Middle school students across Kern County got a chance to flex their creative muscles today and spread a message of tobacco prevention at the same time, with an awareness campaign created by kids for kids. The Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program teamed up with the Delano Union School District Friday to host a ‘PSA day’ at La Viña Middle School.
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KCSOS honored four Alternative Education students with its 2025 Graduate Memorial Awards Thursday evening, recognizing character, courage, and growth. The awards celebrate the legacy of four former educators and the values they embodied: empathy, perseverance, integrity, and optimism.
Student-designed trophies, heartfelt recognition, and powerful stories of inclusion — Kern County Consortium SELPA’s first-ever Empowering Students with Disabilities Awards honored the educators making a difference, with a special assist from McFarland High’s media arts students.
In classrooms across Kern County, students are learning reading, writing, math, science, and history, all in both English and Spanish. It’s part of the educational movement known as Dual Language Immersion (DLI), where biliteracy is the goal, not just a bonus.
Sierra Sands Unified is celebrating major strides in student support and community engagement. Las Flores and Inyokern Elementary earned national recognition for fostering safe, connected school cultures, while Pierce Elementary launched the Watch D.O.G.S. program to bring positive male role models into classrooms. A new $1.9 million Community Schools grant will expand services and strengthen family partnerships districtwide.
Local elementary and middle school students are returning victorious after a standout showing at the California History Day competition in Sacramento. Following months of in-depth research and creative project development, five students earned top honors and have advanced to the prestigious National History Day contest in Maryland.
The 2025 Kern County Battle of the Books is underway this week, bringing together students from across the region in a spirited celebration of reading and teamwork. This year’s event has expanded to five days and, for the first time, is being hosted at the California Living Museum (CALM) Zoo, providing a unique and engaging backdrop for the competitions.
The Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) office announced the three finalists for the prestigious 2025 Kern County Teacher of the Year award, while also recognizing dozens of outstanding local educators as part of its annual Excellence in Education celebration Tuesday evening at the DoubleTree Bakersfield.
Students at Discovery Elementary School (Fruitvale Union School District) are showing what it means to be kind, brave, prudent, and well-rounded individuals with a Green Shield designation from the Positivity Project (P2). P2 is a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) platform designed to teach students positive character traits while supporting their mental health and teaching desired behaviors. Lesson plans are tailored to each grade level and focus on 24 character strengths such as kindness, teamwork, and perseverance. Students learn how to adopt those traits into their everyday lives, building empathy and community.
More than 1,100 students from dozens of schools competed in a series of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) challenges in the annual Kern County STEAM Olympiad Saturday at Liberty High School. The event, sponsored by the Kern County Science Foundation and the Kern County Math Council, helps foster 21st-century skills in STEAM fields that align with California Standards.
Elementary school speakers from Kern County showed off their verbal and writing skills Thursday night at the annual Bank of America Essay/Speech Contest. Sponsored and judged by Bank of America employees and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), the competition allows students in grades four through six to express their personal insights on a common topic.
Kern County education leaders gathered to dedicate the Aurora Learning Center in honor of former Superintendent Mary C. Barlow, whose advocacy helped create a safe, supportive space for students with the most complex needs.
More than 100 students, judges, parents, and teachers packed the new Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) STEAM Yard Thursday afternoon to watch elementary and middle school students go head-to-head in the inaugural Kern Codes Skoolcade: the competition to see who can design the best video game.
A celebration of healing, connection, and community lit up the Blanton Education Center as KCSOS’s Alternative Education program hosted its third annual Mental Health Fair. With the theme “Mental Health Begins With Me,” the event invited students and families to explore vital wellness resources, enjoy live music and therapy dogs, and embrace the message that support is always within reach.
Each year, KCSOS calls for nominations from Kern’s 46 school districts for the Classified Employees of the Year program. Nine individuals rose to the top of the field this year, and will be honored at the annual Education Champions ceremony on May 6 where Kern County’s Teachers of the Year will also be announced.
General Shafter School welcomed families from across the community to its first annual Community Resource Fair, featuring a special TK/Kindergarten Readiness event for young children and their parents. The event helped connect families with valuable local resources and support early childhood education. Community partners like the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, Kern Family Health Care, and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) were on hand to provide information and assistance.
Fifth-grade student Jocelyn Cadena from Rio Bravo-Greeley Elementary School (Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District RBG) has been named the California state winner of the U.S. Department of Justice’s 42nd Annual National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest. Judges chose her artwork from over 200 entries statewide. Now she is going for the national title.
More than 255 students, who already rose through the rakes of their schoolwide, districtwide, and regional competitions, went head-to-head Saturday in the annual Kern County Oral Language Festival at Stonecreek Jr. High School. Elementary and middle school students were tasked with presenting their interpretations of a published literary work in a three-to-five-minute piece.
KCSOS has been awarded a $20 million statewide grant to lead a transformative math initiative aimed at improving instruction, equity, and student outcomes across California. In partnership with the California Mathematics Project and others, this effort will empower educators with training, tools, and support aligned to the state’s 2023 Math Framework.
More than two decades ago, sixth-grade teacher Susan Holloway began collecting various clothing and hygiene items in her classroom to give to her students and their families in need. Those decades of hard work culminated in the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Susan Holloway clothing bank at the Greenfield Family Resource Center in the Greenfield Union School District (GFUSD). Thanks to Holloway’s determination, Greenfield’s outreach efforts, and community contributions, the district can offer another vital resource to the families it serves.
