4 Rowland Unified Schools Recognized As

State Honor Roll Schools

2025-26 Rowland Unified School District Honor Roll Schools Recognized: Rowland Unified School District Superintendent Alejandro Flores (center), with Honor Roll School Principals (left to right): John A. Rowland High School Principal, Gregory Perez; Shelyn Elementary Principal, Sarah Opatkiewicz; Stanley G. Oswalt Academy Principal, Jason Garcia; and Ybarra Academy Principal, Mariela Moscal.

On Friday, March 21, state and local dignateries along with business and education leaders came together in a summit to shape the future of education and workforce development in the San Gabriel Valley. Organized by the Regional Chamber of Commerce - San Gabriel Valley and Educational Results Partnership, the event was sponsored by the Rowland Unified School District and took place in the RUSD Performing Arts Center.

The event concluded with an awards presentation recognizing the outstanding achievements of Honor Roll Schools in the San Gabriel Valley for their dedication to educational excellence and student success. Four schools in the Rowland Unified School District were honored as the top 20% of high performing schools in the state by the Educational Results Partnership that are closing the academic achievement and equity gaps and preparing students with the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce and life.

Congratulations to the following RUSD Schools for this honor:

Shelyn Elementary, Stanley G. Oswalt Academy, John A. Rowland High School and Ybarra Academy of Arts and Technology.

Bridging Education and Employment: A powerhouse panel came together at the RUSD Performing Arts Center to collaborate on strategies for skills-based hiring, and how schools/colleges can work more closely with business leaders to connect local talent (our students!) with jobs.

Thank you to event guest speakers Los Angeles County Supervisor, Hilda Solis and California State Senator and Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Sasha Renée Pérez, along with the following panel members pictured above: Alex Barrios, President, Educational Results Partnership; Dr. Martha Garcia, President & CEO, Mt. San Antonio College; Craig Gott, President, Suburban Water Systems; Darren Knowles, Superintendent, Pomona Unified School District; Carlo Salerno, Managing Director, Burning Glass Institute; Skyla Fuentes, Student Representative, Inner City Struggle, and California State Senator Bob Archuleta.

District Employees of the Year Announced

ROWLAND UNIFIED SURPRISE VIDEO TRAILER

It was a day full of surprises as the Rowland Unified School District Board of Education and leadership organized surprise announcements of the 2025-26 District Employees of the Year! Congratulations to the following:

Rowland Unified School District Classified Employee of the Year

Ricardo Ramirez, Guidance Technician II

Nogales High School

Rowland Unified School District Teacher of the Year

Stephanie Ayers, 4th Grade Teacher

Ybarra Academy of Arts and Technology

Rowland Unified School District Administrator of the Year

Annette Martinez, Assistant Principal

John A. Rowland High School

Congratulations to Our Rowland Unified 2025-26 Employees of the Year Across the District

The Rowland Unified School District Board of Education will honor our all of our Classified and Certificated Employees of the Year at the annual recognition dinner on May 1, 2025. Congratulations to all of our amazing Employees of the Year (EOY) who make Rowland Unified shine:

BLANDFORD ELEMENTARY

Trisha Johnson, First Grade Teacher - Certificated EOY
Dawn Bausley, Office Assistant - Classified EOY

HOLLINGWORTH ELEMENTARY

Isaac Kajikawa, Education Specialist - Certificated EOY
Martha Camarena, Instructional Assistant - Classified EOY

HURLEY ELEMENTARY

Lizbeth Gardea, Teacher - Certificated EOY
Gabriela Ma, Health Assistant - Classified EOY

JELLICK ELEMENTARY

Melissa Velasco, Education Specialist - Certificated EOY
Joshua Miranda, Custodian - Classified EOY

KILLIAN ELEMENTARY

Angela Reina, Instructional Coach - Certificated EOY
Leslie Castro, School Office Manager - Classified EOY

NORTHAM ELEMENTARY

Evelyn Middlebrooke, Teacher - Certificated EOY
Teresa Madrigal, Custodian - Classified EOY

RORIMER ELEMENTARY

Gabrielle Cervantes, Teacher - Certificated EOY
Silvia Ulloa, Instructional Assistant II - Classifed EOY

ROWLAND ELEMENTARY

Brenda Parel, Fifth Grade Teacher - Certificated EOY
Yvette Zuniga, Instructional Assistant - Classified EOY

SHELYN ELEMENTARY

Jessica Bringas, Teacher - Certificated EOY
Rolando Granadozin, Custodian - Classified EOY

VILLACORTA ELEMENTARY

Jonathan Pinedo, Teacher - Certificated EOY
Myra Quintanilla, School Office Manager - Classified EOY

YORBITA ELEMENTARY

Adam Grijalva, Education Specialist - Certificated EOY
Paul Zapata, Custodian - Classified EOY

OSWALT ACADEMY

Karen Macaranas, Third Grade Teacher - Certificated EOY
Mayra Alcala-Amezcua, Instructional Assistant - Classified EOY

TELESIS ACADEMY

Martha Dickey, Teacher - Certificated EOY
Marco Martinez, Behavior Support Assistant - Classified EOY

YBARRA ACADEMY

Stephanie Ayers, Teacher - Certificated EOY
Mercedes Chavez, Instructional Assistant II - Classified EOY

ALVARADO INTERMEDIATE

Claudia Villegas, Social Science Teacher - Certificated EOY
Leran Wang, Office Assistant - Classified EOY

GIANO INTERMEDIATE

Mayra Juarez, PE Teacher - Certificated EOY
Steven Beltran, Playground Supervisor - Classified EOY

NOGALES HIGH SCHOOL

Ellen Chang, High School Teacher - Certificated EOY
Ricardo Ramirez, Guidance Technician II - Classified EOY

ROWLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Leslie Philips, ASB Advisor - Certificated EOY
Jennifer Jaynes, Secretary - Classified EOY

SANTANA HIGH SCHOOL

Reina Montes De Oca, Teacher - Certificated EOY
Roberto Bravo, Campus Safety - Classified EOY

ROWLAND ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION

James Shafer, ESL Teacher - Certificated EOY
Paola Perez, Office Assistant - Classified EOY

NUTRITION SERVICES

Rudy Gonzalez Triana, Stock Delivery Worker - Classified EOY

TRANSPORTATION

Cynthia Madrigal, School Bus Driver - Classified EOY

DISTRICT OFFICE

Ruben Pascual, Elementary Music Teacher - Certificated EOY
Jose Franco, Senior Network Analyst - Classified EOY

April 7, 2025 Issue RUSD News Editor gward@rowlandschools.org

Proud to Serve Our Communities of City of Industry, La Puente, Rowland Heights,

Walnut & West Covina