Lynwood Unified Partners with Graduate School for Residency Program
With a goal of providing more equity and diversity among its educators, Lynwood Unified has partnered with the Alder Graduate School of Education to create a teacher residency program that pairs students working toward master's degrees and teaching credentials with LUSD teachers who serve as mentors in the classroom. Led by Lynwood Unified Assistant Director of Human Resources Geraldine Rescinito, the residency program is in its second year with 11 residents paired with mentors throughout the District. The inaugural cohort from the 2020-21 school year produced 11 Alder graduates, with five being hired as full-time teachers in Lynwood.
Lynwood Unified Hosts HBCU Caravan, Students Receive Scholarships
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caravan visited Firebaugh and Lynwood high schools on Feb. 14, with more than 25 colleges and universities giving students the opportunity to earn on-the-spot acceptances. Students came prepared with transcripts and test scores and were offered scholarships that reached as high as $35,000. Participating HBCU universities included Tuskegee University, Shaw University and Alabama A&M.
Lynwood Unified High School students will have the opportunity to earn on-the-spot acceptance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and get their college application fees waived when a caravan of college recruiters and admission counselors visit District campuses on Monday, Feb. 14. The Caravan will visit Lynwood High School, 12124 Bullis Rd, Lynwood, from 10 a.m. to noon, and Firebaugh High School, 5246 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lynwood, from 1 to 3 p.m. The Lynwood Unified Equity Department has worked with seniors to ensure they have prepared transcripts and test scores for the caravan.
Lynwood Unified Board of Education members joined Congresswoman Nanette Barragán and District personnel for a walkthrough of the Lynwood Imperial campus, formerly Lynwood High School, on Feb. 15. The walkthrough with Barragán aimed to raise awareness of the finances required to move forward with the necessary repairs to ensure the campus is a safe learning environment for future students. The District has taken steps to raise awareness regarding the need for repairs on the campus, reaching out to community leaders and elected officials to receive more support.
Lynwood Unified Senior Signs with Division I NAIA University
Firebaugh High School senior Belkis Urrutia has signed on to play basketball for Bethesda University, making her the first Lady Falcon in 10 years to sign to a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I college team. The NAIA has been dedicated to student success via athletic programs since 1937, with over 77,000 students earning more than 800 million in scholarships every year and having the opportunity to participate in national championships.
Lynwood High School Student Wins CIF State Esports Championship
Lynwood High School sophomore Henry Armenta has played video games his entire life, but he never dreamed it would earn him a CIF state championship title. After outlasting tough competition throughout the state, Armenta won the crown in EA Sports’ FIFA. Armenta joined the LHS Esports team as a freshman.
Lynwood Unified Superintendent Selected for STEM Equity Committee
Lynwood Unified Superintendent Dr. Gudiel R. Crosthwaite has been selected as just one of 16 applicants to serve as a committee member on the Board on Science Education and the National Academy of Engineering project, which will address educational equity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the TK-12 system. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have been working for decades to gain expert knowledge while studying complex challenges in today’s society. Thousands of experts from across the world join study committees annually to help address weaknesses in forensic branches of study.
Lynwood Unified School District and the Lynwood Teachers Association have reached an agreement that will provide teachers with a 5 percent bonus for the 2020- 2021 school year, acknowledging educators for their unrelenting service during the pandemic. The one-time bonus is only for the past year and will be funded using the COVID relief funds the District received to provide needed student resources and services to help mitigate learning loss while supporting activities necessary to maintain the operation and continuity of the District and continuing to employ existing staff. The District and LTA are still in negotiations for the 2021-2022 school year.
Lynwood Unified School District leaders, board members, elected officials and students gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 7 to recognize the upgrades and renovations to Lynwood High School after transitioning to its original Bullis Road campus. Superintendent Dr. Gudiel R. Crosthwaite and Principal Ana Gonzalez welcomed more than 30 dignitaries and community leaders to see the changes to the campus. The modernized site features new portable classrooms and enhanced labs, a new outdoor eating area and quad, and three art murals that celebrate the Lynwood Knights’ spirit.
Lynwood Unified Provides Families with Low-Cost Internet
Lynwood Unified is partnering with the nonprofit Human-I-T to help ensure families have access to the internet from home. Qualified, low-income individuals may receive discounted or free internet through the Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit. Human-I-T also offers discounted computers to families who qualify, as well as a free digital skills course to teach the basics of computer use.
