We are pleased to provide our students, parents, staff, and community with the latest information about our Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District community through this newsletter. Please join us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to connect with us daily!

Great news! Several August Boeger Teachers were awarded ArtsEdConnect grants. These grants for arts and education are the result of a partnership of the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) and SVCreates.  

Ms. Gonzalez, Ms. Smith, and Ms. Gilman Cama applied as a team for the SCCOE & SVCreates ArtsEdConnect  grant and were awarded $5,900 to use amongst their three classes. Ms. Love also applied and was awarded $1,900 to use with our AB/IJA Band students. 

We congratulate them and thank them for bringing additional funds to our August Boeger community, which will help provide greater learning opportunities for our students!  

We are proud to share that four of our teachers were recognized at the 54^th Annual Santa Clara County Teacher Recognition celebration! In partnership with the Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union and The Tech Interactive, the following three teachers were recognized as educators who inspire students to take an active role in civic engagement, spark joy in the arts, and pursue innovation in STEM. Congratulations!

Rachel McCauley, teacher at Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary, received the Arts Leadership Award.  

Alyssa Smith, teacher at August Boeger Middle School, was honored with the Civics Leadership Award. 

Kate Pascoal, teacher at Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary​, received the  Civics Leadership Award. 

At the same event, Mrs. Geetha Manjunath, a talented educator known for setting high expectations for all her students, proudly represented the district as our Teacher of the Year. The Santa Clara County Teacher Recognition Celebration, a tradition for over 50 years, is the oldest and largest celebration of educators in California and is considered the most prestigious local award for classroom teachers. Congratulations, Mrs. Manjunath! 

In honor of Ruby Bridges' Walk to School Day at Robert Sanders, a memorable series of activities celebrated her legacy with the intention of sparking meaningful conversations about bravery, civil rights, and kindness, while promoting community unity. Staff, families, volunteers, and SJPD Officers gathered at three designated walking locations and began the walk at 7:50 a.m. Along the way, staff guided students through discussion prompts, cultivating conversations about the significance of Ruby's courage and how it inspires us today. 

Upon arrival, the Mt. Pleasant High School Cardinal Band, Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (MCJROTC), and Cheer Team welcomed everyone with enthusiasm and spirit. Breakfast snacks and juice were provided to ensure everyone was energized for the day. To conclude, an assembly took place where Ms. Carson, Principal, and student leaders shared reflections on Ruby’s impact and social justice. This was our school’s fourth year participating in this historic event, a day filled with learning, reflection, and unity as we honored Ruby Bridges’ brave walk to school. 

The other schools in our district also participated by doing some of the same events. A big thank you to the teachers who took the lead in planning this event for the students in our district: Ms. Ashley Martin, Ms. Barbara Powell-Padilla, Ms. Lisa Bui, Ms. Nina Gillman, Ms. Trudy Martinez, and Ms. Pervorse. Also, a big thank you to the Ruby Bridges Foundation and AAA Safety Patrol for creating, supporting, and helping fund this annual event! We’re thrilled that every school in our district took part this year. 

Bringing together students, staff, families, and community shows that everyone values a safe and welcoming school for all. 

Our district’s after school program, an official 2024 Golden Bell Award Winner, provides support and learning opportunities to students! 

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Watch this video about MPAS!

Our school community celebrated Halloween and Día de los Muertos! We are thankful to the teachers, staff members, students and families that supported this year’s initiatives and traditions at MPESD!  

Watch this video about Halloween and Día de los Muertos at MPESD! 

We are grateful to the District’s voters for approving MPESD Measures S and T, two general obligation bond measures. These measures will authorize locally controlled funds to make renovations and improvements to schools and classrooms throughout our District, including expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics in classrooms and updating technology and emergency communication systems at all District schools. These measures will also fund improvements to expand facilities focused on student counseling and mental health services, ensure accessibility for disabled children, repair and renovate school libraries, and repair roofs.    



The measures include provisions for citizen oversight and full public disclosure of all spending. All funds raised will stay local and can’t be redirected or taken away by the state.   

Thank you, voters, for supporting MPESD students! 

Uniting efforts to provide needed support is a wonderful way to celebrate this special time of the year. Danny Patton, MPAS Program Coordinator, created an amazing initiative to collect donations that has become a long-lasting tradition.  

Our community is once again coming together, organizing a Community Service project to help those in need stay warmer during the winter months. The goal is to distribute new socks, scarves, hats, and gloves to the homeless. You can make a difference by either making a monetary contribution or purchasing these items and donating them to MPAS. Please submit your donations to the MPAS leaders at your site by December 2^nd. For more information, please email Danny Patton at dpatton@mpesd.org. 



Thank you for your support!

We are excited to share that our Board of Trustees has approved the formation of a Budget Advisory Committee to address our school district's pressing financial challenges. Thank you to those who have expressed interest in being part of the committee. The Board will confirm the members at the next board meeting. The volunteers will represent a broad cross-section of our community, including parents from each school site, certificated staff, and classified staff.   

The committee's primary goal is to assist in addressing the district’s current budget deficit and the additional projected deficit of over $4 million for the 2025-26 school year. The committee’s participation will be crucial in identifying solutions that align our financial resources with our educational goals while maintaining fiscal responsibility. We appreciate your collaboration as we work through these challenging times. 

Important Dates: Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break. Mark your calendars!   

Thanksgiving Break: November 25 – November 29, 2024 (Back to School on December 2, 2024) 



Winter Break: December 23 – January 6, 2025 (Back to School on January 7, 2025) 

Please plan family vacations during this time—attendance matters! Every absence means students miss out on valuable learning opportunities.

Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District offers a world of opportunities!

Are you or someone you know interested in becoming part of Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District? MPESD is hiring for a variety of roles.  

Job opportunities are available to individuals interested in becoming teachers and teachers interested in obtaining additional credentials. There are also many positions available in our school district that do not require a college degree. 

The school district offers a generous welfare and benefits package as well as an excellent state pension plan. We are always looking for Instructional Associates (general and special education) and Substitute Custodial Workers. 

We invite you to learn more information on EdJoin or contact our Personnel Office at (408) 233-3720. 

Learn more about an Instructional Aide career and Substitute Custodian at MPESD by reading the flyers below!  

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) are core values at MPESD. We are committed to creating an anti-racist, compassionate and inclusive school culture where every individual is treated with dignity in our diverse community.   

For the month of November, the DEIB lessons are about Native American Heritage Month, Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month, Dia de Los Muertos, LGBTQ+ Solidarity Week, Election Day, Veterans Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Thanksgiving, and Native American Heritage Day. The character trait recognized is integrity.   

In December, the focus will be on the winter holidays, Hanukkah, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Years Eve. The character trait is contribution.  

If you are interested in learning more about DEIB, please reach out to your school to further the conversation. Thank you for supporting an inclusive school community!  

Our Board of Trustees will meet December 18, 2024. 

The job of the Board of Trustees includes the following: 



• Setting the vision and goals for the district  
• Adopting policies that give the district direction to set priorities and achieve its goals
• Hiring and evaluating the superintendent 
• Adopting and overseeing the annual budget 
• Managing the collective bargaining process for employees of the district 

To learn more about these sessions, please visit our website. 

Watch our November 13, 2024 Board meeting here.