MEETING theMOMENT

Stories from the Essential Staff, Inspiring Students, and Everyday Heroes of the Pandemic in Our Public Schools

SPECIAL REPORT Our Pledge Every student in Riverside County will graduate from high school academically and socially prepared for college, the workforce, and civic responsibility.

Riverside County Board of Education Kim Joseph Cousins, President • Wendel W. Tucker, Ph.D., Vice-President Ray “Coach” Curtis • Bruce N. Dennis • Barbara Hale Corey A. Jackson • Elizabeth F. Romero Table of ESSENTIAL STAFF

Contents EVERYDAY HERO INSPIRING STUDENT

Essential Staff Meet the frontline workers who stepped up to meet the moment and maintained continuity of service to students and schools.

School Nurses Taking Center Stage ...... 1 Preparing Teachers for Distance Learning ...... 6 Facilities Teams Become Pre-Responders ...... 8 Wifi, Chromebooks, Hot Spots, and Extraordinary Service ...... 11 A Little Piece of Normal for Preschool Students and Families ...... 12 Communicating in a Crisis: Public Information in a Pandemic ...... 15 Return to In-Person Instruction Caps Long Year for Principals ...... 17

Everyday Heroes Meet the teachers, counselors, and school employees whose heroic efforts to serve students reached new heights during the pandemic.

Converting Bus Stops Into Nutrition Stations ...... 2 Helping Students Take AP Tests at Home ...... 4 Teachers Pivot to Distance Learning ...... 7 Special Needs, Special Focus ...... 10 Counselors Lead Focus on Social-Emotional Health of Students ...... 14

Inspiring Students Meet local students whose motivation, resilience, and commitment to education inspired all of us in 2020-2021.

Healing Power of the Arts ...... 3 Graduate Trades Distance Learning for Paradise ...... 5 Starting Kindergarten in a Pandemic ...... 9 Using 3-D Printing to Protect Frontline Workers ...... 13 Rediscovering a Love for Learning ...... 16 Schools are back! As you read about a few of the outstanding educators highlighted in the following pages, you should know As we have all experienced, this that the efforts of these individuals are symbolic of last year was unlike any other. the similar heroism and dedication throughout all And, accordingly, you will find schools and districts in Riverside County. that this annual report will be unlike any other, as we share While we celebrate the outstanding sacrifice and the stories of the essential staff, commitment from the last year, the reality of what has everyday heroes, and inspiring been lost during that same time period has not gone students who have refused to without notice. Loss of life, loss of employment, learning quit in the face of the COVID-19 loss, and long-lost opportunities to celebrate milestones pandemic. together have conspired to widen the cracks into which our most vulnerable students can fall through. It would be difficult to share the highlights from the last year It is imperative that our educational system rise to the Riverside County Superintendent in our public schools without of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez occasion in the upcoming year to serve students in new recognizing the tremendous and extraordinary ways. In fact, four initiatives launched efforts to provide educational services and programs to the in late 2020 are aimed at doing just that (see below for 430,000+ students in Riverside County. details).

As you’ll learn from the stories that fill the following pages, We look forward to engaging with the community to our schools never closed. Just because the student parking showcase how our public schools are stronger when we lots, classrooms, and stadiums were empty, that didn’t work together as essential staff and everyday heroes to mean that schools were closed. support inspiring students—a winning formula that not even a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic can extinguish. In reality, teachers, counselors, administrators, and many educators across the county worked harder than ever to Sincerely, serve our students’ needs while parents and guardians linked virtual arms with schools to take on additional responsibilities to further the educational success of their own children. Edwin Gomez, Ed.D. Riverside County Superintendent of Schools

Equity & Inclusive Financial Literacy Literacy by 5th Mental Health Practices Initiative Initiative Grade Initiative Initiative integrating the concepts providing essential ensuring middle and high addressing the needs of access, equity, and knowledge about school readiness through of the whole student inclusion into policies, money for students, confident, competent beyond the classroom processes, and programs training educators, and reading skills by supporting and incorporating financial expanding mental health literacy into curriculum programs and services and programs

For more information on any of these initiatives, please visit www.rcoe.us/initiatives. 1 School Nurses Taking Center Stage Bevy Escobar, Perris Union HSD

ESSENTIAL STAFF

When Perris Union High School “We tried to give people a sense of “A pandemic pushes you as a society District nurse, Bevy Escobar, left her control over that fear,” Bevy said. to consider better ways to mitigate role as a nurse in a hospital seven “It’s one thing to keep yourself these types of situations. History years ago, she thought that being calm because you have a family and repeats itself and it’s important a school nurse would mean sitting elderly parents, but it was a whole to always remember what has in the office waiting for students to other thing with students and staff happened and learn from it,” Bevy come by with a question or a need coming to you constantly.” said. “Life is always going to take you for a Band-Aid. forward. Everybody is a hero, and For the next year, all school nurses we’ve all sacrificed for the kids. I feel In actuality, her role required her to were thrust into the spotlight; blessed to be part of the process.” come up with health strategies to stepping in for press conferences, keep thousands of kids healthy—a leading expeditions to secure major responsibility that she personal protective equipment describes as “the most fun and (PPE), giving board presentations, intellectually challenging feat of my and making drop-in Zoom health “It’s one thing to career.” consultations. keep yourself calm And, that was before COVID-19. “For the most part, our job is a behind-the-scenes job and nobody because you have a “The first time I heard about this really knows what we’re doing each family and elderly coronavirus, I figured it was going day,” Bevy said. “It was interesting to to be another flu that we would get be up front and to be the face of the parents, but it was past,” Bevy said. “The first time I response.” a whole other thing addressed it was with the assistant superintendent, and I told him we’d Bevy described an aspect of nursing with students and keep an eye on it. I’ll never forget as regularly reflecting on life and the that conversation, because only days profession. Even when you’re doing staff coming to you later, we were shutting down. It took everything right, a patient’s health constantly.” us all by surprise.” can still go downhill and there’s no explanation or different steps you Bevy and her team’s initial role was could have taken. For more information on any of these initiatives, to help teach people how to protect please visit www.rcoe.us/initiatives. themselves. 2 Converting Bus Stops Into Nutrition Stations Jesse Gutierrez and Steve Styers, Palo Verde USD

