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At the Regular Meeting held on Thursday, June 28, 2018, the Board of Education voted unanimously to appoint Gordon Amerson, Ed.D., as the new Superintendent of the Duarte Unified School District. "I am humbled and honored to be the new Superintendent of the Duarte Unified School District, and to partner with our scholars, educators, families, and the communities we serve to ensure we meet the district’s mission - to provide the knowledge, skills and inspiration for each student for success in college, career and life. I am deeply committed to this charge and excited to learn more about how our mission is being implemented in Duarte Unified’s schools. This is a great time to be part of our learning community and I fully embrace this opportunity to lead." View the entry plan that will guide Dr. Amerson's initial days of service here.
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We are proud to announce that The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (Nalip) awarded scholarships to three M.I.T. High School students, Litzy Cabrera, Juan Moreno and Arturo Landeros, to attend the Nalip Media Summit as part of their Emergent Content Creators Inclusive Initiative. DUSD partnered with the company Creating Creators who made this award possible through The Cinema Project launched at M.I.T. High School this year. The mission of The Cinema Project is to support and align the lessons in the classroom, with the entrepreneurial, creative, and collaborative rigor of film production and 21st century skills of working professionals. Professionals from the film industry, use their experience in the workplace to guide students and their certified teacher through the process of making a film. During this 34 week process, which translates to 1.5 hours of instruction twice a week, professionals share lessons with our M.I.T. High School students that have been aligned with the common core standards.
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Did you know 13 of the 17 students selected to participate in The City of Hope Summer Internship Program are from Duarte High School? This incredible opportunity provides our students with an on-site education and observational experience for the purpose of exposing them to the variety of professions – both medical and nonmedical – found within a health care and research environment. Students gain insights about career options from an array of professionals and they earn five academic credits upon completion of the program that culminates with a formal presentation of their final project. In the medical and science fields, female professionals have been an historically under represented group. For this reason, it is exciting to note, all of the students electing to participate in this year’s cohort are female students.
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Beardslee Dual Language Academy, Royal Oaks STEAM Academy and Valley View Elementary have been named to the 2017 - 2018 Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll for their high achievement and student success. The program, sponsored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE), is part of a national effort to identify higher-performing schools and districts that are improving student outcomes. These three Duarte Unified schools are among only 1,798 public schools in California to be recognized for this honor. ERP maintains the nation’s largest database on student achievement and utilizes this data to identify higher-performing schools and districts. Schools that receive the ERP Honor Roll distinction have demonstrated consistent high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time, and a reduction in achievement gaps among student populations.
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The transition of our facilities from elementary school campuses to TK-8 academies is featured by Gen7 Schools as a national model of success. The construction of innovative, energy-efficient learning spaces, advancement of the arts, integration of cutting-edge technology and engaging instruction of 21st century skills are top priorities for DUSD, and our new Gen7 facilities deliver on every goal. A total of 22 new Gen7 permanent modular classrooms have been installed throughout the district allowing existing programs to be expanded and new ones to be launched. These new learning environments are equipped with flexible furniture for unmatched comfort and performance. We encourage community members to come visit and see the transformation to 21st Century Schools taking place at all of our campuses by signing up for a tour at come2duarteusd.com and read the full article at www.gen7schools.com.
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DUSD is pleased to announce Erin Fish has been selected to serve in the new Assistant Principal position added to the administration team at Royal Oaks STEAM Academy. The enrollment at Royal Oaks STEAM Academy, which will reach the 900 mark this coming 2018-19 year, has increased rapidly in the past year due to the school’s transition from a K-6 elementary to a K-8 academy and the inclusion of the joint DUSD/CSArts-SGV 7-8 Grade conservatory program. To provide additional support for this growing learning community, Erin will join the current administration led by Principal, Janice Kolodinski, and Assistant Principal, Dr. Rasheedah Gates. “I am excited to join the Royal Oaks STEAM Academy leadership team," stated Erin Fish. "I look forward to working in collaboration with our talented staff, caring families and supportive community to continue to build a dynamic learning environment where our students flourish.”
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The Board of Education approved the tentative agreement reached with the California School Employees Association (CSEA) for compensation at the Special Meeting held on Friday, June 1, 2018. The terms of the negotiated agreement between DUSD and CSEA stipulates a one year classified salary schedule increase of 2.0%, retroactive to January 1, 2018. In addition, four Memorandums of Understanding also included within the agreement were approved by the Board that provide for the inclusion of proctors in the bargaining unit, adding a new classification of Lead Intensive Behavioral Instructional Assistant, changes to the classification of Head Custodian I, II, III, and cash-in-lieu benefits attestation. The members of the negotiating teams for both DUSD and CSEA are to be commended for reaching a mutually beneficial result for both parties.
