While her name may not be widely recognized, countless Americans are familiar with Erica Alfaro’s 2019 graduation photo, where she stands proudly in cap and gown between her parents in a strawberry field — celebrating her achievement as a master’s degree recipient.
Her story of resilience and the pursuit of the American Dream served as the backdrop for a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 25 at Bolsa Grande High School in the Garden Grove Unified School District. The Latinos Unidos Club invited students from throughout the district to hear from her and two other speakers — offering them a chance to connect with stories of determination and hope.
Approximately 160 attendees gathered in the school cafeteria for the event, which featured Alfaro, entrepreneur Carlos Humphrey and content creator Gerardo Reyes II. The speakers shared their experiences of overcoming adversity and achieving their dreams.
Alfaro, born in Fresno and raised in Mexico, faced numerous challenges, including academic struggles and becoming a teen mother. Despite these hurdles, she became the first woman in her family to earn a graduate degree, exemplifying how education can transform lives.
“The audience saw reflections of themselves in the speakers,” Letty Shaver, a Spanish language teacher and advisor to the Latinos Unidos Club, said. “They all shared similar migrant stories of humble beginnings, struggle and determination. Students were able to find connections between their origins and the potential for success.”
According to Shaver and her colleagues, the event empowered students and provided them with a renewed sense of hope and representation during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- At the Sept. 4 Orange County Board of Education meeting, OCDE staff unveiled a strategic vision to support districts in integrating AI responsibly.
- The U.S. Department of Education has awarded two Orange County campuses the 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools honor, considered the nation’s top accolade for individual schools based on academic achievement.
- Developed by OCDE, a new model curriculum highlighting the history, culture and experiences of Vietnamese Americans will be introduced at a conference in San Jose this week, offering K-12 educators resources and professional development opportunities.
- Kennedy High School in La Palma received the 2024 Civic Learning Award of Excellence from State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero on Sept. 23, recognizing the campus for its innovative civic engagement programs and constitutional literacy initiatives.
- The city of Huntington Beach celebrated the completion of the $6.5-million Oak View Neighborhood Beautification Project, which includes murals, repaved roads, ADA improvements, new trees and curb extensions for safer routes to school.
- OCDE is inviting middle and high school teams to participate in the 2024-25 Academic Decathlon and Pentathlon, themed “Our Changing Climate,” with competitions beginning in January for high schools and March for middle schools.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Phone-Free Schools Act, requiring California’s 1,000 school districts to draft policies restricting or banning student cellphone use by 2026 to support learning and well-being, leaving flexibility for local decisions.
- The city of Orange will restore crossing guard services at all elementary schools through the end of the school year with funding assistance from the county.
- The FBI is warning Southern California residents about an increase in unfounded threats — particularly against schools — made through social media and letters in recent weeks.
- A court-commissioned task force has issued 20 recommendations to improve school auditing systems following a massive fraud case involving a California charter school network, urging stronger oversight across all schools to prevent similar abuses.
- California public schools will be required to include the landmark civil rights case Mendez v. Westminster in history and social science courses starting Jan. 1, 2025, following a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 20.
- The California School Boards Association has filed a lawsuit claiming Gov. Newsom’s $8.8 billion funding plan violates the state constitution by using general fund money to meet the Proposition 98 school funding guarantee.
- Orange Coast College will host a free Community Science Night for elementary and middle school students on Oct. 4, followed by a Halloween-themed symphony performance on Oct. 5 featuring spooky classical music for all ages.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.