When schools closed in Riverside “Even though we hardly knew each County on March 13, 2020, students other before, Jesse and I both said we weren’t just prevented from would do whatever we could,” Steve attending their local schools. Many said. “Every single vehicle available students who relied on schools for was running meals out to kids— breakfast and lunch were figuring including our own personal vehicles. out where to find their next meal. We worked and re-worked the route to where we could make it happen Quick thinking and inventive with six buses and vans.” solutions by staff in all districts transformed cafeteria operations to From mid-March to July 30 alone, grab and go food distributions for PVUSD delivered 142,818 meals at students and families. 98 different stops along six routes— EVERYDAY HERO “This is what you ask for in a career, to be given that opportunity to step up in a positive manner.”

In the Palo Verde Unified School even mixing in the delivery of District (PVUSD), an unlikely instructional packets with food bags partnership materialized between as every staff member on their teams Jesse Gutierrez, Supervisor of was focused on the goal of serving Nutrition Services, and Steve students. Styers, Coordinator of Facilities, Maintenance, Operations, and “We knew there was a significant Transportation. need, and this was an opportunity to make a big difference,” Steve said. “Students rely on our meals for “Being able to see the expression survival,” Jesse said. “Some students of gratitude in kids’ faces meant were many miles away from their everything. That kept us going and Jesse Gutierrez (left) and Steve Styers (right) stand inside a PVUSD bus filled with meals for students. nearest schools in the rural areas, drove us to keep finding ways to and only a fraction of students improve and expand. Knowing that were able to come and pick up their we had a chance to make a difference meals.” in a situation that was entirely new for all of us, was incredible.” After studying the food distribution data, Steve and Jesse hatched a “In the midst of everything, as plan to ensure that all students exhausted as I was, there was always could be served. Instead of more push to keep going because delivering students to school, I knew I was making a difference,” PVUSD’s transportation team began Jesse said. “This is what you ask delivering food to students. The for in a career, to be given that numbers of students participating opportunity to step up in a positive Employees from Palo Verde USD Nutrition Services in food distribution doubled on the manner.” and Maintenance, Operations, and Transportation departments team up to fill a bus for food distribution. first day. 3 Healing Power of the Arts Vasti Andrade, Palm Springs USD

In the depths of the moment, a “I needed hope. So, I wanted to be melody came to mind. Vasti quickly hopeful. At the very end of the song, opened her phone to capture the there is a chord that makes it happy. moment by playing the notes into I wanted to show that there is a light a voice memo recording. It wasn’t and a solution that we can fix this until several weeks later that Vasti’s and overcome it,” Vasti said. “I hope math teacher shared the competition people see the full perspective of opportunity with all her students. what’s happening to us all during this time and that we should be INSPIRING STUDENT Using the GarageBand program grateful and positive through every on her computer, Vasti assembled aspect. With unity, we can make it violins, piano, and a track of through together.” harmonies to digitally supplement In an effort to help students channel the melody. The finished track their creativity during mandatory took three full days of production school closures, the Riverside and recording work and eventually County Office of Education launched became her first independently a virtual student arts competition to assembled composition, named all students in the county. “Moon and Sun”.

The six-week program, dubbed Art Connects, was launched only days after the school closure and attracted “I needed hope. more than 1,300 submissions in the categories of poetry, visual arts, So, I wanted to be dance, theater, media arts, and music hopeful. I wanted with a different theme for each week. to show that there A first place winner in the music is a light and a category was Vasti Andrade, a sophomore at Desert Hot Springs solution that we High School in the Palm Springs Unified School District. can fix this and overcome it.” Within the first few early weeks of the stay-at-home orders, Vasti was attempting to practice playing Vasti’s award-winning performance Desert Hot Springs High School student Vasti her saxophone, but found herself includes imagery, lighting elements, Andrade plays her original composition submitted to overcome with emotions and unable and other expressive elements the Art Connects competition. to play. to reflect her mood during the incubation period of the song along “I remembered that I was having with the message she hoped people Watch Vasti perform a really bad day and was feeling would receive when watching the her award-winning stressed and overwhelmed. I just felt performance. original composition, very vulnerable,” Vasti said. “I was “Moon and Sun”. really feeling empathy for others that were going through trials. I was Turn to the back inside cover to https://youtu.be/M8LIaFqx2yQ quarantined and felt like I couldn’t experience more of the award-winning do much at all.” submissions from the Art Connects Virtual Student Arts Competition. 4 Helping Students Take AP Tests at Home Nereyda Gonzalez, Hemet USD, Erika Bennett, Murrieta Valley USD, Ida Hermosillo, GIA

Director of Secondary Education at HUSD. “One of our students was babysitting her nieces and nephews in Los Angeles, and we were able to connect her with a device.”

