California Teacher of the Year to Inspire Fellow Kern County Educators Sept. 12

When educators gather for this year’s KCSOS Educator Summit, they’ll hear from one of California’s most accomplished teachers without ever leaving Kern County. April Raguindin, a first-grade teacher at Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher Elementary School in Bakersfield City School District and one of California’s 2026 Teachers of the Year, will deliver the keynote address at the free Educator Summit scheduled Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Bell Tower Plaza. 

Raguindin has earned statewide acclaim for her innovative, student-centered teaching. Her selection as a California Teacher of the Year made her a natural choice to participate in the state’s Teach for California initiative, a just-launched statewide campaign to recruit and retain new teachers. The initiative also highlights California’s new Student Teacher Stipend Program, a $708 million state investment, which provides eligible teacher candidates with a $10,000 stipend during their student teaching assignment.

For Raguindin, teaching has always been about remaining curious and continuing to grow alongside her students.

“I love to try new things,” she said. “I feel like as a teacher, we always need to be learning and changing.”

That mindset has shaped her two decades in the classroom. Known for blending literacy, social-emotional learning and hands-on experiences, Raguindin helped establish Fletcher Elementary’s Edible Schoolyard program, where students grow, harvest and prepare fresh food while connecting classroom learning to the world around them.

Her passion for innovation and professional growth makes her a fitting keynote speaker for the Educator Summit, which will bring together teachers, instructional coaches, mentors and administrators from across Kern County for a day of professional collaboration and idea sharing.

The conference will feature breakout sessions aligned with the California Standards for the Teaching Profession, providing practical strategies educators can immediately apply in their classrooms.

“Every educator deserves opportunities to learn, reflect and be inspired,” said Malaika Bryant, executive director of Educator Development at KCSOS. “The Educator Summit brings together passionate professionals who are committed to growing their practice and supporting one another. We’re excited to create a space where educators leave energized, connected and equipped with ideas they can immediately put into action for the benefit of their students.”

In addition to Raguindin’s keynote address, attendees will also hear from Kern County’s three Teacher of the Year finalists — Angel Rose Gabion, Edmund R. Maino, and Amanda Meszaros — who will each share their unique perspective. Later, participates will have a chance to attend breakout sessions and collaborate with peers from throughout the county and exchange instructional practices that support student success.

The summit reflects KCSOS’ ongoing commitment to providing high-quality professional learning opportunities for educators at every stage of their careers.

The free conference is open to teachers, instructional coaches, mentors and administrators. Registration is now open HERE.

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April Raguindin, a first-grade teacher at Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher Elementary School in Bakersfield City School District and one of California’s 2026 Teachers of the Year, was selected to participate in the statewide Teach for California multimedia campaign, which recently launched to recruit future educators and raise awareness of the Student Teacher Stipend Program.

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