The 2026-27 school year is well underway across San Bernardino County, and it has been inspiring to see our school communities in action. Students have taken on new journeys in new classrooms, teachers are leading thoughtful and engaging lessons, and staff are creating safe, welcoming spaces where everyone can thrive. We believe a strong start lays the foundation for a successful academic year, and we are grateful to everyone working to make that possible for our students and staff.

Throughout September, we have had many opportunities to celebrate the people, programs and partnerships that make our educational community so special. We recognized outstanding educators who continue to inspire those around them, showcased talented students with a passion for the theatre arts, brought families and community partners together for a milestone event, and connected AVID educators to exchange ideas, strategies and resources they can bring back to their schools. Each one of these moments brought our mission to transform lives through education to life.

It is remarkable to see how much has already been accomplished since the first day of school. As we look ahead, we are excited to build on this momentum and see all that our students, educators and school communities will achieve throughout the year.

Be sure to watch our new special series, Preparing for the Day After, where we reflect on the stories, successes and transformative moments that have defined the past decade, and continue to share what comes next. We also encourage you to learn more about additional events, programs and resources we offer throughout the County by reading the featured stories below.

In partnership, 

Ted Alejandre

County Superintendent

View Spanish version of the video here.

Para ver el video en español, haga clic aquí.

SBCSS began the 2026-2027 academic year by celebrating eight exceptional educators named Teachers of the Year. Four SBCSS Teachers of the Year were honored during the annual Stars in Education ceremony held on Sept. 1, while four San Bernardino Countywide Teachers of the Year were recognized during a separate event held on Sept. 15 in San Bernardino. 

The SBCSS Teachers of the Year award recognizes educational innovation, dedication to student learning and the rewards of teaching.

Each year, school districts and regional occupational programs are invited to select a Teacher of the Year. The district’s finalist then advances to the county-level review process. After reviewing applications and interviewing selected candidates, a screening and selection committee chooses several Countywide Teacher of the Year applicants to advance for consideration in the California Teacher of the Year program.

Congratulations to this year's exceptional educators!

COUNTYWIDE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR:

Nellie Aboytes

Clement Middle School

Redlands Unified School District

Silk Jones

Samuel W. Simpson Elementary School

Rialto Unified School District

Kelsi Santos

Valley Elementary School

Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District

Ashley Uraine

Yucaipa High School

Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program

SBCSS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR:

Cynthia Garcia

West End Special Education

Liberty Elementary

Joy Heuer

Desert Mountain Special Education

Sitting Bull Academy

Jeffrey Ordaz

Alternative Education

Burton Thrall Juvenile Court School

Jenelyn Perez

State Preschool

Anna Borba State Preschool

Workforce SBCSS, in partnership with Crafton Hills College and California State University, San Bernardino's Department of Theatre Arts, hosted the 2026 Stagecraft Symposium on Sept. 18 at Crafton Hills College. The event brought together 100 students and educators representing nine schools across San Bernardino County for an immersive day of work-based learning focused on theatre arts, technical production and entertainment careers.

Students participated in hands-on workshops in costume design, scenic design, makeup, stage management, graphics/publicity, projection mapping and rigging, while educators participated in a specialized puppetry workshop. Students also connected with various industries and organizations during a networking session designed to introduce them to educational pathways, careers and resources available throughout the Inland Empire.

More than two dozen districts, representing 144 schools, participated in this year's TK-12 AVID Conference held on Sept. 22 in Ontario.

Hundreds of AVID Coordinators and elective teachers came together to share best practices, explore innovative strategies, and connect with colleagues. Attendees participated in a variety to breakout sessions covering topics such as helping students improve their work using artificial intelligence, maximizing college and career readiness, introducing Socratic seminars in elementary school classrooms, and bringing Scholar Dollars and college and career fairs to schools. Presenters shared successful approaches from their school communities and provided attendees with resources for replication.

The conference also featured a "Coaches Corner," where coordinators could connect one-on-one with their regional leads for personalized support and guidance.

SBCSS celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Summit at the University of Redlands on Sept. 26. Hundreds of educators, staff, families, students, and community organizations joined us for this milestone celebration.

From an inspiring keynote and outstanding student performances from Hesperia Unified School District, Fontana Unified School District and Rialto Unified School District to powerful breakout sessions throughout the day, attendees left feeling inspired, connected and empowered.

For the past decade, the FACE Summit has created a welcoming space for families and education professionals to learn from one another, build relationships and share practical strategies. The 10th annual event was a powerful reminder that when families, schools and communities work together, students can learn, grow and thrive.

Financial aid applications for the 2027-28 academic year officially open October 1, 2026!

High school seniors and all California students can apply now by completing the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Applicants may be eligible for grants and other aid that can help fund their college education, credential program, or career training.

The priority deadline for state aid is March 2, 2027.

San Bernardino County Superintendent of

Schools produces various podcasts which

feature interviews with students, families and

educators from across the County and country.



Please listen to the latest Beyond Academics: Connecting Classroom and Community podcast episode from the Innovation and Engagement branch.

Click here to view all SBCSS podcasts.

Resources

The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) helps jumpstart college savings for children statewide by awarding scholarship accounts to youth across the state.

CalKIDS funds up to $1,500 in free money for eligible low-income public school students to save for college and career training. Visit CalKIDS.org to claim your account.

County Superintendent Ted Alejandre issues this monthly publication to keep education partners informed about the many services and programs SBCSS provides to our learning community throughout the year.

View the Inspiration archive.