Kern High School District Celebrates Principal Partners’ Day

The Kern High School District (KHSD) brought nearly 400 community partners together for an inspiring day of collaboration and connection during the annual Principal Partners’ Day event on Wednesday, October 16. With the theme, “Together We Thrive,” this year’s event celebrated the powerful role community partnerships play in shaping the education and future of Kern County’s students.

The day began with a community open house at the district’s 19 comprehensive school sites, where principals offered guests a unique look at various academic and extracurricular programs.

“We are incredibly proud to showcase the best of what we do across our campuses,” shared KHSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Zulfa. “Today, our guests saw firsthand the remarkable achievements of our students and staff, and how community partnerships strengthen our schools.”

Foothill High School Principal Sydney Peterson emphasized students’ excitement in sharing their achievements with the community.

“Our students ultimately end up making who we are as a community,” said Peterson. “So, for our community members to be able to see what’s coming in the future and for students to see what it’s like to be adults and part of the community is important.”

One of those partners, Cole Sampson, chief curriculum and instruction officer at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and a North High School alum, visited Stockdale High School. He left with new ideas for his own work.

“Seeing Project Lead the Way, I’m already thinking about what I should be doing differently in my building to help bring more opportunities for our TK-8^th grade students to be ready for some of these programs,” said Sampson.

Following school site visits, the day continued at the Career Technical Education Center (CTEC), KHSD’s state-of-the-art facility dedicated to providing students with hands-on training in various career fields. Here, guests were treated to a special program and heard from KHSD leaders.

Bakersfield High School principal Ryan Geivet highlighted how essential community support is to student success.

“When young people see that their community cares about their education, they are more likely to feel valued and engaged in their learning,” Geivet explained. “This sense of belonging can significantly impact their motivation and commitment to academic success.”

The event concluded with the Jim Burke Light and Liberty Award presentation, honoring the Kern Agricultural Foundation for the nonprofit organization’s longstanding dedication to the education and success of Kern County students.