In the first full week of May each year, Teacher Appreciation Week is recognized nationally to express gratitude for the contributions educators make to support students’ growth and academic achievement in the classroom and beyond.
While Orange County school districts hosted special events and themed days throughout the week to honor teachers on their campuses, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond joined in the festivities by visiting Godinez Fundamental High School for the “Teacher Appreciation Breakfast” on Monday, May 6.
At the annual event hosted by the Santa Ana Unified School District, school staff and members of the Godinez Parent Teacher Association showed thanks for educators by serving fresh breakfast items with help from Superintendent Thurmond.
During his visit, the state superintendent showed his appreciation for the Godinez teachers by awarding them gift cards to Lakeshore Learning Materials before speaking to attendees about the various pathways for careers in education.
“I want to thank all the outstanding teachers here and across California as we ring in Teacher Appreciation Week,” Thurmond said. “You are the architects of knowledge, shaping the future one lesson at a time. As a product of public education myself, I understand the invaluable impact that dedicated educators have on shaping young minds.”
Here are the other stories we’ve kept up with this week:
- Suzanna Huerta, a fifth-grade special education teacher at Whitaker Elementary School in Buena Park, was recently named a state finalist in the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program. The local educator was joined by two other California teachers who were recognized for science.
- After nine months of studying and working alongside their peers, four Orange County middle school teams will advance to the United States Academic Pentathlon competition after a strong showing at the countywide event.
- During Youth Apprenticeship Week, the OCDE-led OC Pathways program highlighted the expansion of work-based learning opportunities for students and young adults countywide.
- This summer, about five million children in California will be automatically enrolled in the SUN Bucks initiative which supports families with nutritious meals when school is not in session.
- On Friday, Gov. Newsom proposed a revised state budget with spending cuts to education and climate objectives in order to address an estimated $56 billion deficit, according to Cal Matters.
- As 14 Sierra Vista Middle School students gear up to present at the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland in June, the Irvine Unified School District group is asking for donations to help bring their teacher along.
- Local students and adults “made a splash,” showcasing their artistic efforts through writing, dance, music, visual art and theater at the 48th annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival in Santa Ana.
- FOX 11 News recently visited Olive Street Elementary School in the Anaheim Elementary School District shed a spotlight on initiatives that build on students’ classroom experiences, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.
- In recognition of National School Nurse Day on May 8, here are four things you might not know about professional nurses and the contributions they make in educational settings.
- Trabuco Elementary School in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District was named a 2024 California Green Ribbon School by the California Department of Education for its efforts to improve environmental education campus-wide. The program also recognized the Laguna Beach Unified School District as a sustainability honoree.
- After being named the 2024 Orange County Artists of the Year, seven local high school students took to the stage for a competition showcase held at Chapman University on May 8.
- Students from Santa Ana’s McFadden Institute of Technology commuted to school safely with help from the city’s police and traffic engineering departments for the “Bike to School” event Wednesday.
- Through use of an ambulance simulator at Los Alamitos High School, students practice checking for vital signs and simulate EKGs as part of the Emergency Response Pathway offered by the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program.
- After spending four months studying the locations of states and countries across the globe, Corona del Mar students tested their knowledge at the annual Lincoln Elementary Geography Bee.
- A high school class offering lessons on college loans, budgeting, taxes and more is expected to be placed on the November ballot ahead of the upcoming election.
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.