EVERYDAY “We have between 700 to 900 EVERYDAY HERO AP tests per high school, so we HEROEVERYDAY knew it was going to be huge and HERO got started on finding which kids Counselors Rock! needed devices,” said Erika Bennett, who was serving as a coordinator of secondary counselors for Murrieta Valley Unified School District When schools were ordered closed during the spring of 2020. “We already knew that AP tests are on March 13, 2020, students who had “We know educators have all stressful for students, so we didn’t been preparing all year for Advanced the heart in the world, but they want them to have to worry about Placement (AP) tests in early May are restricted by processes and their internet access going out and were merely weeks away from final funding rules. To have been in being unable to complete the test.” preparations to take the exams that a position to take those barriers could provide them with college down for families and students and District counselors and credit. educators, was just amazing,” said administrators teamed up with Ida Hermosillo, Director of Network staff from Riverside County Office The College Board announced Engagement for GIA. that students could take exams of Education’s College and Career from home and educators rushed Readiness Unit to purchase and rent to ensure that the lack of reliable devices and rotate them between computers and internet access high schools whose students wouldn’t shut students out of taking needed a solution for taking their exams they had been studying for all exams remotely. One solution “We already year. included reaching out to Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), a non- knew that AP In Hemet Unified School District profit organization that supports tests are stressful educational outcomes in the Inland (HUSD), within 10 days of the for students, so closure, surveys were sent to Empire. students to identify needs. Student- we didn’t want teacher communication, quick A total of $255,000 was allocated coordination, home drop-offs, by GIA for 14 emergency education them to have to and FedEx deliveries ensured that grants—including $25,000 to RCOE worry about their students could take their exams. for the rental or purchase of devices to help students take their AP tests internet access “What sticks with me is the during the first few weeks of May. going out and resilience of our kids. They were Counselors made home deliveries trying to do so much, and we and then ensured that the devices being unable to would be available to students needed to give them the tools to be complete the test.” successful,” said Nereyda Gonzalez, taking AP tests on subsequent days. 5 Helping Students Take AP Tests at Home Graduate Trades Distance Nereyda Gonzalez, Hemet USD, Learning for Paradise Erika Bennett, Murrieta Valley USD, Ida Hermosillo, GIA Jessenia Perez, Desert Sands USD

Last spring, students in the class of 2020 kept tallying up disappointments like the loss of prom and graduation. For La Quinta High School Class of 2020 graduate, Jessenia Perez, finishing high school felt unfinished.

“I had not missed a day of school or even been tardy that whole year, but the mindset was all about being safe, and that was more important than prom or anything else,” Jessenia said during a Zoom interview while her prom dress hung, unworn, in the background.

As summer stretched into fall, Jessenia soon came to the realization that INSPIRING starting college as a freshman at the University of Hawaii would look frustratingly similar to how high school ended—behind the screen of a laptop STUDENT in distance learning.

“... the mindset was all about being safe, and that was more important than prom or anything else...”

Determined to make the best of her friends by being in the sorority,” situation, Jessenia moved from the Jessenia said. “It’s really been a big Coachella Valley to the San Diego blessing because all my new friends area—as close as she could get to wanted to pick me up from the the Hawaiian Islands. She connected airport. Before, I was trying to figure with her roommate-to-be, and out how to get from the airport to studied with her toes in the San campus on my own.” Diego sand—an ocean away from the beaches where she dreamed of In January of 2021, Jessenia finally starting college. boarded a plane for Hawaii for a

Jessenia Perez graduated from La Quinta High spring semester in a somewhat-less- School’s Class of 2020. “I wanted a ‘not at home’ college distanced online learning experience experience, and really found joy in where she admits to “completely being alone like I would have been in falling in love” with the island. Hawaii,” Jessenia said. “The sunrises and beautiful sunsets During the fall semester online, made me feel connected to the Jessenia enjoyed the teachers and island and at peace being so far away the virtual “aloha” experience. She from home,” Jessenia said. found creative ways to overcome the challenges of communicating online During her first year in college, across multiple time zones and even Jessenia earned an academic award, joined a sorority. an additional scholarship, and made the Dean’s List with high honors. “I knew I couldn’t really make Her major is communicology—the friends without being there, but I study of speaking—and she has plans

After a semester of distance learning, Jessenia knew I would have some built-in to become a speech pathologist. finally had a chance to attend college in person at the University of Hawaii in early 2021. 6

I TEACHING Preparing Teachers TEACHERS ROCK for Distance Learning Aimee Garcia, Rae Dunn, and Doug Henderson, Val Verde USD

I TEACHING

TEACHERS ROCK

life long learner District-level employees that The mind shift accelerated during work in the areas of instructional the summer in preparation for hybrid services, curriculum development, and extended distance learning professional development, and that seemed imminent. VVUSD additional academic positions, were utilized CARES (Coronavirus Aid, I TEACHING thrust into the role of preparing for Relief, and Economic Security) Act emergency distance learning in the funds to create and deliver unique VAL VERDE USD spring of 2020. professional development trainings

