[{"title":"Highland’s Mia Salas First-Ever KHSD Student Selected for Jimmy Awards","date":"Mon June 15, 2026","date_sql":"2026-06-15","date_sm":"June 15, 2026","date_lg":"Monday June 15, 2026","ex":"Highland High School's Mia Salas has made history as the first Kern High School District student ever selected to compete in the prestigious Jimmy Awards, the nation\u2019s highest honor in high school musical theater, after earning Best Lead Actress for her role as Eurydice in \"Hadestown: Teen Edition\" at the Rita Moreno Awards.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4E0A0057_featured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/06\/highlands-mia-salas-becomes-first-ever-khsd-student-selected-for-jimmy-awards\/","author_name":"By Natalie Hernandez","author_img":"
","author_link":"\/?s=By+Natalie+Hernandez","categories":[{"id":3,"name":"District News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/district"},{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Community Partners Host Under the Sea Storytime at CALM","date":"Fri June 12, 2026","date_sql":"2026-06-12","date_sm":"June 12, 2026","date_lg":"Friday June 12, 2026","ex":"Families had an ocean-themed adventure as the Under the Sea Summer Storytime transformed CALM into a day of hands-on learning, imaginative play, and community resources.\u00a0 ","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/339A3140Featured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/06\/community-partners-host-under-the-sea-storytime-at-calm\/","author_name":"By Natalie Hernandez","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Natalie+Hernandez","categories":[{"id":84,"name":"Community News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/community-news"}]},{"title":"Kern County Students Advance to National History Day Competition","date":"Wed June 10, 2026","date_sql":"2026-06-10","date_sm":"June 10, 2026","date_lg":"Wednesday June 10, 2026","ex":"Months of research, countless hours of practice and revisions, and a passion for uncovering stories from the past have earned three Kern County students an opportunity to compete in the National History Day Competition.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Feature-Photo-449A7754-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/06\/kern-county-students-advance-to-national-history-day-competition\/","author_name":"By Erin Pruitt","author_img":"
","author_link":"\/?s=By+Erin+Pruitt","categories":[{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Senior Spotlight: Yaquelin Guadalupe Acosta Vasquez Headed to Yale as Gates Scholar","date":"Fri June 5, 2026","date_sql":"2026-06-05","date_sm":"June 5, 2026","date_lg":"Friday June 5, 2026","ex":"For Yaquelin Guadalupe Acosta Vasquez, a recent graduate of Arvin High School, believing in herself opened the door to opportunities her younger self never imagined possible. This fall, the first-generation college student will attend Yale University after earning admission to the prestigious institution and receiving a Gates Scholarship.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Feature-Photo-449A7474-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/06\/senior-spotlight-yaquelin-guadalupe-acosta-vasquez-headed-to-yale-as-gates-scholar\/","author_name":"By Erin Pruitt","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Erin+Pruitt","categories":[{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Graduation Marks New Beginning for RISE Students","date":"Sat May 30, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-30","date_sm":"May 30, 2026","date_lg":"Saturday May 30, 2026","ex":"Students in KCSOS\u2019s RISE program celebrated more than graduation Saturday morning. Speakers reflected on overcoming adversity, breaking barriers, and proving that difficult circumstances do not define a person\u2019s future. The Class of 2026 embodied the program\u2019s mission of Reaching Individual Success through Education.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/449A7081Featured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/graduation-marks-new-beginning-for-rise-students\/","author_name":"By Robert Meszaros","author_img":"
","author_link":"\/?s=By+Robert+Meszaros","categories":[{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Four Valley Oaks Students Honored for Their Quiet Impact","date":"Fri May 29, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-29","date_sm":"May 29, 2026","date_lg":"Friday May 29, 2026","ex":"The Superintendent\u2019s Award once again honored Valley Oaks Charter School students whose resilience, leadership, kindness, and personal growth have made a lasting impact both on campus and behind the scenes. The recognition celebrates students whose achievements may not always fit traditional definitions of success, but whose actions continue to inspire those around them.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/449A4017featured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/four-valley-oaks-students-honored-for-their-quiet-impact\/","author_name":"By Robert Meszaros","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Robert+Meszaros","categories":[{"id":83,"name":"KCSOS News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/kcsos-news"}]},{"title":"Wasco High\u2019s Braydon Ricks Carries Mother\u2019s Life Lessons to Westwood","date":"Wed May 27, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-27","date_sm":"May 27, 2026","date_lg":"Wednesday May 27, 2026","ex":"From carrying a football through the halls of Wasco High as an eighth grader to earning a full academic scholarship to UCLA, Braydon Ricks\u2019 journey has been shaped by perseverance, sacrifice, and the lessons instilled by the grandmother he simply called \u201cMom.\u201d","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/449A1133Featured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/wasco-highs-braydon-ricks-carries-mothers-life-lessons-to-westwood\/","author_name":"By Robert Meszaros","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Robert+Meszaros","categories":[{"id":3,"name":"District News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/district"},{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"English Learners Celebrate Success on ELPAC Tests","date":"Fri May 22, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-22","date_sm":"May 22, 2026","date_lg":"Friday May 22, 2026","ex":"English learner students are being recognized and celebrated for making strides toward fluency. This week schools from the KCSOS RISE program, formerly known as Alternative Education, celebrated students who showed significant improvement in their English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) tests.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/339A2602featured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/english-learners-celebrate-success-on-elpac-tests\/","author_name":"By Katie Avery","author_img":"
