SHARE:  

RUSD IS GOLDEN.. District Honored With

Golden Bell for Student Voice

RUSD Team Celebrates The Golden Bell Award: Recently retired Rowland Unified Board of Education President David Malkin (Center), Superintendent Alejandro Flores, and student graduates celebrate the achievement of RUSD being awarded a Golden Bell Award for Student Voice from the California School Boards Association (CSBA). Students (pictured left to right): Pedro Nevarez, (alumni from Nogales High School, currently attending USC and studying to be a Pediatric Surgeon) Crystal Shi, (alumni from Rowland High School, currently attending UCI and studying to be a Marriage and Family Therapist), and Adan Moreno, (alumni from Nogales High School, currently attending Pitzer College who plans to be a Psychologist).

Rowland Unified has just been awarded a CSBA Golden Bell Award for its original “Student Voice” initiative. The District’s student voice approach not only engages students from elementary to high school but provides them with the opportunity to directly impact the resources they need at school to be successful. The CSBA Golden Bell Awards promotes excellence in education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs that highlight best practices in school districts throughout California. RUSD was honored on December 6 at the CSBA State Conference held in Anaheim.

It is rare that students are included to have a direct impact in the decision-making process of their education. RUSD has developed an approach to ensure students from all demographics have an authentic voice in the District’s annual Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), the key document that aligns the District’s resource needs with budgetary allocations. In addition to student input and focus groups for students in grades 4-12, students actively participated in advisory panels where they helped design questions and analyze the data alongside district leaders. Students joined parents and staff in making final recommendations on the 2024-2025 LCAP. Currently, RUSD is piloting the expansion of Student Voice to include valuable feedback from students in Transitional Kindergarten through third grade. 

“Being part of the Student Voice project at Rowland Unified was a transformative experience for me. It was the first time I felt like my thoughts and opinions as a student truly mattered to the people making decisions,” said Adan Moreno (Pictured above), a graduate of Nogales High School. “I was able to speak directly about issues that impacted my peers and me, like the need for more mental health resources, representation in curriculum, and creating safer spaces for students from all backgrounds.” Moreno is currently studying at Pitzer College, double majoring in Chicanx Latinx Studies and Sociology. CLICK TO READ MORE!

RUSD Welcomes New Board Member

Ellen Park and Re-Elected Member Erik Venegas

Rowland Unified School District Superintendent Alejandro Flores presented the oath of office at the December 13, 2024, Board of Education meeting to newly elected Board Member Ellen Park and re-elected, unopposed Board Member Erik Venegas. Both will serve the Rowland Unified School District community until December of 2028. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Rowland Unified Board of Education

Agnes P. Gonzalez - Board President (Trustee Area 1)

Cary C. Chen - Vice President (Trustee Area 3)

Kevin Hayawaka, Ph.D., Clerk (Trustee Area 5)

Erik Venegas - Member (Trustee Area 2)

Ellen Park - Member (Trustee Area 4)

New Board Member Ellen Park:


 “I am so excited and honored to begin a new chapter in my career as a RUSD Board Member,” said Park. “I am committed to working together as a team with my fellow board members, educators, staff, families, and community, to ensure we serve all students in our district. Our students come from diverse backgrounds, each with unique strengths, challenges and dreams. I am dedicated to fostering an inclusive, equitable and inspiring environment where every child feels seen, valued, empowered and can achieve their full potential.”


Park has been an educational leader in public schools for more than 39 years and is a champion for Dual Language Immersion, having built and managed successfully Chinese, Korean and Spanish Dual Language Immersion programs for grades K-8 in both Los Angeles Unified and Hacienda La Puente Unified School Districts. For the past 18 years, Park has served in Hacienda La Puente Unified, serving principalships at both Wedgeworth Elementary and Cedarlane K-8 Academy. 

Re-Elected Board Member Erik Venegas: Venegas is excited to return to the Board of Education and is very proud of his work on the Board for the last four years, including the many accomplishments and awards including: the 2024 Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association for RUSD’s Student Voice approach and the 2022 Golden Bell Award for College Connect, for the District’s focus on equity and making access to a four year university a reality for at-risk students. 


“As I step into this new term, I do so with a renewed commitment to listening, learning and leading in ways that serves our communities’ best interest,” said Venegas. “I am looking forward to working together, tackling challenges, and celebrating successes as we continue this journey of growth, excellence in our schools, and I thank you again for this opportunity to serve.” 


BOARD OF EDUCATION HONORS ROWLAND RAIDER ATHLETES

At the December 13th, 2024, Board of Education Meeting, the Rowland High School Boys and Girls Cross Country teams were honored for an amazing season! This was the first joint Valle Vista League Championship since 2017! The Boys secured their second consecutive league title and qualified for CIF for the 12th year in a row. The Girls finished 11th in CIF Division 3, their highest ever and set a new school record for team time. Way to go RAIDERS! Congratulations to team members: Savanna Pablo, Malana Wien, Evie Kim, Alyssa Gau, Katie Lam, Kim Phung, Ysabella Yulo, Gogo Zhou, Jacob Juarez, Raey Tewelde, Carlos Ronquillo, Andrew Tai, Copernicus Yu, Gavin Lai, Theron Maglunog, Lukas Escobar and Coach Chris Ramirez.

More awards for Raiders! The Rowland High School Girls Tennis team was honored for their season that included an overall record of 16-5, earning Co-Championship honors for going 9-1 in the Valley Vista League. The Lady Raiders advanced to the CIF Team Playoffs and the following Raiders were part of the First Place Team during the 2024 Valley Vista League and were CIF participants: Katie Zhan, Chloe Cheung, Sophia Chang, Sophie Li, Adara Guerrero, and Nicole Yang. Congratulations to the team and Head Coach Jake Magnant and Principal Greg Perez.

Click to view the Zoom recording of the RUSD December 13, 2024, Board of Education Meeting to see recognitions and the Hurley Elementary School Spotlight Report.

Hurley Elementary was the Spotlight School at the

December 13, 2024, Board of Education Meeting.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Sign Up NOW for Winter Recreation Classes for Your Kids

Winter Basketball Camp THIS FRIDAY for Girls/Boys at Nogales High School

Tell Your Friends & Family: Enrollment Begins January 15th!

Click to Learn More About TK/Kindergarten Enrollment Meetings Beginning in January

December 18, 2024 Issue RUSD News Editor gward@rowlandschools.org

Facebook  X  Instagram  

Proud to Serve Our Communities of City of Industry, La Puente, Rowland Heights,

Walnut & West Covina

www.RowlandSchools.org