life long learner that included social-emotional Maintaining the continuity of health, gamification, and technology. education meant providing the tools Nearly 80% of teachers in the district for many teachers facing distance participated in the trainings. learning for the first time. In the Val Verde Unified School District “Distance learning and distance (VVUSD), a team of educators teaching look different. They feel instantly recognized that a mind different,” said Doug Henderson, shift would be necessary. Director of STEAM/CTE at VVUSD. ESSENTIAL STAFF “We wanted to make sure teachers “We had to reach deep into our tool felt empowered to be creative bag to get started with providing beyond what they’ve always ESSENTIAL STAFF enrichment resources,” said Aimee done and had the tools and the ESSENTIAL STAFF Garcia, Director of K-12 Education at opportunities.” VVUSD. “At the same time, there was mourning as we felt for our teachers “Our teachers were at home during who lost connection with each other the summer trying to figure out what and with their students.” to do, so many were appreciative to “Now that come back to this opportunity,” said As the closures extended into the Aimee Garcia. “It was created for teachers have late spring of 2020, the VVUSD teachers, by teachers, and the lead team worked directly with groups teachers taught their colleagues.” new materials of teachers to identify “must-know” and tools in their things from each grade to make As the VVUSD team prepares sure those topics were covered so for returning students to the in- toolbox, that students would be prepared for their classroom experience, another mind means face to next grade. shift will be necessary. face education “Because many of our own kids “We’ve moved the whole system will look attend our schools, have recently forward,” said Garcia. “Now that graduated, or actually work in the teachers have new materials and different.“ district, we were able to see things tools in their toolbox, that means from both sides—through the lenses face to face education will look of parents and educators,” said Rae different. It’s an added value to the Dunn, Coordinator of Secondary in-person instruction.” Education at the district. 7 Teachers Pivot to Distance Learning Keisa Brown, Riverside USD

Allison Cyr, Desert Sands USD TEACHER OF THE YEAR

TEACHER OF THE YEAR On Friday, March 13, 2020, the Riverside University Health Systems-Public Health Department mandated that all school districts from Blythe to Corona would physically close schools for the safety and well-being of the thousands of students and families they serve and the community at large.

Throughout the next year, all teachers were forced to shift their approach to deliver the best possible learning environment for their students overnight. With each twist and turn in the stage of the pandemic, and barriers of technology, policies, and guidelines, they would be asked to shift again and again. EVERYDAY HERO

EVERYDAY HERO

“We had to be comfortable being Keisa Brown, California Teacher of the Year from Allison Cyr, California Teacher of the Year from uncomfortable,” Keisa said. University Heights Middle School. Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School. “Now was the time to take a breath, moments I’ve ever had in my life and begin to plan,” Allison said. was leaving school that day, and “We had to be you didn’t know what your fate was Following spring break, Allison’s comfortable being going to be,” Allison Cyr said. third grade students rose to the occasion and navigated the uncomfortable.” For Keisa Brown, communicating technology while all teachers with her students helped provide learned a whole new level of them with a sense of security and let patience. Despite being named 2021 Riverside them know they could call her and County Teachers of the Year and she would be there for them. For Keisa, establishing connections California State Teachers of the Year, with the dots on the screen for Keisa Brown and Allison Cyr also “I was sad, a little distraught. I didn’t distance learning was a struggle, had to pivot with every challenge get to see my kids. I didn’t get the but she found ways to make the and develop innovative approaches chance to say take care, see you connection and allowed herself to be to deliver quality instruction to their later,” Keisa said. vulnerable. When the students would students. chime in via chat or reached out via When Keisa and Allison learned that email, it helped her remember why Allison remembers the details schools would not resume in-person she became a teacher. surrounding the announcement of learning after spring break, both had school closures, and her new reality. similar reactions. Anxiety, shock, and For both Keisa and Allison, the fear of what was to come. But, both one common thing that kept them “How do you prepare for the also quickly shifted their mindset to both going when they were feeling unknown? One of the most unsure find a way. overwhelmed was their students. 8 Facilities Teams Become Pre-Responders James Hickman, Beaumont USD

When the pandemic forced a shift distancing and mask reminders, from in-person instruction to ionize sprayers that served as distance learning, Beaumont Unified disinfecting dehumidifiers, desk School District (BUSD) anticipated shields, water bottle filters, hand the many challenges students, staff, sanitizers, and secondary air and families would face. filtration systems were installed to help keep students and staff as safe The Maintenance and Operations as possible. team at BUSD began monitoring ESSENTIAL COVID-19 developments in January School custodians, bus drivers, and STAFF 2020—months before schools would other Maintenance and Operations shift exclusively to distance learning. personnel were quickly trained on They ordered sanitation supplies, the district’s safety plan and new protective personal equipment, protocols. air filtration equipment, and more before the rush on the market left “At first our facilities team shortages across the state. thought about the many repairs, and operational sides of the house will continue to implement the “The custodians are the superstars of this lessons learned over the past year. Whether it’s continuing story from the last year and a half.... to implement technology in the the team kept working together to get classroom, or continuing to improve air filtration and disinfection through anything and everything. They techniques in all school facilities have so much confidence now.“ to enable learning environments, the district has emerged from the pandemic as a stronger and more facile organization. Even as employees and students kept improvements, and tasks they could teaching and learning from home, accomplish without students on the district began collaborative campus; but it quickly shifted to bargaining with associations to help what can we do to get kids back on meet the goal of getting students campus,” commented Maintenance, back to campus as soon as possible. Operations, and Transportation Director, James Hickman. “The In order to bring students back to custodians are the superstars of campus, the classified staff and this story from the last year and managers on the Maintenance a half. With all of the changing and Operations team had plenty recommendations and regulations of preparation checklists to work from national, state, and local health through in order to ensure a smooth agencies, the team kept working transition back to safe, in-person together to get through anything instruction. and everything. They have so much confidence now.” The additional safety protocols and equipment needed to be As BUSD prepares to welcome implemented in classrooms, offices, students back for the new 2021-22 and every school building. Social school year, both the instructional 9 Starting Kindergarten in a Pandemic Arianna Gallegos, Romoland SD

