WelcoHHav

SCCSBA President's Message

By Carol Presunka (Cambrian SD)

Spring is in the air and everything is blooming, including our students!

Hopefully you got to attend SCCSBA’s legislative brunch. What an amazing morning with 13 of our elected representatives in one place (or on zoom) answering some tough questions. Assemblymember Al Maratsuchi, who represents District 66 in Southern California attended in his role as Chair of the Education Committee for California. Linda Darling- Hammond, President of the California State Board of Education, also provided insights on the administration side of state and federal education. Thank you to Graham Clark and the Fremont High School District for hosting our event in their new Board room.



Thanks to the Legislative Brunch committee which includes our Executive Director Bonnie Mace, Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto, John Horner, Jen Petroff and special thanks to Bridget Watson who coordinated all those panelists! This committee spent hours, days and weeks, creating the agenda, developing a list of relevant questions and creating a program that came off seamlessly! And thanks to John Fensterwald for facilitating the event. We look forward to reading all his articles on those questions that were asked!

Our next big event is the Hoffmann Awards where we will recognize 6 outstanding educational programs in Santa Clara County. I’ve been doing this for a number of years and every year I’m amazed at the creativity shown in improving educational outcomes for our students. All these winning programs are judged partly on their replicability. Come and see what might work for your district!

Thanks to those who attended our networking lunch on Friday. It’s so great to have to have the opportunity to get to know each other in an informal way.

Don’t forget our monthly evening meeting on Wednesday March 26th. Dr. Lisa Andrew will be presenting on a proposed change to LCFF funding sponsored by Senator Cortese. 

Hope you all have a wonderful month and look forward to seeing you at our next gathering!

Check out all the SCCSBA upcoming events and activities on our website: www.sccsba.org

Thursday, March 20 - SCCSBA Lunch and Learn Zoom Meeting

Our Lunch and Learn series of noontime zoom meetings continues on Thursday, March 20 with the featured topic of Board Agenda Development. How does your district set its board agenda?We would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. All trustees are invited to attend. Check your email inbox for the zoom link.

Wednesday, March 26 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting

Come and join us on Wednesday, March 26 for our evening SCCSBA Zoom Meeting from 7:00-8:30 PM. The featured topic will be Education Financial Equalization with our guest speaker Dr. Lisa Andrew, President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. All trustees are invited to attend and check your email inbox for the zoom link.

Saturday, April 12 - SCCSBA Networking Breakfast

Our next networking breakfast will be held on Saturday, April 12 at Bill's Cafe on the Alameda (2089 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126 ). This no-host breakfast runs from 8:00-9:30 AM, and is a fun way to meet board members from across our county. No RSVP is needed, and all trustees are invited. The photo below is from yesterday's networking lunch. Thanks to everyone who attended!

Wednesday, April 16 - SCCSBA Lunch and Learn Zoom Meeting

Our April Lunch and Learn Zoom Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 16, and we will be discussing how to improve attendance in your schools. How does your district deal with student absenteeism? Jennifer Elenes from the Santa Clara County Office of Education will be our guest speaker on this important topic. All trustees are invited to attend and check your email inbox for the zoom link. 

Thursday, April 24 - SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting

Come and join us on Thursday, April 24 for a discussion about Green Energy and a Green Environment for your schools. Our featured guest speaker will be Brooklyn Stewart from Centrica. The meeting runs from 7:00-8:30 PM on Zoom. All trustees are welcome to come and check your email inbox for the zoom link.

Wednesday, May 7 - SCCSBA Hoffmann Awards Dinner and Celebration

Join us for the 41st Annual Hoffmann Awards Dinner, where we celebrate excellence in education across Santa Clara County! We invite all trustees, superintendents, and district staff to an inspiring evening dedicated to recognizing successful school programs that have a significant impact on student success in our county. This special event is an opportunity to honor innovation, connect with fellow trustees and educators, and share in the success of our community’s schools.

