FREE Education + Communication = A Better Nation ® Covering the Tustin Unified School District Volume 17, Issue 81 May — August 2021 TUSD Celebrates 2021 Employees of the Year The Tustin Unified School District has announced its employees of the year for 2021. They are, top photos, Elementary Teacher of the Year Adriana Zamora at Sycamore Magnet Academy and Secondary Teacher of the Year Michael Fisk at Tustin High School; and, bottom photo, Classified Employee of the Year Evan Jacobs at C.E. Utt Middle School. (Please see stories inside.) www.SchoolNewsRollCall.com TTHRIVE INN TTUSTIN UNNIIFFIIEEDD • Tustin Connect K-12 Independent Study •• Blended/OnlineTFull-Daustin Cyo nKinnedcte rgaKSchool-12rten O natli nAlle ScElheomoelntary Schools • ••CC$olumbusolu135mb Millionus T Tustinusti Bon Middlen Mid fddorl eMo School Scderhoon lT ePchre-Inolognternyational PBare-Inccalaureaternationalte Mag Baneccalaureat Progratme Magnet Program Elementary, Middle and High School Robotics League •21st Century Classrooms and • • 21stand CComenturpetitiy Classrons ooms and State-of-the-Art StaFacilitiete-of-thes -Art Facilities • ••ElementarEleTustimentarn Conyy, n,Middle eMictd Kdl-12e and, a Ond nHigh liHnige h ScSchool Schohoolol Musi Music cP rogramsPrograms • Award-Winning Performing and ••ASpanishward-Winni Dualn Lga Pnerguageform iImngm aendrsio Visualn Prog Aratsm Programs Visual Arts Programs • 13Awar Colld-wiegenn/Cianrge erPe rPfatormhwaysing an atd t Visualhe High Ar Schts Porogol rLaemvesl 2021-22 • •13 College/Career Pathways at the High School Level • Legacy Magnet Academy (Middle and High School) School Year Starts Aug. 12 • •LeSpgaeccialiy Magnetzed Hig Ahcadem Schooy l(Middle Programs and: Earl Highy C School)ollege Program, International Baccalaureate and Model New Students in TK-12 • Full-Day Kindergarten at All Elementary Schools • Full-DaUnitedy NatioKindergans rten at All Elementary Schools ENROLL TODAY • •$135$135 Million Million Bond Bond f foror Modern Modern T Teechnologychnology Visit the TUSD website at www.tustin.k12.ca.us • • 1:1Ele mTeenchnologtary, Middly Deevi, acnesd fHigor Studentsh School Music Programs • 1:1 Technology Devices for Students • KindergaColumbusr tTenustin Readiness Middle PScrogramhool P r-e -International •Kindergarten Readiness Program – Preparing • Baccalaureate Magnet Program CPhreparingildren to Children Enter Ki tnode Enrgaterr tKindergaen rten • Sycamore Magnet Academy - ••S21stycamo Cenretur Magy Classrnet Aoocamsdem ayn –d StaGlotbeal-o, f-tMehedia-A Artr ts aGlobalFacilitind Co,mm eMedias unicatio Arts nand Communication • ••SpaSpanish1:1 nTisechh nDualDualolog Lya anguageDneguagevices fIImmersionormm Studersioentn sPPrrogramogram • Elementary, Middle and High School • E13le mCollenetagrey/, CMiarddeeler P aathwaysnd High atSc thoohe Highl Rob oticsScho oLleague Level •aRndobotics Competitio Leaguens and Competitions • ••SpSpLeegaecialicialicy Magzzeded neHHighigt hA ca ScSchooldehomoly P(Mirrograms:ograddlme s:an Eda Highrly C ollScehgeoo l) POprogensram in, IAugustnternati 2on020al! Baccalaureate and Model UnEarlitye dC ollNatiegeon Psrogram, International Baccalaureate and Model United Nations y Visit Today and Explore the Options: Full-Da n! Visit Today and Explore the Options: rgarte r Kinde wy fo www.DestinationTUSD.org Full-Doll Nao l www.tustin.k12.ca.us Enr Schoo Instruction!w! Check out Tustin Connect K-12 Online School 2020-21ll N o www.tustin.k12.ca.us @tustinUSD EnroYear! @tustinUSD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in TUSD In Touch with TUSD • 86% of students agree that adults at school treat Great progress is being made throughout people from different races, ethnicities, or cultures the Tustin Unified School District since the fairly. THRIVE IN school board prioritized diversity and equity • 88% of teachers report feeling comfortable interacting THRIVE IN with people of different races, ethnicities, and cultures. in the District’s goals and priorities last summer. Highlights from the Educational • 86% of staff would recommend TUSD to friends and Services Department include: colleagues who are looking for a job. • 91% of parents value diverse friendships for their children. Gregory A. A team of TUSD teachers and administrators Franklin, Ed.D. have been trained in the Fair, Accurate, • While these responses are good news, there are clear TUSTIN UNIFIED areas for improvement. For example: TUSTIN UNIFIED Superintendent Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Act and are using that lens to screen new social studies • In the area of diversity and inclusion, Hispanic and curriculum materials for all schools in the District. Piloting Black students consistently responded less positively these materials are happening throughout the spring and (about 10 