First day of school traditions took on new job shortly after school started a different feeling for the Gallegos and arranged for Arianna to work family in August 2020 when their with her cousins and neighbors at daughter, Arianna, started her first her aunt’s house as part of a family day of kindergarten at Harvest Valley learning pod. Elementary School in the Romoland School District on her school-issued At one point, Arianna shared her laptop. frustration with online school and said, “Why do I have to do it? I have As it became obvious that the 2020- to sit there and don’t get to say 2021 school year would begin online, anything!” INSPIRING STUDENT Arianna’s parents, Kenia and Jorge Gallegos were disappointed. Arianna focused on learning her letters and sight words with the “She was bummed, but I was more small baggie of flash cards sent When asked whether she would like bummed for her because she would home from her school. to continue learning online or go not get the experiences of starting to school in-person and be in the school,” Kenia said. “I was afraid “Mrs. Baadilla always gives us the classroom she sees in the background she wouldn’t like it, and that she materials we need,” Kenia said. of her Zoom sessions, Arianna’s wouldn’t have the attention span to “Crayons, glue sticks, counting tools, answer surprised her parents. focus,” said Arianna’s mother, Kenia sight words, and journals for math Gallegos. and writing have all been helpful. “I think I would choose to keep doing The principal is always checking in school on the computer because it The first few weeks of learning and has been very supportive.” looks easy. Going to the classroom how to attend school was hectic looks hard,” Arianna said. as the family retrieved worksheet “We have really come to appreciate packets and worked out a new teachers because we’ve had to But, she does know she will eventually family schedule. Kenia took on a become them ourselves,” Kenia said. have a chance to go to her school. “I can see how it takes so much time for teachers to teach this way. From “I know I will have new friends, and I scheduling, planning, and setting up will get to say hi to people,” Arianna videos, she must be on her laptop all said. “I know it will be harder, but day and all night!” right now, I’m teaching my brother how to count to 7.”

“We have really come to appreciate

Arianna Gallegos logs in to her kindergarten class teachers because we’ve had to for her second day of school in August 2020. become them ourselves.” 10 Special Needs, Special Focus Randi Chapluk, Riverside COE

STUDENTSMY During the pandemic, students with The teacher gathered input and special needs weren’t able to simply images from the family and used transition to distance learning and this information to create a story, continue receiving the services and complete with pictures, to present support available at schools. to the combined classrooms throughout the course of the week. In the southside area of Riverside, EVERYDAY the Mobility Opportunities Via “Superhero of the Week was Education (MOVE) and Learning developed to address the social- HERO Early at Play (LEAP) Programs emotional needs of our students successfully served preschool during the pandemic in a Students are Superheroes to middle school-aged students meaningful way,” commented who required the most significant RCOE Principal, Randi Chapluk.”It assistance. highlighted students’ abilities and growth, reinforced each student’s The team, consisting of four value, and showcased student weekly virtual social activities, teachers and support staff from the success.” story time by the school secretary, Riverside County Office of Education and so much more to create a truly (RCOE), implemented a variety The Superhero stories have brought beautiful masterpiece of support for of instructional strategies, and about a ripple effect of benefits the most severe/medically fragile strengthened the school-to-home such as: strengthening student population. relationship in the distance learning relationships with one another environment. as they learn about their peers, Reflecting at the end of the 2020- building student self-esteem 2021 school year, teachers in Their efforts paid off with over and self-awareness, and serving the program shared that their 80% of students participating in to illuminate individual student students really thrived and staff synchronous instruction daily. growth for families. were able to see growth through the data. Parents shared they had An innovative method the team used The special education team an increased understanding of the to target social-emotional learning also provided individualized benefits of schools and ways that was selecting a “Superhero of the asynchronous learning activities. their children are supported in the Week” among students. The teacher They implemented videos featuring educational environment while would work collaboratively with a the teachers/staff, virtual field educators added several new tools student’s family to create a story trips, weekly contactless delivery to their teaching practice and grew highlighting the student’s strengths, of materials, a school newsletter, as educators this year. progress and personality—thereby depicting the student and his or her super powers. “Their efforts paid off with over 80% of students participating in synchronous instruction daily.” 11 Wifi, Chromebooks, Hot Spots, and Extraordinary Service Josh Lewis, Jurupa USD

“Because we have so many former To solve the challenge, hotspots teachers on our IT services team, were purchased from alternate we have been able to see things mobile data providers that better through the perspective of teachers,” covered those specific areas. Lewis said. As was the case for most people, Before the school closures in mid- family summer trips were largely March, technology coordinators canceled, so evening and weekend ramped up their training in all online walks with the family became a platforms in anticipation of intense stress reliever and a break from demand for technical assistance. watching the news. For Josh Lewis ESSENTIAL and his family, the walks also had a STAFF “Ensuring that instruction could professional purpose. continue and working with parents trying to help their kids was more “We live in the district boundaries, challenging than employees shifting so I was always checking the signal to working from home,” Lewis said. on my phone to see what it would “It was a surreal time, and every look like for students living in the single IT department was being area where we were walking.” In March 2020, all information pushed to the brink with so many technology (IT) staff members business needs.” Lewis credited the resiliency and in school districts immediately dedication of people stepping up became essential workers and One of the biggest challenges was when they were called upon in order were thrust into maintaining working around physical office shut- to adapt to all the changes. the continuity of education, downs and maintaining essential operations, communication, and staffing levels. Lewis and his team “It wasn’t perfect, and everyone had all work from home needs with staffed laptop pick-up/drop-off a lot of patience, but it was a big extreme urgency. stations, and had to configure and change and they have been able to safely deploy more than 3,000 figure it out.” Jurupa Unified School District mobile hotspots. (JUSD) had just completed a rollout of 18,000 new computers in the According to reports from parents fall of 2019 and was one of several and staff, about 10% of students in “one-to-one” districts in Riverside the district still didn’t have reliable County—meaning that a computer internet. or tablet was available for each student in the district. “We would hear reports from parents that a hotspot wasn’t working. So, Josh Lewis’s experience as a former we would drive out to their address, Employees from the Jurupa Unified School District principal helped him understand park outside with a hotspot, and test Education and Information Technology team. the challenges his colleagues were it for ourselves,” Lewis said. facing in JUSD as the Director of Education and Information Technology. “It was a surreal time, and every single IT department was being pushed to the brink with so many business needs.” 12 A Little Piece of Normal for Preschool Students and Families Kathleen Israelsen, Murrieta Valley USD