• Where: MetroEd, 760 Hillsdale Ave, San Jose, CA 95126. View Campus Map
• When: May 7, 6:00 – 9:00pm
• Tickets: Purchase tickets now!

Congratulations to the 2025 Hoffmann Award Winners! (Listed in alphabetical order)

• Access East Side | East Side Union High School District
• Culinary Arts | Metropolitan Education District
• English Language Development Academy | Campbell Union High School District
• Literacy Intervention Teacher Team (LIT) | Santa Clara Unified School District
• Making Our Schools an Inclusive Community (MOSAIC) Program | Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District
• Sartorette Hispanic Student Achievement and Family Engagement Program | Cambrian School District

One of these winners will also win the prestigious Kristi Porter Award, in honor of former school board trustee Kristi Porter who passed away in a car accident. The Kristi Porter Award will be announced at the Hoffmann Dinner on May 7.

View the SCCSBA website to learn more about the Hoffmann Awards program. Thank you to Isabel Jubes-Flamerich (SESD) and Aine O'Donovan (CUHSD), co-chairs of the 2025 Hoffmann Awards program, as well as the trustees and educators who reviewed applications and conducted site visits.

This year's event is sponsored by CliffordMoss, Orenda, Finney Architects, and the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Campbell Union School District

Campbell Union School District Explores AI’s Role in Education

Ensuring students are prepared for the demands of an AI-driven workforce

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms industries, Campbell Union School District (CUSD) is taking proactive steps to ensure students are prepared for the future. Speaking at the AIM FOR IMPACT summit, Superintendent Dr. Shelly Viramontez stressed that education must evolve along with technology to meet the demands of an AI-driven workforce.

“We’re embracing our core value of ‘We Are Learners’ by actively exploring how AI can enhance teaching and learning,” Dr. Viramontez said. “We are inviting staff to learn more about AI, its applications and potential for strengthening students’ skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability.”

Recognizing that AI is already woven into daily life, she added, “Even our youngest students are engaging with AI—whether they’re interacting with Alexa, learning from YouTube, or independently exploring digital tools.”

For the Campbell Union School District, responsible AI integration is a commitment to innovation and student empowerment. By breaking down traditional learning silos and integrating real-world applications, the district is working to reimagine education to ensure every student is equipped for success—no matter what the future holds.

Cambrian School District

Cambrian Students Raise Funds for L.A. fire Victims

Eighth grader and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Vice President Ashley Abuda had a great idea. Why not step up and devise a plan at Price Middle School in San Jose’s Cambrian School District to help victims of the devastating fires in Los Angeles? Abuda and fellow NJHS officers, Camila Castro and Brianna Tan, quickly joined forces to cook up a plan for a bake sale to raise money to benefit the LA fire victims. The three eighth grade students meticulously planned the fundraiser, which involved freshly baked cookies, cupcakes and other tasty treats donated from 48 families. The bake sale, held outside the library each morning from Jan. 28-30th, raised a whopping $1,638 for the Red Cross. The Red Cross accepted the $1,638 check and presented certificates of appreciation to the three students. "We’re so proud of our amazing students for their generosity and outstanding efforts," said Cambrian Superintendent Kristi Schwiebert. 

Milpitas Unified School District

Milpitas HS students design winning drone in regional STEM competition

Milpitas High School’s Technology Student Association (TSA) club scored two first, one second and two third-place marks in recent STEM and Leadership competitions at Mountain House High School in a field of nearly 200 students from Harker, Saratoga, Evergreen Valley, and other participating schools.

The MHS team claimed first place in video game design for the second year in a row and first place for the drone/UAV challenge, where they built a custom drone from scratch with a camera and a claw. Additionally, the club placed second in the coding test, third in digital video production, and third in video game design.

The MHS team, which started in the 2023-24 school year by TSA founder and president Vasista Ramachandruni, qualified for the National TSA Conference this summer in Nashville, TN, and will represent Milpitas on a national level.

