SUPERINTENDENT'S BLOG by CHERYL JORDAN

The evolution of now is our future!

On September 19th we sealed away a piece of our present for the 2050 MUSD Generation to discover when they open our inaugural 25-year perpetual MUSD time capsule. Each of our schools, district support teams, Milpitas police, fire, and city, along with our Board Trustees contributed artifacts that represent our aspirations and who we are today.  These heirlooms, documents, and messages to our future MUSD Community represent what inspires and makes us proud of who we are together. Items such as student essays, yearbooks, school shirts, Milpitas Elementary and Trojan Olympics medals as well as personalized messages to our future teachers, students, leaders, and team members reflect our MUSD vision, mission, and Five Strategic Commitments to All learners.  The time capsule is a tangible expression of our collective identity in building a Culture of We, and our determination to assure pathways for all learners that will enable them to be the leaders and creators of tomorrow. 

Today our learners have tremendous opportunities such as attendance in college courses that enable them to gain experience and credits while in high school. Students participate in career pathwork such as advanced manufacturing and microengineering, graphics and video communications, e-Sports design, biotech, virtual design and construction management, and so much more! Our learners are developing essential skills that are key to work and life such as collaboration, critical thinking, self-expression, public speaking, creative problem solving, the ability to identify opportunities in challenges, and asking questions -- all key to knowing how to use artificial intelligence in a way that allows for even more of the human centered aspect of work to flourish. Our time capsule contents demonstrate how we are building the foundation for tomorrow while curating the innovation of the past to transform education and workforce development for generations.

STATE BOARD MEMBER OF YEAR'S BLOG by CHRIS NORWOOD

Modeling the culture we want future generations to see

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” That question continues to wake me up in the middle of the night and guide my way of life, not just as a school board trustee, but as a dad, son, spouse, neighbor, colleague, and a friend.

When I first joined the school board, I thought the work was mostly about policy and budgets. Over time, I’ve learned it’s more about people and the everyday choices we make as individuals when interacting with one another — the moments that rarely make headlines but shape our Culture of We and our community. It’s how we communicate and model respect for one another. It’s how we choose to help when no one else is looking. It’s how we show up for our students, staff, and neighbors in ways big and small.

In Milpitas, we are proud of our diversity and resilience. But we are also honest about our challenges. Many of our families are working multiple jobs. Many have a variety of political views and journeys of faith deep rooted in ancestral tradition. Many are struggling daily with food and housing insecurity, mental health pressures, caregiving responsibilities and social media algorithms that increase anxiety. These struggles are both visible and invisible. WE cannot ignore them.

THOMAS WANG,

MMCHS CLASS OF 2024

“Take advantage of the amazing opportunities you have, always shoot for the stars!” are words of advice from MUSD Middle College HS alumnus Thomas (Yuhuangze) Wang, who is currently a junior majoring in Political Science and Government at UCLA.

The now 18-year-old college student, who attended Sinnott Elementary School, Rancho Milpitas Middle School and Milpitas High School, graduated from MMCHS with the Class of 2024. Wang transferred to UCLA as a junior after only one year at San Jose City College due to the college credit he received during his tenure at MMCHS.



DIPANJOT KAUR,

MMCHS CLASS OF 2024

A third-year student at San Jose State University, majoring in Justice Studies and minoring in both Interdisciplinary Studies and Psychology, 2024 MUSD Middle College HS (MMCHS) alumna Dipanjot Kaur vividly recalls the moment she knew she wanted to pursue a career in law.

“Honors Government was the spark that lit my passion for the legal world,” said Dipanjot as she looked back on her scholastic experience. “In that classroom, Mr. Macatangay appointed me as Chief Justice during mock court cases, and for the first time, I could see myself in a role I never imagined before. That experience opened a door to the possibility of law, and through it, I discovered my calling.”

KUSH BRAHMBHATT, MHS CLASS OF 2022

Standing before the MUSD Board of Trustees, as well as MUSD educators, local community members and civic leaders, 2022 Milpitas HS graduate Kush Brahmbhatt credited much of his upward career trajectory to his educational pathway through MUSD schools.

“I come on behalf of BAPS Charities and MUSD because I actually completed all of my education from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade in this very school district,” said the 21-year old MUSD alumnus and current 4th-year pre-Medical student at UCLA, where he is double-majoring in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology along with Disability Studies.