Delano Student Pursues Her Dream on NBC’s “The Voice”
Koumba Diallo is a talented 15-year-old student and singer who balances academic excellence with performing on The Voice, inspiring others to dream big, work hard, and believe in themselves.
Counselors Explore Evolving Agriculture Workforce at Grimmway Farms
Through a visit to Grimmway Farms, the Kern Counselor Collaborative connected educators with emerging agricultural technologies, diverse career opportunities, and educational pathways to help students explore careers and meet the evolving workforce needs of Kern County.
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Shafter Students Explore New Opportunities at Annual College and Career Fair
Students from across the Richland School District explored new career paths, connected with professionals and built valuable communication skills today at the district’s annual college and career fair.
KiDS Expands to Fresno County to Improve Student Outcomes
KCSOS’ Kern Integrated Data System (KiDS) is expanding across county lines, helping educators turn student data into meaningful insights. Now adopted by Fresno County, the innovative platform is providing a model for collaboration, early intervention and student success across California.
Stella Hills Elementary Wins Golden Bell for Attendance Success
Stella Hills Elementary School earned a Golden Bell Award for its innovative attendance program, which raised daily attendance from 88% to 94% and reduced chronic absenteeism from 72% to 17% through student incentives, family support, and strong relationships with students and their families.
Pledge Across Kern Returns to Local Airwaves for Third Year
Pledge Across Kern returns for a third year, giving Kern County classrooms the chance to share their voices on KUZZ 107.9 FM. Teachers are invited to record their students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance for a chance to be featured on the station’s popular morning show.
Edison School District Takes a Personalized Approach to Student Attendance
Edison Elementary School District earned a 2026 Golden Bell Award for its personalized, collaborative approach to reducing barriers to attendance, increasing average daily attendance from below 90% to 96.42% and cutting chronic absenteeism from roughly 40% to 8.89% through family support, student incentives, and schoolwide teamwork.
Kern Students Continue Academic Gains, Exceed State in Graduation, Attendance Rates
Kern County students continue to make gains in English language arts and mathematics, while graduation rates exceed statewide averages and chronic absenteeism remains below the state rate, according to newly released 2025–26 education data.
Future Early Childhood Educators Recognized at Inaugural Celebration
KCSOS celebrated 16 aspiring early childhood educators at its inaugural ECE Pathway Excellence Awards, recognizing their resilience, academic and professional achievements, and the impact of mentorship, financial assistance, and community support in helping them pursue careers in education.
Bakersfield Student Teachers Among First Approved for $10,000 State Stipend
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.
Richardson Center Transformation Built With Lots of Love
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.
PURPOSE Awards Shine a Spotlight on Kern County Education
Eleven individuals and teams were celebrated for their contributions to students, schools and communities during the inaugural Kern County PURPOSE Awards.
Tehachapi’s Ned Maino Named 2027 California Teacher of the Year
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.
District Spotlight: New Elementary School Marks Next Chapter for Norris
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 to The STEAM Yard for Third Year
STEAM on the Streets returns Oct. 24 with a free morning of hands-on activities, creative challenges and family fun at The STEAM Yard.
Sheriff’s Mounted Posse Powers Students During Special Friends Day
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.
Local Leaders Connect with BCSD Students at Community Partners in Education Day
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.
KHSD ROC Automotive Teacher Wins $100,000 from Harbor Freight Tools
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.
Pine Mountain Club Student Named One of Nation’s Top Young Researchers
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.
KCSOS Helps Power State’s New Student Teacher Stipend Program
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.