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.
Read Full Story
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.
Three Kern County students are among the nation’s top young scientists after being selected as Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
The stadium stairs at Independence High School became a place of remembrance Wednesday morning as students from the Kern High School District’s ROC/CTEC Public Service Programs climbed 2,200 steps in honor of the first responders who answered the call on Sept. 11, 2001.
Seven-year-old Mila is used to lighting up the halls at Reagan Elementary with her big personality and even bigger smile. Next week, she’ll light up Times Square.
Educators from across Kern County and beyond will come together Nov. 6–7 at Bell Tower Plaza in downtown Bakersfield for the annual Bridges Connecting Language & Literacy Conference, a free professional learning event focused on strengthening literacy and language instruction for diverse student populations.
Eleven individuals and teams representing some of the best of Kern County education will take center stage Oct. 8 as the Kern County Superintendent of Schools hosts the inaugural Kern County PURPOSE Awards at Bell Tower Plaza.
Fruitvale School District’s PBIS and MTSS programs use positive, individualized support and data-driven interventions to improve student behavior, earning every school recognition for progress while helping students feel supported rather than defined by their behavior.
Each year, KCSOS recognizes outstanding employees who exemplify the organization’s mission of serving children through excellence, innovation, and dedication. Meet this year’s honorees.
Artemis II astronaut Captain Victor Glover returned to Ridgecrest to share his journey from military aviation to space exploration, inspiring Sierra Sands Unified students to pursue their own goals through education, resilience, and perseverance.
