Through the Positivity Project, Discovery Elementary is teaching students the power of gratitude, kindness, and service. This year, their Honor Flight fundraiser surpassed expectations, raising $2,140 to send a local veteran to Washington, D.C. Students, staff, and families came together, making a lasting impact and strengthening their sense of community.
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The California School Boards Association’s Golden Bell Awards program has long been a tribute to the innovation, dedication, and excellence found in California’s public schools. At the annual awards ceremony held earlier this month, Standard School District and the Bakersfield School District were among California’s esteemed honorees.
In a tight-knit town rooted in the legacy of oil fields, the Taft Union High School District (TUHSD) is defined by its hard work, resilience, and unyielding community pride. Over the past decade, the district’s educators and leaders have faced challenges head-on, driven by the belief that hard work and collective effort can yield positive results for their students.
Lillian Tafoya, a dedicated educator and advocate for equity, is retiring after 28 years as a Bakersfield City School District trustee, concluding a nearly 65-year career in education. She has been honored with the CSBA Golden Gavel Award for her exemplary governance and leadership.
Golden Valley High School buzzed with excitement today as students from seven Kern County high schools — Centennial, West, Independence, East, Liberty, Arvin, and host Golden Valley — showcased their constitutional expertise in the annual We the People competition. Arvin High School upset the competition with its 22nd Congressional District win and an overall score of 1686.
In the far reaches of Kern’s vast landscape — atop foothills out east and sprawled across the oil and ag land out west — lie eight of the County’s smallest school districts. Together, they serve fewer than 1,000 students. Despite facing unique challenges like social isolation and limited resources, these districts are proving that size is no limitation when it comes to making a big impact.
Nearly 2,000 students from nine school districts across eastern Kern County gathered Thursday at the Mojave Air and Space Port for the third annual East Kern Career Expo. The event, packed with exploration and learning, provided students from grades six through twelve with a firsthand look at potential college and career paths in their own region.
Standard Middle School and Mt. Vernon Elementary School are Bakersfield’s latest Blue Zones Project Approved Schools. Both campuses celebrated their milestones this week. Over the past year, staff at each school have worked with Blue Zones Project Bakersfield to implement changes to help make their campuses healthier for students.
The Wasco Union Elementary School District held its annual English Language Reclassification Ceremony last week, celebrating the achievements of 127 students in grades K-8 who have successfully transitioned from English Language Learner (ELL) status to reclassified as fluent English proficient students.
November marks Homeless Youth Awareness Month (HYAM). This nationwide effort began in 2007 to highlight the issues faced by young people experiencing homelessness. The Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative’s (BKRHC) Youth Action Board (YAB) is leading the charge through a series of events all month long. Key activities include the Purple Pie Challenge, a public donation drive, and a Town Hall meeting, all aimed at raising both awareness and resources.
KCSOS has introduced a regionalized model for special education, cutting travel times and fostering deeper connections between families and schools. Fruitvale School District’s Endeavour Elementary, a key partner of this initiative, exemplifies the powerful social and emotional impacts of inclusion.
In the halls of Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District (RBG), school nurse David Tate has made it his mission to bridge the gap between education and healthcare for families going through childhood cancer. Inspired by his son’s fight with leukemia, Tate, alongside the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), has championed resources aimed at helping schools support children with cancer as they return to the classroom.
McKinley Elementary School has welcomed back its Peaceful Paths Nature Trail. This project has transformed a long-forgotten trail into a tranquil space for students and staff alike. The trail, which had fallen into disrepair over the years, was brought back to life thanks to the efforts of Leadership Bakersfield’s Team Three and dedicated community volunteers.
The Lamont Elementary School District (LESD) is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its 130th anniversary. Since its humble beginnings in the late 19th Century, the district has grown alongside the town of Lamont, transforming into a vital institution at the heart of its community. Current and former school officials, as well as community members gathered at Mountain View Middle School Tuesday morning to celebrate as LESD looks back on its storied past while keeping its eyes set on the future.
School representatives from all over Kern County came out to the Padre Hotel Thursday morning for Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ (KCSOS) Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Symposium. The event, themed “Cultivating Hearts and Minds: Empowering the Whole Child,” emphasized the importance of supporting all students from academics to behavior to mental health and well-being.
