School Board appoints former member Steve Lustro to vacant seat
Citing the need for experience at a time when the district is taking on a variety of new initiatives designed to improve student academic achievement while also facing continuing state funding cuts, the School Board on July 31 voted to appoint Mr. Steve Lustro to the seat vacated by the late Candelario Mendoza. Here he's pictured taking the oath of office. Mr. Mendoza passed away June 24. Mr. Lustro served as a School Board member from 1997 to 2005. He is also the parent of two former PUSD students. He works as Community Development Director for the City of Montclair. His seat on the School Board will be up for election in November, 2009.
Congratulations, Class of 2008!
Best of luck in college and beyond!
Debra Duarte of Pomona High: PUSD's 2008-09 Teacher of the Year
No one was more surprised than Pomona High's Debra Duarte when Superintendent Meléndez walked into her classroom unannounced recently carrying a bouquet of flowers. She was there to let Debra know that she had been nominated by her peers and chosen by a committee as Pomona Unified Teacher of the Year for 2008-09. Debra currently teaches World History and honors classes at PHS, but also has extensive experience teaching special education classes at middle and high school. As one of her nominators wrote, "Debra is unbelievably dedicated to her profession. She spends an inordinate amount of time at work on weekdays and weekends planning lessons, correcting and editing student work, designing student-based projects, and creating alternative ways to assess her students. She is the model for differentiated instruction." Debra is now eligible to be considered for Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year. Congratulations, Debra, and thank you for everything you do for PHS students!
Pomona Rotary adds 1,200 new books to Yorba Elementary library!
Students and staff at PUSD are fortunate to have so many dedicated and generous supporters. One of the most recent examples was the donation by the Pomona Rotary of 1,200 new books to the Yorba Elementary library. That works out to more than three books for every student at the school! And they weren't just books the Rotary thought the school might like, but books specifically requested by teachers. Here, two Yorba students take to the mic to formally express the school's gratitude for this wonderful gesture of support for students' learning. Thank you, Pomona Rotary!
Pueblo marks its Eighth Annual Young Authors Celebration.
Pueblo Elementary hosted the annual Pueblo Young Authors Celebration recently, at which students had the opportunity to share their writing accomplishments with the Pueblo community. All classrooms participated by sharing individual and class books.
During the week-long celebration, all classrooms set up displays showcasing their books and featured a Readers' Corner. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a panel of student authors and read their books to an audience of appreciative peers, parents, and staff. Thanks to the dedication of a committee composed of teachers, staff and parent volunteers our Pueblo students are now published authors!