points lower) than other students. next fall. • Only 35% of students are encouraged to learn about Another team of District teachers who have also been people from other cultures. • Tustin Connect K-12 Independent Study trained in the FAIR Act are creating a high school elective • Only 36% of students are encouraged to discuss issues Full-Day Kindergarten at All Elementary Schools •• Blended/OnlineTustin Connect KSchool-12 Online School course in ethnic studies that should be ready for the next of race and equity in their classrooms. school year. • Only 59% of teachers report being comfortable leading • CC$olumbusolu135mb Millionus T Tustinusti Bon Middlen Mid fddorl eMo School Scderhoon lT ePchre-Inolognternyational •• The Educational Services staff created and distributed conversations about race and equity in their classrooms. PBare-Inccalaureaternationalte Mag Baneccalaureat Progratme Magnet Program Based on these findings, the Task Force has identified Elementary, Middle and High School Robotics League excellent materials for use throughout the District to •21st Century Classrooms and several next steps that include: • • 21stand CComenturpetitiy Classrons ooms and State-of-the-Art learn about Black history and celebrate February as Black StaFacilitiete-of-thes -Art Facilities History Month. I have received many positive comments • Further conversations with Black and Hispanic students from parents about these activities being used in their and their families to better understand their challenges. • •ElementarEleTustimentarn Conyy, n,Middle eMictd Kdl-12e and, a Ond nHigh liHnige h ScSchool Schohoolol Musi Music cP rogramsPrograms • children’s classrooms. • Provide training and materials for staff to gain • Award-Winning Performing and confidence in leading conversations with students ••ASpanishward-Winni Dualn Lga Pnerguageform iImngm aendrsio Visualn Prog Aratsm Programs The Foothill High School Student Equity Club has Visual Arts Programs designed and produced beautiful posters celebrating about race and equity. ••13Awar Colld-wiegenn/Cianrge erPe rPfatormhwaysing an atd t Visualhe High Ar Schts Porogol rLaemvesl 2021-22 famous Asian Americans, Black Americans and Pacific • Create a resource list of books, podcasts, documentaries, • 13 College/Career Pathways at the High School Level Islanders that have been distributed to schools throughout or other materials that can be accessed by staff to learn • Legacy Magnet Academy (Middle and High School) School Year Starts Aug. 12 • •LeSpgaeccialiy Magnetzed Hig Ahcadem Schooy l(Middle Programs and: Earl Highy C School)ollege the District. more about diversity, equity and inclusion. Program, International Baccalaureate and Model New Students in TK-12 • Provide safe spaces and times on campuses for students • Full-Day Kindergarten at All Elementary Schools Educational Services is providing teachers opportunities • Full-DaUnitedy NatioKindergans rten at All Elementary Schools ENROLL TODAY to participate in a Culturally Responsive Learning Series and staff to engage in these important conversations. The Tustin Unified School District is committed to • •$135$135 Million Million Bond Bond f foror Modern Modern T Teechnologychnology Visit the TUSD website at throughout the year. www.tustin.k12.ca.us In addition to the great progress above, the District’s providing an outstanding, safe, inclusive, and equitable Equity and Justice Task Force continues its work. Most learning experience for all students. I appreciate the • • 1:1Ele mTeenchnologtary, Middly Deevi, acnesd fHigor Studentsh School Music Programs recently, the group reviewed the District’s equity survey work by so many in the District who continue to make • 1:1 Technology Devices for Students that was taken by students, staff, and parents before the us better. • KindergaColumbusr tTenustin Readiness Middle PScrogramhool P r-e -International Go TUSD! •Kindergarten Readiness Program – Preparing winter break. A couple of the positive key findings include: • Baccalaureate Magnet Program CPhreparingildren to Children Enter Ki tnode Enrgaterr tKindergaen rten • Sycamore Magnet Academy - ••S21stycamo Cenretur Magy Classrnet Aoocamsdem ayn –d StaGlotbeal-o, f-tMehedia-A Artr ts aGlobalFacilitind Co,mm eMedias unicatio Arts nand Communication Board of Education • • SpaSpanish1:1 nTisechh nDualDualolog Lya anguageDneguagevices fIImmersionormm Studersioentn sPPrrogramogram • Mark Eliot • Elementary, Middle and High School ••E13le mCollenetagrey/, CMiarddeeler P aathwaysnd High atSc thoohe Highl Rob oticsScho oLleague Level Director of Communications & Public Information aRndobotics Competitio Leaguens and Competitions 300 South C St., Tustin, CA 92780 • ••SpSpLeegaecialicialicy Magzzeded neHHighigt hA ca ScSchooldehomoly P(Mirrograms:ograddlme