California’s new Student Teacher Stipend Program is helping ease one of the biggest barriers facing aspiring educators — the financial burden of unpaid student teaching. See how the new $10,000 stipend is already making a difference for future teachers in Kern County.
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The C.W. Richardson Child Development Center has a fresh new look following a three-year modernization project. From bright, welcoming classrooms to thoughtfully designed spaces for young learners, every detail was created with the center’s students and their unique needs in mind.
Eleven individuals and teams were celebrated for their contributions to students, schools and communities during the inaugural Kern County PURPOSE Awards.
Tehachapi High School’s Ned Maino has been named one of five 2027 California Teachers of the Year, marking the second consecutive year a Kern County educator has received the statewide honor.
Norris School District is preparing to build its fifth elementary school as continued residential growth pushes the district’s reach north into Gossamer Grove.
STEAM on the Streets returns Oct. 24 with a free morning of hands-on activities, creative challenges and family fun at The STEAM Yard.
For 67 years, the Kern County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse and community volunteers have provided a sensory-friendly Special Friends Day at the Kern County Fair, serving thousands of children with special needs and creating an inclusive, joyful experience for families.
BCSD’s annual Community Partners in Education Day brought local leaders and students together at Harding Elementary to celebrate student leadership, school culture, community connections, and classroom learning while strengthening partnerships.
Mario Lizarraga, an Automotive Collision & Refinishing instructor at the KHSD Regional Occupational Center, became the first-ever Kern County recipient of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, receiving $30,000 personally and $70,000 for his program in recognition of his impact on students and skilled trades education.
Peak to Peak Mountain Charter School student Alekha Goldberg is a Top 30 finalist in a national STEM competition for her research showing that methylene blue may help protect against traumatic brain injury, inspired by her brother’s recovery from a severe TBI.
Student teaching often means hundreds of required classroom hours without a paycheck. A new $708 million California investment aims to ease that burden — and KCSOS is playing a key role in bringing the statewide effort to life.
A shared meal can be about much more than food. For more than three decades, Lamont Elementary School District’s Cene Con Sus Hijos has encouraged families to put away the distractions, sit down together and connect through conversation.
A three-day statewide convening in Bakersfield is bringing California education leaders together to advance math instruction through professional learning, collaboration, and implementation of the California Math Framework’s emphasis on deeper understanding, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Career Girls of Kern County launched its inaugural year-long program to empower young girls through career exploration, leadership development, mentorship, and community service.
The STEAM Yard is launching a new Community Academy this fall, giving students in grades 3–8 the opportunity to explore Visual Arts, Coding & Robotics, or 3D Printing & Laser Cutting through a series of hands-on after-school classes beginning the week of Oct. 27.
Two Arvin High School educators are receiving national recognition. Gerardo Guzman and Matthew Regpala have been named recipients of the 2026 Yale Educator Award, honoring educators who make a lasting impact on their students.
Thousands of students and families explored college opportunities, connected with representatives and planned for their futures at Kern County College Night.
Lamont Elementary School District’s mariachi and folklórico programs engage more than 100 students in celebrating Mexican heritage, connecting them to their culture, families, and community through music, dance, and performance.
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.
Michael Fine has spent more than 30 years navigating some of California public education’s toughest financial challenges. As retirement nears, the FCMAT CEO reflects on a career built on truth, trust and putting students first.
