of clerk Dr. Joseph K. Chang and member Anthony Duarte during a ceremony on Dec. 7. During the ceremony, the retiring members were recognized with Certificates of Recognition from La Puente Mayor Charlie Klinakis, words of appreciation from dignitaries and community applause.
Hacienda La Puente School Celebrates Tradition, Sportsmanship
The holiday spirit was in high gear as Hemmerling Elementary School continued its decades-old tradition of celebrating its fastest students during the 73rd annual Turkey Trot race, held Nov. 18. Nearly 150 Hemmerling K-5 students participated in the Turkey Trot, with the first-place winners receiving a gift certificate for a free turkey, while the runners-up received grocery store gift cards. After the main races had concluded, members of the Hemmerling faculty surprised students by donning turkey costumes for their competition, inspiring many students to join in.
Glen A. Wilson High School shared its success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathways and highlighted its biomedical science program to more than 20 schools and districts nationwide during the 2022 Project Lead the Way (PLTW) National Showcase, held virtually on Nov. 9. In celebration of National STEM Week, PLTW chose one partnering high school to lead the annual showcase, during which Wilson High teachers shared success stories about fostering career readiness skills in students, discussed transformative professional development tips for educators and showcased their fourth-year course curriculum.
Hacienda La Puente Unified is embedding augmented reality (AR) technology into its curriculum, which allows smartphone and tablet users to combine the real world with computer-generated content to bring C-STEM lessons to life. The District’s technology teachers on special assignment have been providing professional development and induction training in AR and virtual reality to teachers and administrators throughout the District and are greatly encouraged by the excitement generated by the demonstrations.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez has been named UC Davis Center for Integrated Computing and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (C-STEM) 2022 Superintendent of the Year for the District’s excellence in integrating hands-on coding and robotics into math education. Jiménez was honored during the 12th Annual UC Davis C-STEM Conference on Oct. 21 alongside Orange Grove Middle School Principal Dr. David Nieto, who was named a UC Davis C-STEM 2022 Administrator of the Year.
Hacienda La Puente JROTC Cadet Wins Scholarship for Citizenship
La Puente High School senior and Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) cadet George Salazar is one of seven students to receive a $4,000 scholarship from the Wounded Warriors Family Support Organization for his outstanding citizenship and patriotism. Salazar was honored during a Microsoft Teams virtual event on Oct. 6, where he was recognized for his leadership, discipline, character and community service efforts within the City of La Puente and the JROTC program over the past four years.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Students Prepare for Future at College Fair
Hacienda La Puente Unified held the 57th Assembly District College and Career Fair on Sept. 10 at William Workman High School, where students participated in workshops and breakout sessions focused on how to prepare, apply and pay for higher education. The fair included an expo center consisting of Hacienda La Puente high schools and program booths, where students, teachers and staff shared campus and club details, student testimonials and led interactive demonstrations for incoming freshmen and families.
Hacienda La Puente Unified celebrated the completion of a series of renovations at La Puente High School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 14. The renovations include a state-of-the-art swimming pool and a modernized kitchen and locker room facilities. The upgrades are designed to provide meal service efficiency, expand engagement in aquatic activities and promote school pride.