","author_link":"\/?s=By+Katie+Avery","categories":[{"id":83,"name":"KCSOS News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/kcsos-news"}]},{"title":"Adult Learners Forge New Career Paths in Spanish-Language Child Education","date":"Fri May 22, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-22","date_sm":"May 22, 2026","date_lg":"Friday May 22, 2026","ex":"A small cohort of 25 adult learners proudly walked across the graduation stage at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest last week with not just a certificate, but the beginning of a new career path. The students are part of a Spanish-language child development cohort supported by a partnership between the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) and the college.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FEATURED-IMG_20260520_083722-Edit-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/adult-learners-forge-new-career-paths-in-spanish-language-child-education\/","author_name":"By Katie Avery","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Katie+Avery","categories":[{"id":84,"name":"Community News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/community-news"},{"id":83,"name":"KCSOS News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/kcsos-news"}]},{"title":"Senior Spotlight: Myah Wright\u2019s Journey of Confidence, Achievement Leads to UC Berkeley","date":"Thu May 21, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-21","date_sm":"May 21, 2026","date_lg":"Thursday May 21, 2026","ex":"After being named a recipient of the prestigious Gates Scholarship, Highland High School senior and first-generation college student Myah Wright will attend University of California, Berkeley this fall to study mechanical engineering, marking a new chapter in her journey of self-confidence and personal achievements that shaped her high school years.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Feature-Photo-449A5417-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/senior-spotlight-myah-wrights-journey-of-confidence-achievement-leads-to-uc-berkeley\/","author_name":"By Erin Pruitt","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Erin+Pruitt","categories":[{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Kindness Takes Center Stage as Students Honored for Compassion, Service","date":"Wed May 20, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-20","date_sm":"May 20, 2026","date_lg":"Wednesday May 20, 2026","ex":"A group of Kern County students was honored Tuesday evening not for grades or athletic accomplishments, but for the compassion, empathy, and everyday acts of kindness that have made a lasting impact at their schools and in the community.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/KindnessFeatured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/kindness-takes-center-stage-as-students-honored-for-compassion-service\/","author_name":"By Robert Meszaros","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Robert+Meszaros","categories":[{"id":3,"name":"District News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/district"},{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Kern County Celebrates Classified Employee Week","date":"Sun May 17, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-17","date_sm":"May 17, 2026","date_lg":"Sunday May 17, 2026","ex":"Nine outstanding school employees from across Kern County were recognized as 2026 Classified Employees of the Year during the annual Education Champions ceremony, celebrating the essential behind-the-scenes work that helps schools operate smoothly every day.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/449A4548Featured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/kern-county-celebrates-classified-employee-week\/","author_name":"By Robert Meszaros","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Robert+Meszaros","categories":[{"id":3,"name":"District News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/district"}]},{"title":"RISE Students Recognized for Overcoming Obstacles, Inspiring Others","date":"Fri May 15, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-15","date_sm":"May 15, 2026","date_lg":"Friday May 15, 2026","ex":"Four students in the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) RISE program were honored during the 2026 Graduate Memorial Awards ceremony for demonstrating extraordinary empathy, perseverance, optimism, and integrity while overcoming significant personal challenges on their path to graduation.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/449A7384Featured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/rise-students-recognized-for-overcoming-obstacles-inspiring-others\/","author_name":"By Robert Meszaros","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Robert+Meszaros","categories":[{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Student Voice Ambassadors Earn Civic Engagement Honors","date":"Fri May 15, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-15","date_sm":"May 15, 2026","date_lg":"Friday May 15, 2026","ex":"This week, students were honored at the second annual Student Voice Ambassador Program (SVAP) Award Ceremony, where they received either the California State Seal of Civic Engagement or the Pathway to Civic Engagement Award in recognition of their year-long civic engagement and community improvement projects.