Kern Educator Summit Brings Educators Together to Strengthen Classrooms

When educators have the opportunity to learn from one another, the benefits often extend to the students they serve. Educators from across Kern County gathered at the Bell Tower Plaza Saturday for the annual Kern Educator Summit, where they connected and shared ideas to bring back to their classrooms.

“It’s a day of connection and engagement, and we bring them together with lots of individuals who have expertise in different areas who can then share information,” said Malaika Bryant, Executive Director for Educator Development at KCSOS.

Just as important, Bryant said, is giving educators opportunities to build relationships with colleagues from across the county who can continue supporting one another after the summit ends.

The event began last year with a focus on new teachers. This year, organizers expanded the event to educators at all stages of their careers, creating opportunities for participants with different backgrounds and experiences to learn alongside one another.

“Everyone benefits from being together, and there’s real value in bringing people from all stages of their career and who teach in a variety of contexts together at the same time,” Bryant said.

The day featured 18 breakout sessions along with keynote presentations from several accomplished local educators. 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, delivered the keynote address.

Attendees also heard from Kern County’s three Teacher of the Year finalists — Angel Rose Gabion, Edmund “Ned” Maino and Amanda Meszaros — who each shared their perspectives and experiences as educators.

The expanded summit also opened the door for educators like Eddy Garcia, a substitute teacher with Bakersfield City School District and Kern High School District, to take part.

For Garcia, the summit offered a chance to build on practices he already uses with students. One of his favorite sessions focused on creating a welcoming environment and ensuring students know they are valued.

“That’s what I do in a very positive and engaging way — showing the students that you really care about them and you want to make a difference in their lives,” Garcia said.

This year’s breakout sessions were organized around the California Standards for the Teaching Profession, providing a framework for educators to reflect on their practices, identify areas for growth and apply what they learned at their school sites.

Bryant said that while the summit focuses on professional learning for educators, its ultimate purpose is to create better opportunities for students.

“For every adult who’s in the space learning with other adults, we want the impact to be for the students we all serve,” she said. “So let’s expand the opportunities for the adults because that’s only going to expand the opportunities for children, and that’s why we’re all here.”