When Kathleen Israelsen and the challenge because we knew it was Family Services team at the Murrieta like ‘giving a little piece of normal’ Valley Unified School District back to our community.” learned that toddler, preschool, and before and after school programs would be closed on March 16, 2020, they quickly sprang into action. “...the team The first task was to create a embraced the distance-learning program with challenge because strong virtual instruction to provide group and individual supports we knew it was for students and families. The team utilized online systems that like ‘giving a little coordinated with their district’s piece of normal’ K-12 systems to ease transitions for families. In addition, the virtual back to our instruction was recorded so families community.” had access at any time for flexibility within individual schedules.

ESSENTIAL While facilities were closed, The team opened facilities slowly STAFF the team took advantage of the and carefully—starting with the time to implement student and Early Childhood Education programs instructional improvements and followed by the Student including new student bathrooms, Enrichment Extended Day (SEED) upgrades to program playgrounds, before and after school program. overall facility facelifts, On February 10, 2021, the district improvements to staff lounges, reopened its partial day, off-site instructional resource centers and programs. staff library, and renovation of the Family Resource Center. The district’s collaborative efforts and experiences have helped other Concurrently, the team collaborated school districts and agencies in the with the early learning instructional development of their return-to- staff, school district, teacher school plans. and classified unions, health department, and Community “If there is a silver lining to this, it Care Licensing to establish and is we have grown much stronger as successfully implement a plan to a team and our parents, families, re-open childcare facilities for in- and communities know that they person services in September 2020. are a priority and we are here to support and connect with them,” “This was clearly the largest need said Israelsen. Did You Know? in the community,” commented In addition to district and private childcare Israelsen. “It took a team effort programs, the Riverside County Office of to implement the guidelines and Education is the lead agency for multiple, plan to safely reopen the facility. subsidized childcare programs for 13,200 However, the team embraced the children. Approximately 2,800 of those served are children of Essential Workers during the pandemic. 13 Using 3-D Printing to Protect Frontline Workers Zubin and Tenzing Carvalho, Hemet USD

“It feels wonderful to help people, especially frontline workers, knowing that they’re risking their lives every day at work.”

Zubin and Tenzing Carvalho are Throughout the summer and early brothers who attend Western Center fall of 2020, the need continued to Academy in the Hemet Unified grow, the media attention drew more School District (HUSD). Beyond donations, and the brothers found attending classes through distance ways to expand their operations learning over the last year, they have while achieving status as a non- been teaching a proverbial master profit organization. class in entrepreneurship. Their work was recognized by After hearing of the extreme a $5,000 grant from Grammy shortage of personal protective Award-winning singer-songwriter INSPIRING equipment (PPE) for local nurses and Sara Bareilles, and they promptly STUDENT doctors last spring—including their invested those funds into additional father and grandfather who work on 3-D printers to expand their the frontlines—the brothers decided operations with other schools and to take action. districts.

Using the 3-D printing skills and In December of 2020, Zubin and equipment they learned about at Tenzing were honored as the COVID Western Center Academy, they Innovator Entrepreneurs of the Year decided to start their own business, at the Spirit of the Entrepreneur SoCal Face Shields For Frontline Awards. The 18th annual gala Workers. event, presented by Cal State San Bernardino awarded the brothers They began creating and donating from a pool of nearly 200 nominees face shields to hospitals, tribal and 48 semi-finalists organizations, schools, and community organizations all over Fast forward to 2021, and Zubin and Zubin (left) and Tenzing (right) Carvalho have created and distributed thousands of face shields and safety Riverside County. Tenzing’s relentless drive has led to glasses. the production and donation of more “It feels wonderful to help people, than 19,000 face shields and 2,000 especially frontline workers, anti-fog/anti-scratch safety glasses knowing that they’re risking their to dozens of organizations. lives every day at work, helping COVID patients and helping the “They are still printing, but also have community,” said Zubin in an started grant writing,” said their interview with the Los Angeles mother, Grace Carvalho. “For us, it Times. is personal since three of our family members died of COVID-19 and “We’re just kids, but nowadays their grandparents and dad still work you have the opportunity to help on the frontlines during this time Front line workers in hospitals, tribal organizations, schools, and other emergency services organizations people in many different ways,” said period.” have received PPE from the Carvalho brothers. Tenzing during the same interview. 14 Counselors Lead Focus on Social- Emotional Health of Students Dr. Yuridia Nava, Riverside USD