MetroEd

SVCTE Receive Top Awards and Achievements

Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) center continues to prepare students for college and career success, as evidenced by recent awards and accomplishments:

●    Culinary Arts program

○    Receiving Glenn W. Hoffmann Award for its impact on student success, leadership, teamwork, and industry-relevant skills. Read more

○    Competes at CA ProStart Cup in Los Angeles and recognized in team and individual events. Read more

●    Students Earn 87 Medals at SkillsUSA Regionals and 128 qualify for the state competition, demonstrating expertise across 30 career and technical fields. Read more

●    18 Students Advance to HOSA-Future Health Professionals State Competition for performances demonstrating a high level of healthcare-related skills. Read more

●    Film & Video Production Student Ash Wells Wins First Place at Luminescence Film Festival for her film The Party’s In Here and several other students screened their films at the festival. Read more



Sunnyvale School District

The Sunnyvale School Board of Education welcomes newest member

The Sunnyvale School District Board of Education welcomed Evelyn Profeta as its newest member on February 25th, representing Trustee Area 5. Profeta, a Registered Nurse with extensive volunteer experience in local schools, fills the vacancy left by Eileen Le's resignation, who joined the Sunnyvale City Council.

Profeta's deep involvement includes roles in PTSA, booster clubs, and event coordination at Fairwood Elementary, Columbia Middle, and Fremont High School. She holds an Associate Degree in Nursing from De Anza College.

The board held five information sessions for interested candidates, with four applying. Profeta's appointment will last until December 2026. The district thanked Eileen Le for her dedicated service and acknowledged her continued commitment to Sunnyvale’s children. The appointment becomes final in 30 days unless a petition for a special election is filed.

Sunnyvale School District Board of Education Sets Timeline, seeks input in Superintendent Search

The Sunnyvale School District Board of Education has initiated its search for a new superintendent to replace retiring Dr. Michael Gallagher. Aiming for a July 1st start date, the board has outlined a timeline involving public input and consultant collaboration.

A key component is a public survey, available in English and Spanish from March 17-26, seeking community feedback on desired superintendent qualities. The board will also engage consultants to gather staff and community insights, identify candidates, and conduct background checks.

In April, finalists will be selected and interviewed, with a final decision following a validation visit. The superintendent contract is expected to be approved in June. The board emphasizes community involvement throughout the process. More information can be found online here: https://www.sesd.org/Page/5873

Morgan Hill Unified School District

FarmTECH District Farm Takes Root at Ann Sobrato High School

Exciting developments are underway at Ann Sobrato High School, where the FarmTECH District Farm is being established to enhance agricultural education and support farm-to-school nutrition. Spanning 20 acres, this initiative includes both a 2+ acre demonstration farm and a 17+ acre production farm, providing students with hands-on learning experiences in sustainable farming practices.

The demonstration farm will serve as an interactive educational space, featuring learning stations, seasonal agriculture insights, solar and wind energy demonstrations, and advanced farming technology. Students will engage in a variety of agricultural activities, including maintaining row crops, a greenhouse, orchards, a nursery, a vineyard, raised garden beds, and bee hives. FFA and school groups will actively participate in its development and ongoing operations.

The production farm will further support district-wide nutrition programs, growing fresh, seasonal produce to be incorporated into school salad bars and meal programs. This project is partially funded by a Track 1 Incubator Grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, reinforcing the district’s commitment to sustainability, education, and healthy school meals.

As the FarmTECH District Farm continues to take shape, it will provide valuable agricultural learning experiences while directly benefiting students and the broader community.

Live Oak Girls Basketball Team Wins Third Consecutive Title

The Live Oak High School girls basketball team has made school history by securing its third consecutive championship title. This achievement marks the first time the program has won three consecutive titles, highlighting the team’s consistency, dedication, and competitive excellence. The players and coaching staff have demonstrated exceptional teamwork and perseverance throughout the season, solidifying their place as a dominant force in high school athletics. This milestone reflects the strength of Live Oak’s athletic program and the commitment of its student-athletes. Their success is a testament to the school’s emphasis on sportsmanship, discipline, and achievement.

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