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. 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 latest standardized test results from Kern County show slight improvements in both English Language Arts (ELA) and math. While overall progress has been slow, bright spots are apparent at school districts all over the county.
Student voices took center stage Thursday morning as the Bakersfield City School District (BCSD) brought together community leaders, local businesses, and educators for its annual Community Partners in Education (CPIE) event. This year’s gathering emphasized the collaboration between schools and the community to help set Bakersfield’s students up for success.
Several schools across Kern County have been recognized for their outstanding work implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS, an evidence-based approach designed to create positive school environments and improve student behavior, has gained traction across California.
After nearly a decade of relying on bottled water, the Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District (RBGUSD) students and staff can now access safe, clean drinking water, thanks to the district’s new Water Treatment Plant. Tuesday morning, community members, staff, and local officials gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the new plant.
After more than two decades of teaching and serving Greenfield’s students, Susan Holloway, a beloved 6th-grade teacher at McKee Middle School, is preparing to retire. But Holloway’s legacy at Greenfield Union School District (GUSD) is about much more than just teaching. She has dedicated more than 20 years to providing clothing and essential items to families in need.
The Kern County Fair came alive today with the inaugural Chopped Challenge, where teams of school nutrition directors and high school students faced off in a cooking competition. Hosted at the Frontier Stage, the event showcased creative culinary talent and promoted the principles of healthy eating inspired by the Blue Zones Project (BZP).
Kern County schools are tackling chronic absenteeism by addressing sleep deprivation and fostering strong student-family relationships. Initiatives like Student Sleep Health Month, community engagement, and targeted support have helped reduce absenteeism, improving student success.
Redwood Elementary School (Richland School District) in Shafter is celebrating its first-ever Start With Hello Week, joining schools nationwide in a program focused on fostering empathy and a sense of belonging among students. On Monday morning, Redwood staff, along with board members, district staff, high school students, and community members, walked the corridors, giving a warm greeting, a smile, and a big hello to every elementary student.
The Bakersfield City School District has long been seen as a leader in music and arts education throughout California. With new funding made possible by Prop 28 — the Arts and Music in Schools Act — the district is continuing to transform its arts offerings for the benefit of all students.
Even though they were not yet born when the tragic events of September 11, 2001 unfolded, a new generation is stepping up to honor and remember the day that forever changed America. Across Kern County today, young people organized and participated in memorial events, paying tribute to the victims, first responders, and all those impacted by the attacks.
The Wonderful College Prep Academy (WCPA) campuses in Delano and Lost Hills have been honored among America’s Healthiest Schools for their exceptional commitment to student and staff well-being.
Standard Elementary School is proudly celebrating its recent designation as a Blue Zones Project (BZP) approved school, the first of its kind in the Standard School District. This achievement reflects the school’s efforts to create a healthier, more vibrant learning environment for its students. Students and staff celebrated today to highlight the practices that have earned Standard Elementary this recognition.
In recent years, Kern County schools have increasingly recognized the need for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in their classrooms. With the emotional and psychological challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and other stressors, educators have been trying to find ways to better support their students’ mental health. The Positivity Project, also known as P2, has been embraced by the Panama Buena-Vista Union School District (PBVUSD) as one way to fulfill this need.
Recent Highland High School graduate Jack Stringer is fulfilling a dream he’s had since early childhood: attending the Air Force Academy to become a fighter pilot. His journey began long before he reported for basic training this summer at the prestigious Academy campus in Colorado Springs, requiring years of dedication, discipline, and perseverance.
Officials from Strata Credit Union and California Resources Corporation attended back to school nights in Wasco this week to surprise students and families with a $250,000 gift that will send all sixth graders to Camp KEEP this year.
The Sierra Sands Unified School District (SSUSD) in Ridgecrest is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has its sights set on an ambitious district improvement project. Coined “R3” — which stands for Rebound, Rebuild, Reimagine — the initiative is designed to ensure students have access to modern, safe school environments, as well as looking to the future and reshaping the landscape for a thriving community.
Thanks to California’s Universal Meal Program (UMP), all students in Kern’s 46 school districts will once again have access to free breakfast and lunch regardless of income during their school day.