No swabs tests could reveal anxiety, it was through Google Classrooms and no vaccine exists for curing the or Google Voice, virtual group effects of depression for students. counseling or one-to one; we wanted But, over the last year, school to make sure our students continued counselors rolled up their virtual to graduate and had the ability to Ask Me About COLLEGE sleeves to creatively reach out to pursue a variety of post-secondary students in order to minimize the educational or career options.” distance between school and home while providing encouragement and As part of RUSD’s transition to fostering a sense of hopefulness for distance learning, counselors played their future. a critical role by delivering a virtual EVERYDAY HERO counseling plan at the start of the Dr. Yuridia Nava and her Poly High 2020-21 school year. The 42,000 School counseling colleagues in the RUSD students learned the skills and Riverside Unified School District attributes necessary to be successful (RUSD) represented this approach independent learners for the first seen across Riverside County. eight weeks of school.

who have the resources can normally navigate the change in paths, but “It’s critical that we help students the odds of success are lower for students from low-income homes. achieve their college and career goals by “It’s critical that we help students ensuring they continue their education achieve their college and career beyond high school.” goals by ensuring they continue their education beyond high school,” said Nava.

During the 2019-2020 school year, “I’m interested in their future and the team implemented 148 classroom I believe that all students are 4.0 lessons on academic, college/career, students, star basketball players, and social/emotional goals for all or talented artists. I want to help 2,500 students. create multigenerational change by pushing, encouraging, and In addition, the school counselors helping each student to be better,” hosted seven counseling groups commented Nava. and provided more than 70 hours of crisis counseling. In addition to Dr. Nava and colleagues have been hosting college financial aid and part of a countywide effort called other workshops, the counseling College Comeback to help students team assisted students by hosting 403 from the class of 2020 who deferred credit recovery classes to increase enrollment into the University of Poly’s graduation rate to 99.8%. California system because of the pandemic. Counseling teams are “The team wanted to remain tracking these former students and

accessible to students, 24-7, through renewing their interest in college in Counselors like Dr. Yuridia Nava were critical to multiple ways,” said Nava. “Whether 2021. Dr. Nava notes that students helping students remain connected to schools during the pandemic. 15 Communicating in a Crisis: Public Information in a Pandemic Laura Boss, Temecula Valley USD

A unique role within many school In that same period, nearly 35,000 districts is the public information inquiries/dialogues were generated officer who is responsible for and responded to via the district’s providing a communications link online platform called “Let’s Talk”. between students, staff, parents, More than 400 TVUSD employees elected officials, the media, and the contribute to the system on a daily entire community. basis—an essential communications tool during the pandemic that even The incessant thirst for the latest helped identify students who were updates, specific details, new considering self-harm. guidelines, and ever-shifting timelines during the COVID-19 “This pandemic year has shown ESSENTIAL crisis, cranked up the pressure for what we already know—that STAFF district communicators throughout communications is in everything Riverside County. Oftentimes, that we do as a school district. It information changed faster than it touches everything,” Boss said. “So could be approved for distribution many people think it’s just pulling and communicated publicly. a few words together and getting

“This pandemic year has shown what we already know— that communications is in everything that we do as a school district. It touches everything.”

In the Temecula Valley Unified it out, but you’re really telling a “I would spend hours in the evening School District (TVUSD), Public story with everything. Our methods, combating misinformation by Information Officer Laura Boss messages, and systems, have to going through those sites and described it as the hardest time to be evoke the overall mission of the planning how we would address working in education—especially in district, and it has to be relevant, those situations with fresh a one-person office. concise, readable, and in bite-sized communication solutions the next pieces.” morning,” Boss said. All told, between March 2020 and May 2021, more than 400 messages Long after the final Zoom meetings “Even if you aren’t an educator, were communicated via the ended each day, Boss would start you’re playing a role in Blackboard system of texts, emails, her evenings by cracking open her communications because you care and phone calls. This was in addition laptop to keep an eye on the chatter about the work that is being done to 62 community newsletters. on nine different community news and the product. And, the product, platforms and online bulletin board is our kids. That’s why we’re all Laura Boss touched every single one. communities that often included doing it,” Boss said. references to local schools. 16 Charter- Rediscovering a COME BACK KIDS- Love for Learning Isabella Miranda, Come Back Kids Charter

Charter- Isabella Miranda entered the foster care system at the age of 13, moving between different foster homes and group homes.

COME BACK KIDS- She decided to leave the system at the age of 16 and attempted to become independent. She eventually left high school for a short period of time, but decided to re-enroll in high school and was referred to Class of 2021 graduate, Isabella Miranda, refused to the Come Back Kids Charter (CBK), become a dropout statistic. She returned to school to earn a diploma, and is headed to college. an alternative education program operated by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE). Isabella has also dealt with mental “Nobody else was willing to help me health issues in the past and says because I was unaccompanied, but that her greatest accomplishment RCOE wanted to help me,” Isabella has been overcoming negative said. “I could tell they actually thoughts that were holding her INSPIRING STUDENT cared.” down.

Throughout the duration of the “I may seem like the happiest COVID-19 pandemic, Isabella person, but I’ve been through some remained focused on her studies, and hard stuff because of being on the graduated in May 2021. street,” Isabella shared.