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In partnership with the Special Olympics Southern California San Gabriel Valley Region, Duarte Unified hosted the 2018 Spring Games at Duarte High School on Friday, May 4. Student athletes from 13 districts from across the San Gabriel Valley came to represent their schools at Falcon Stadium. The event kicked-off with a rousing Opening Ceremony led by Superintendent Mucerino with help from DHS students James Ballard and Reid Wideman. Each athlete took the oath, "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." And, they were! In addition to the fan favorite races and long jump events, this year marked the first time a unified relay was included made up of general and special education students from Team DHS! Kudos to the following for helping make sure the day was a success: DHS ASB, DHS Athletes, DHS Adult Transition Program, DUSD SPED Team, Duarte Parent Volunteers, West Coast University Physical Therapy Students, DHS Admin Team & DUSD Adapted PE Teacher, Greg Saris for facilitating the entire event!
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The bargaining teams of the Duarte Unified School District (DUSD) and the Duarte Unified Educators Association (DUEA) are pleased to jointly announce that a tentative multi-year agreement regarding compensation for certificated staff members has been reached and has been Board approved. This provides certificated staff a total salary increase of 7.0% over the course of the agreement. The members of DUEA ratified the tentative agreement on March 23, with 84% of members voting in support of the agreed upon terms. The negotiators for both bargaining teams are to be commended for working collaboratively through the Interest Based Bargaining process to achieve a mutually beneficial result for both parties. The tentative agreement was approved by the Board of Education at the Regular Meeting held Thursday, April 19. Click on banner to read full press release.
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Duarte Unified's collaboration with Mt. San Antonio College, Delafield Coorporation and several business and community partners has resulted in a dual enrollment career training program designed to give students in Grades 9-12 the skills and knowledge necessary to obtain employment in a variety of industries related to Welding and Fabrication that include construction, aerospace, lighting, and automotive aftermarket industries. Through this unique partnership, students have the opportunity to obtain an Associate of Science Degree in Welding, as well as four academic certificates of completion including certification for Structural Steel - Manual and Semi-Automatic, and Light Gage Steel.
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For the first time in the history of the school, the Duarte High School Boys Basketball Team won the CIF Division 5A Championship Title! The pride our boys have brought to the entire Duarte community has been something to behold. In his first year as head coach, Earl Sanchez led his team to the Montview League Title and the CIF Division 5A Championship. The Falcons also advanced for the first time into the second round of the State CIF Division 5 Tournament. Thank you to everyone who supported our student-athletes during their record breaking season and congrats to every member of the team on making history!
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Just a few seats remain in our Spanish-English Dual Language Immersion Program for the 2018-19 school year at Beardslee K-8 Academy! The dual language immersion program at Beardslee has been designed to educate English learners and native English speakers together. The outcome is mastery of academic subject matter content in both English and Spanish. The dual language immersion program is available for students entering kindergarten and first grade. As Beardslee is a K-8 model, students will continue dual language instruction in specific subject areas when they reach 6-8th grades. Families with children entering kindergarten and first grade can apply now by calling 626-599-5200 or by completing the enrollment request form. We also encourage prospective families to visit Beardslee and all schools in the district by signing up for a campus tour at www.come2duarteusd.com.
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Duarte High School in partnership with Citrus College offers the only Four-Year Early College Dual Enrollment Degree-Bearing Program in the San Gabriel Valley. This unprecedented opportunity is available to students in grades 9-12. The Early College Program blends high school and college in a rigorous and supportive cohort program. Students simultaneously earn a high school diploma and complete between 30-60 college units depending on the pathway they choose, including earning an Associate of Science Degree. This program affords families a cost savings of thousands of dollars compared to the price of entering college after high school graduation, and provides an accelerated pathway for students wanting to get a head start on graduate work or entry into their career of choice.
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Duarte High School, Mt. San Antonio College and the City of Hope have entered into another one-of-a-kind partnership to offer a Hospitality Occupations Pathway including a Culinary Arts Academy. Articulation is underway to create the only dual enrollment opportunity of this kind in the San Gabriel Valley. Already certified by the National Academy Foundation (NAF) as an Academy for Culinary Entrepreneurship, the new program offered by Duarte High School will deliver learning opportunities for entry into careers in the hospitality industry offering students certification and an Associate of Science Degree upon completion to be developed with partner colleges. Courses will be delivered at DHS in a state-of-the-art Culinary Classroom to be expanded and retro-fitted with a new professional-grade kitchen that will be ready for students entering the program Fall of 2018.