First-generation college student Raul Garza is about to embark on an exciting new chapter in his life. After graduating from McFarland High School in the spring, Garza has set his aspirations on the University of California, Riverside where he will major in business.
A recent McFarland High School graduate is going from his small rural town to the university of his dreams thanks to his dedication to excellence and hard work. First-generation college student Jose Vasquez got accepted into all nine of the California colleges he applied to and has chosen to attend Stanford University in the fall.
McFarland High School Early College is offering all its students a significant head start through its robust dual enrollment program. In partnership with Bakersfield College (BC) and the Kern Community College District, McFarland High has developed an initiative that allows high school students to graduate not only with their high school diploma but also with an Associate of Arts degree or college credits, setting them up for future academic and career success.
The Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) Educator Development program is getting ready to host the annual New Educator Summit Day of Learning, and local teachers still have an opportunity to sign up.
Camp KEEP is the recipient of a Whale Tail Grant from the California Coastal Commission. Funding will be used to enhance the student experience at the KEEP Ocean and KEEP By the Sea campuses beginning in the fall.
With a deep passion for space travel and an impressive array of interests and talents, Iamanni Jackson’s journey to one of the most prestigious universities in the world says a lot about her resilience and determination.
Wasco native Alexis Cruz, 19, has a remarkable story to share — one marked by perseverance, resilience, and impassioned support. He experienced hearing loss early in life, which presented challenges that could have easily limited his potential. Instead, these obstacles became the stepping stones leading him to the prestigious halls of Princeton University, where he recently finished his first year.
From humble beginnings Joshua Alfaro has risen above numerous challenges to achieve academic success. As a senior at Delano High School, he is not only graduating but is also earning an Associate of Arts (AA) degree. This fall, he will attend UC Berkeley, one of the most prestigious universities in the country.
Despite facing significant challenges throughout their academic journeys, local foster students have defied the odds and are now set to attend four-year universities this fall. Among these resilient students is Memory Richmond, who is a graduating senior at Mira Monte High School.
AVID, short for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college prep elective program on campuses across Kern County and beyond. Read about how two graduating seniors found it to be incredibly helpful as they planned for the next phase of life.
Meet Vanessa Ponce. She will graduate as Rosamond High School’s valedictorian on June 4 boasting an incredible 4.59 GPA. Her story is one in a series of Kern County “first-gens” that we are covering this graduation season.
Two high school seniors in the Delano Joint Union High School District have been awarded the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship, securing a full-ride to the college of their choice.
Greenfield Middle School has again been recognized as a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School, marking the second consecutive year it has achieved this prestigious honor.
School enrollment is up slightly countywide for the third year. Pockets of southwest and northwest Bakersfield account for most of the growth.
The Fruitvale School District’s Walk to Learn program, inspired by partners in a neighboring school district, has lead to increased literacy rates among students.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced Wednesday that the California State Board of Education approved $1.3 billion in Community Schools implementation grants. Just over $49 million of the pot will make its way to 11 Kern County school districts.
Three Teachers of the Year finalists and eight Classified School Employees of the Year were honored this evening at the first-ever Kern County Education Champions of the Year awards dinner.
This is one in a series of stories highlighting the 2024 Kern County School Classified Employees of the Year Selections. Eight employees were selected by a committee from a pool of thirty nominees in a variety of job classifications. The eight are now eligible for the statewide award program.
Hundreds of Kern County students participated in the 3rd annual Kern County STEAM Olympiad today at Liberty High School. The event, sponsored by the Kern County Science Foundation and the Kern County Math Council, allowed students to work together in teams of up to six to compete in various math, science, art and engineering events.
Middle and high school students and their families gathered Thursday night for the annual Kern Codes Competition Awards, celebrating individual and team winners.
Young minds from Kern County schools displayed their writing and oratory skills Thursday night at the annual Bank of America Essay/Speech Contest.
For the first time in history, a Kern County robotics team has taken its place among world champions, finishing in the top one percent of teams worldwide. The Mech-Farland CougarBots reached the quarterfinals at the annual VEX Robotics World Championship Saturday, April 27, in Dallas, Texas.
Congratulations to Kern County’s 2024 Innovative & Impactful Schools.