“It gets better. Isabella’s teacher, Julie Drogo, Isabella has advice to other students who serves at one of the many dealing with homelessness, or in the Even if it may CBK locations in Riverside County, foster care system. get worse, it ensured that Isabella was well accommodated and worked to keep “It gets better. Even if it may get eventually gets her interested in completing the worse, it eventually gets better,” better.” program. Isabella said. “She’s smart but she’s also very After taking economics classes dedicated and diligent. When she at CBK, Isabella has discovered gets into her work she does very well a love for business. She speaks because she loves to learn – which is passionately about one day owning the biggest thing.” her own clothing company that makes inclusive clothes for different Isabella shared that through CBK, body types that are not always she has learned responsibility and accommodated by fast fashion. developed her time management She plans to start working towards skills, which helped her be able her business ventures while taking to keep a job while studying and fashion design courses at Chaffey eventually securing a place to live. College. 17 Return to In-Person Instruction Caps Long Year for Principals Manuel Valdes and Robert Recatto, Lake Elsinore USD

Serving as a principal during pull together, seeing teachers asking the coronavirus pandemic was each other for help, and stepping in a challenge on more levels than to help one another.” most people will ever know. From communication and ever-changing When greeting students at the gate guidance, to solving technology for their first days back on campus, challenges and addressing Mr. Valdes observed the gratitude of community concerns, the long- tearful parents and the excitement term focus of every principal always of students. included the goal of eventually welcoming students back to in- “Even though I couldn’t see their person instruction. smiles behind their masks, their eyes were smiling more than ever In the spring of 2021, the Lake before,” Valdes said. “We were all Elsinore Unified School District overwhelmed with joy, and it was ESSENTIAL STAFF (LEUSD) welcomed multiple groups extremely gratifying.” ESSENTIAL STAFF of students back to partial day instruction in waves. For Robert Recatto, LEUSD’s Rice Canyon Elementary School Principal, “We technically had the first day the key words he lived by were of school six different times,” flexibility and adaptability. said William Collier Elementary School Principal, Manuel Valdes, a “There was so much change— “Even though I veteran educator with 28 years of creating plans and schedules just to administrative experience. “There have it all change and start over,” he couldn’t see their were lots of sleepless nights to get said. “But, the most joyous day was back to in-person instruction with when we got the green light to get smiles behind so many unknowns, but we were students back on campus because it their masks, their focused on keeping everyone safe— is where they need to be, where they and that meant students, aides, want to be, and where they learn the eyes were smiling teachers, staff, and families.” best.” more than ever Social distancing, masks, and lists “When a multitude of individuals before.” of safety protocols were only part of who value children and education the equation that led to the arrival get together, not just from Lake of students on campus. Elsinore USD, but throughout Riverside County and all of “Everybody pitched in. The sense California, our collaboration and of community, cooperation, and work, made great things happen. collaboration generated energy and This had never been seen by any excitement on campus,” Valdes said. of us, but it has definitely changed “It was super exciting to see people education.” IN MARCH OF 2020, the Riverside County Office of Education launched a virtual student arts competition, Art Connects, to help students channel their creativity during the COVID-19 crisis. Florence Walter Achaia Penn Temecula Preparatory School Murrieta Valley High, Murrieta Valley USD Despite the physical closure of schools, students in Riverside County continued to create, dream, and express their ideas through more than 1,300 submissions highlighting their own unique talents and abilities.

Jayda Franklin Juan Jose Garcia Natalia Roman Ridge Crest ES, Agua Caliente ES, River Heights MS, Moreno Valley USD Palm Springs USD Corona-Norco USD

6 Feet Away Keep your distance Be wary of your fellows Don’t endanger your community Stay 6 feet away

Line up outside the grocery store Wear your mask Katie Kramer Lila Nunez Wear your gloves Dylan Smith Thompson MS, Castle View ES, Remain 6 feet away Jurupa MS, Jurupa USD Murrieta Valley USD Riverside USD Go on bike rides alone Speak to flickers on a screen The streets are quiet I long to be 6 feet closer

Someday I will see them again Friends or Coworkers or Grandparents or Even strangers The city will wake from it slumber And I will joyfully say We used to be 6 feet away

Xuan-Anh Ly Biggs Poly HS, Riverside USD

Reagan English Arely Renteria Angella An Tuscany Hills ES, Rancho Vista HS, Val Verde USD Vista Murrieta High, Murrieta Valley USD Lake Elsinore USD Ariel Calderon Alexis Hisgen Palm Desert Charter MS, Palm Desert HS, Desert Sands USD Desert Sands USD

Levi Lang-Browne Harvest Hill STEAM Academy, Menifee Union SD

Tehrisa Johnson Chantal Loera Zayanna Mejico Rancho Verde HS, Perris HS, Butterfield ES, Val Verde USD Perris Union HSD Moreno Valley USD

Montserrat Diaz Emily Shin Elizabeth Pudussery Centennial HS, Garretson ES, Corona-Norco USD Benjamin Franklin ES, Riverside USD Corona-Norco USD

Swings are empty Can’t play with friends Homeschooling Orange pajamas all day Outside is fun Laughing with my family

River M. Gerald Ford ES, Desert Sands USD

Peter Flory-Sanchez Isabel Gamez Sasch Hubler Natalie Festa Rancho Verde HS, Sacred Heart School, Rio Vista ES, Central ES, Banning USD Val Verde USD Palm Desert Palm Springs USD Alvord Unified School District Banning Unified School District Beaumont Unified School District Coachella Valley Unified School District Corona-Norco Unified School District Desert Center Unified School District Desert Sands Unified School District Hemet Unified School District Jurupa Unified School District Lake Elsinore Unified School District Menifee Union School District Moreno Valley Unified School District Murrieta Valley Unified School District Nuview Union School District Palm Springs Unified School District Palo Verde Unified School District Perris Elementary School District Perris Union High School District Riverside Unified School District Romoland School District San Jacinto Unified School District Temecula Valley Unified School District Val Verde Unified School District

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