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Feature-Photo-449A6296-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/student-voice-ambassadors-earn-civic-engagement-honors\/","author_name":"By Erin Pruitt","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Erin+Pruitt","categories":[{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Senior Spotlight: Teen Philanthropist Brings Giving Spirit to UCLA","date":"Thu May 14, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-14","date_sm":"May 14, 2026","date_lg":"Thursday May 14, 2026","ex":"For Liberty High School senior Imanni Brar, success has never been measured by what you gain, but what you give. An entrepreneur and philanthropist from a young age, Imanni has set her sights on the University of California \u2013 Los Angeles, where she plans to study Business Economics and further her nonprofit enterprise.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FEATURED-339A8013-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/senior-spotlight-teen-philanthropist-brings-giving-spirit-to-ucla\/","author_name":"By Katie Avery","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Katie+Avery","categories":[{"id":84,"name":"Community News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/community-news"},{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Josh Benitez Signs with UCLA Program, Moves Closer to Film School Dream","date":"Fri May 8, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-08","date_sm":"May 8, 2026","date_lg":"Friday May 8, 2026","ex":"After years of surpassing expectations and pursuing his passion for film and animation, Josh Benitez is taking the next step toward independence and his dream career after being accepted into UCLA\u2019s Extension Pathway Program.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_0920-Edit-copyFeatured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/josh-benitez-signs-with-ucla-program-moves-closer-to-film-school-dream\/","author_name":"By Robert Meszaros","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Robert+Meszaros","categories":[{"id":3,"name":"District News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/district"},{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Three Finalists Named Kern County Teachers of the Year","date":"Thu May 7, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-07","date_sm":"May 7, 2026","date_lg":"Thursday May 7, 2026","ex":"Every year, dozens of Kern County educators rise through the ranks of their school and their district to be named Teacher of the Year, but only three become finalists to earn recognition from the state of California. The Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) office recognized all these outstanding individuals Thursday evening at the annual Kern County Education Champions of the Year celebration Thursday evening at the Historic Bell Tower Plaza. There, KCSOS announced the three finalists for the prestigious 2026 Kern County Teacher of the Year award. The trio is now eligible to apply for the California Teacher of the Year program.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Feature-Photo-449A5365-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/three-finalists-named-kern-county-teachers-of-the-year\/","author_name":"By Katie Avery","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Katie+Avery","categories":[{"id":84,"name":"Community News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/community-news"},{"id":83,"name":"KCSOS News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/kcsos-news"},{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]},{"title":"Young Voices Imagine a Better Kern County in Annual Essay, Speech Contest","date":"Thu May 7, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-07","date_sm":"May 7, 2026","date_lg":"Thursday May 7, 2026","ex":"Students from across Kern County shared bold ideas imagining how they would improve their community during the Kern County Superintendent of Schools annual Speech and Essay Writing Contest. From expanding healthcare access and reducing homelessness to planting urban forests and improving public spaces, winning students delivered thoughtful speeches aimed at creating a better future for Kern County.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Feature-Photo-449A2455-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/young-voices-imagine-a-better-kern-county-in-annual-essay-speech-contest\/","author_name":"By Robert Meszaros","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Robert+Meszaros","categories":[{"id":83,"name":"KCSOS News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/kcsos-news"}]},{"title":"Rio Bravo-Greeley Breaks Ground on Electric Bus Depot","date":"Wed May 6, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-06","date_sm":"May 6, 2026","date_lg":"Wednesday May 6, 2026","ex":"Coming soon, students in the Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District (RBG) will be riding to campus in style in a new fleet of electric school buses. The district broke ground Wednesday on its new electric school bus depot, which will house and support charging infrastructure for eight new zero-emission electric school buses.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/339A0756-EditFeatured-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/rio-bravo-greeley-breaks-ground-on-electric-bus-depot\/","author_name":"By Katie Avery","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Katie+Avery","categories":[{"id":3,"name":"District News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/district"}]},{"title":"Senior Spotlights: Sierra Sands Students Serving Success","date":"Tue May 5, 2026","date_sql":"2026-05-05","date_sm":"May 5, 2026","date_lg":"Tuesday May 5, 2026","ex":"Four seniors from Burroughs High School in the Sierra Sands Unified School District are leaving behind their homes in Ridgecrest and preparing to take their next steps after graduation, each carrying with them a story of perseverance, leadership, and service. From medicine and law to engineering and military service, these students have turned ambition into achievement while making a difference in their school and community.","img":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FEATURED-339A7971-Edit-1024x768.jpg","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/2026\/05\/senior-spotlights-sierra-sands-students-serving-success\/","author_name":"By Katie Avery","author_img":"","author_link":"\/?s=By+Katie+Avery","categories":[{"id":3,"name":"District News","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/district"},{"id":1,"name":"Spotlight","url":"https:\/\/news.kern.org\/category\/spotlight"}]}]