Norris Middle School, Rio Bravo Greeley Elementary, Vista West High School, and Warren Middle School were recognized for their efforts to reduce suspension rates. At the same time, Di Giorgio Elementary, Thomas Middle School, Frazier Park Elementary, and Taft Union High School were honored for their efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism.
In our education systems, classroom teachers are most often in the spotlight because they are on the frontlines directly educating our children. But behind the scenes, there are countless individuals whose dedication and hard work help shape the learning environment and support students’ growth.
More than 250 students who rose through their school, district and regional competitions presented their interpretations of a published literary work during the annual Kern County Oral Language Festival held Saturday, April 27 at Stonecreek Jr. High School.
This is one in a series of stories highlighting the 2024 Kern County School Classified Employees of the Year Selections. Eight employees were selected by a committee from a pool of thirty nominees in a variety of job classifications. The eight are now eligible for the statewide award program.
Thousands of local students got a glimpse into their possible futures Friday at the Kern County Career & STEM Expo hosted by the Career Technical Education Center (CTEC).
More than two dozen students from Bakersfield City School District’s P.R.O.U.D Academy and student-athletes from Bakersfield High School were partnered with students with disabilities for a morning filled with relay races, ball and frisbee tosses, and a whole lot of smiles.
The Richland Union School District, serving the small community of Shafter, is making great strides toward student success by addressing the needs of the whole child and the whole community.
This is one in a series of stories highlighting the 2024 Kern County School Classified Employees of the Year Selections. Eight employees were selected by a committee from a pool of thirty nominees in a variety of job classifications. The eight are now eligible for the statewide award program.
More than 900 students from around California competed last week in the 74th annual California Science & Engineering Fair. See how those who represented Kern County did.
This is one in a series of stories highlighting the 2024 Kern County School Classified Employees of the Year Selections. Eight employees were selected by a committee from a pool of thirty nominees in a variety of job classifications. The eight are now eligible for the statewide award program.
Richmond Elementary School in Ridgecrest has become one of California’s newest Purple Star Schools. The designation is bestowed upon those that seek to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families.
In a celebration of creativity and diversity, Valley Oaks Charter School (VOCS) held its first-ever Senior Showcase on the evening of April 11. The showcase, titled “Heterogeneity,” runs through May 10 at the Bakersfield VOCS campus on North Chester Avenue and celebrates diversity in all its forms.
More than 150 high school teams made up of budding entrepreneurs competed this week at the annual Youth Business Summit in New York City. As has become customary, local teams performed very well on the national stage, with the team from Centennial High placing second in the nation.
McFarland High School history teacher Lauren Cella is an educator turned online history influencer who will be appearing on NBC’s game show “Password” on April 9 alongside celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Keke Palmer. However, her online journey all got started as a way to make history more accessible for her students.
The annual Youth Empowering Success (YES!) Conference, held at Bakersfield College Friday, brought together more than 150 middle and high school foster youth along with caregivers, educators, and community agencies to help students forge a path to success.
To celebrate National Walking Day, Mt. Vernon Elementary School in east Bakersfield hosted a Walking School Bus event today in partnership with Blue Zones Projects — Bakersfield.
In a remote corner of Kern County sits the tight-knit community of Rosamond and the Southern Kern Unified School District (SKUSD). In response to the unique challenges faced by the district and its surrounding community due to its remote location, SKUSD has unveiled its new parent and community center to provide essential resources and support services to address the diverse needs of the community.
In a concerted effort to promote healthier lifestyles and raise awareness about the importance of proper nutrition, March has been designated National Nutrition Month. Let’s take a look at what some of the schools around Kern are up to.
Amid sprawling almond orchards and oil patches on Kern’s west side, a unique partnership has emerged that embodies what it means to truly collaborate to uplift an entire community.
North High School has become Bakersfield’s first-ever Blue Zones Project Approved™ high school. The Blue Zones Project is a community wellness initiative that inspires healthy lifestyles by making positive changes to a city’s environment and policy.
Approximately 540 4th through 12th grade students took part in Kern County’s 36th annual Regional Science Fair. The annual event is the culmination of months of hard work for students who rose through their school and district ranks for a chance to showcase their science projects and compete at the county level.
Students and parents are discovering the joy of reading thanks to a Lunchtime Literacy program at Beardsley Elementary School (Beardsley School District). Parents brought lunch for their students Friday, and the families sat down in the playground to read together.
Sierra Vista Elementary School in Arvin celebrated the opening of a new multipurpose room and kitchen thanks to voter-approved school bonds.
Dozens of community members came out to celebrate the reopening of Fairview Elementary School today after a year-long modernization project was completed in the fall. The ambitious project, a collaboration between the Greenfield Union School District and Ordiz-Melby Architects, was the first significant renovation since the school’s integration into the Greenfield Union School District in 1952.
Dozens of honor band, orchestra, and choir students took the stage Tuesday night for the annual Kern County Honor Music Festival.
The Kern High School District has expanded its Career Technical Education programs by launching its first-ever Interior Design program at East Bakersfield High School. Through innovative curriculum, hands-on experiences, and strategic partnerships, the program is preparing students to thrive in the dynamic field of interior design.
As part of School Social Workers Week, six School Social Workers (SSWs) were named to the inaugural cohort of School Social Workers of the Year.
Students from schools across Kern County competed today in the 41st annual Kern County History Day. Individuals or groups with the highest scores in each category are now eligible to participate in California History Day, April 19-21 at Sacramento State.
Ten Kern County middle schools or high schools have been named 2024 Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education for either closing the achievement gap or demonstrating exceptional student performance.
Seventh and eighth graders from several small, rural Kern County School Districts came together today to test their knowledge in math, science, history, and writing during the annual Whiz Kids competition, Academic Decathlon-style event.
Sierra Sands Unified School District Superintendent Dr. April Moore has partnered with Bakersfield Assemblyman Vince Fong to author Assembly Bill 2019. The bill would amend California law to allow for more flexibility for school districts wanting to expand their dual enrollment offerings.
Parents of students in the Fairfax School District (FSD) are becoming United States citizens and learning English thanks to special courses offered at the district’s Parent Education & Resource Center.
Buttonwillow Union School District broke ground this week on a new early childhood education and resource center. When it’s finished, the building will be home to a preschool classroom, a transitional kindergarten (TK) classroom, and the district’s community resource center.
Lamont Elementary School District (LESD) is making sure the health needs of all of its students are met by utilizing the latest technology. Myrtle Avenue School hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week to open the first-of-its-kind Telehealth School Wellness Center.
Community Schools are a nationwide initiative to bring education together with whole communities. They not only focus on academics, but also on providing students and families with wraparound support services such as social emotional support, healthcare, transportation and much more.
The annual MathCounts competition brought together some of the brightest young minds in mathematics as sixth through eighth graders students from across Kern County gathered on Friday, Feb. 2 to showcase their exceptional problem-solving skills.
Kids from across Kern County were taken on a musical journey this week at the Young People’s Concerts, courtesy of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra.
Families in rural Weedpatch are getting their basic needs met thanks to the Vineland School District. The district established a food pantry, open every day, to allow the community to come and pick up food and other necessities free of charge.
Frontier High School received the Claude W. Richardson perpetual trophy as the overall team winner of the 43rd annual Kern County Academic Decathlon. Nearly 100 students from 12 high schools participated. Frontier High will represent Kern County in the California Academic Decathlon scheduled for next month.
A local junior high school is making sure students have all the gear they need for the classroom, and you can help.
The powerhouse Mock Trial team from Centennial High School claimed victory again, its fifth year in a row and nine out of the past ten years. Centennial earned a spot to move on to the California tournament in March.
Blake School District is a far cry from your typical Kern County school system. The single-school district is the perfect embodiment of a classic one-room schoolhouse with just 21 students ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Students across Kern County are embracing and embodying kindness this week for the Great Kindness Challenge (GKC), a worldwide movement, which encourages students to find ways to be kind to others.
The Kern High School District (KHSD) teamed up with Virtual Enterprise International (VEI) to host the 25th annual Virtual Enterprise California Conference and Trade Exhibition on Jan. 17 & 18, 2024.
Five local schools are being recognized and honored for making a positive impact on their students. The Innovative and Impactful Schools (I2S) recognition program identified the schools across all 46 districts in Kern County that use verified systems to increase student success.