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Duarte Unified School District is excited to reveal the new logos that have been custom designed for each of our schools. After a comprehensive development process led by our Principals that was school-based and included numerous forums for feedback from stakeholders at each site, the final products are unique to each campus, yet fit together to show district unity. They also pay homage to the school's original mascots, with the exception of M.I.T. High School, who made the bold decision to switch their mascot from a bull dog to a tiger. Thank you to everyone that participated in each stage throughout the process. Check with your school for information regarding how to purchase new logo merchandise and spirit wear.
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The Dragon Kim Foundation, and CSArts - SGV have partnered with our district to provide a free after-school music class for students in grades K-4 who attend DUSD. Fifty students elected to participate in a special general music class that meets every Friday from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the CSArts campus. Students will learn the fundamentals of music through singing, playing percussion instruments, and movement in a fun and interactive setting. The class is taught by Ms. Lindsie Hardy who also teaches choral music at DUSD schools during the instructional day. An added bonus, fourteen CSArts Instrumental Music students have volunteered to work as student-mentors for the 50 elementary school students. The first class was held on February 23, and will continue through April with a performance scheduled on May 3, at 7:30 p.m.
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The leading early childhood education advocacy nonprofit group called Child360, formerly known as LAUP, selected Duarte Preschool as a model Early Education program to host a visit by Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair of the Education Budget Subcommittee, on December 15. A key player in early childhood education policy, Portantino was impressed by Duarte Preschool's highly qualified teachers and their delivery of GLAD techniques and STEM integration. A round table discussion followed the tour attended by early childhood experts, DUSD officials, and Board Members Diaz and Bell to address funding and wrap around service supports to ensure all children have the right start they need to succeed in school and life. Learn more about our Duarte Preschool programs and how to enroll here.
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SMG Property, LLC, the real estate holding entity for California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV), is pleased to announce a matching gift challenge in support of the Duarte High School (DHS) Choral Department, and we need your help! They will perform with professional Broadway actors on stage at the prestigious Carnegie Hall, accompanied by the New York City Chamber Orchestra. It will cost approximately $44,000 ($2,000 per student) to make this once-in-a-lifetime trip a reality for the DHS Cantabile Show Choir. In support of this incredible student performance opportunity, SMG Property, LLC will be matching, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 of funds donated towards the trip. SMG Property, LLC hopes this matching gift challenge will encourage others in the community to contribute to this important cause. With this challenge, donors have a chance to double their impact and do twice the good!
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Join us at our Preview Days to learn first-hand about California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley’s (CSArts-SGV) & Duarte Unified School District's (DUSD) quality academic and arts educational programs, unique school culture, and unparalleled value. Each Preview Day provides a general overview of the academic and arts programs, presented by Dr. Ralph Opacic, CSArts Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allan Mucerino, Superintendent of Duarte Unified School District, and other members of the administration. Students and their families will also have the opportunity to meet with arts conservatory leadership and learn about the joint DUSD/CSArts partnership. You’re currently in the process of taking the first big step of many to build a bright future. Preview Days will be held on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2017 & SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 2018. Register at sgv.csarts.net.
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Through the unique partnership our district has cultivated with the California School of the Arts (CSArts), Duarte Unified has launched a premier dance and movement program taught by industry professionals from Elements Dance Space studio located in Pasadena, California. It is the first comprehensive dance program in this region offered to all students in Grades TK-8 at every school in the district. Ten dance instructors who are all highly trained professionals with experience working within the industry as well as teaching all levels and ages of students and adults, instruct the classes. The dance program exposes students to a range of dance genres during bi-weekly sessions ranging from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the age level. These include hip hop, ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern dance styles. Click on headline above for more...
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Engineer Your World (EYW™) is a high school course offered in only 200 schools nation-wide and DHS is the only school providing this class in the San Gabriel Valley. Developed with funding from the National Science Foundation by a team of University of Texas faculty and NASA engineers, EYW™ engages students in authentic engineering practices in a project-based environment. Students are expected to develop engineering design skills by building them along with the necessary habits of mind through exploration and discovery. By joining forces with EYW™, our students will be empowered to discover and explore interests, imagine and design solutions to real-world challenges, and become independent, confident problem solvers. Learn more at engineeryourworld.org. Click Headline above for more...
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A contingency of Duarte Unified high school students and staff toured China June 5-17. They spent time in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. Highlights of their trip included the Forbidden City, Great Wall and the Bullet Train. As part of this amazing student cultural exchange program, they also visited Hangzhou School and Ningbo Binhai International Cooperation School. Earlier this year, students from China attended Duarte High and now our students have the incredible opportunity to experience China. They had a great time enjoying the cuisine, sights and culture. And, over eighty Chinese students in Grades 3-12 participated in a week of the DUSD STEAM Summer School experience. The joined in the fun alongside their DUSD peers and engaged in learning activities, played games and even took a Mandarin class. Their stay was commemorated with a culminating ceremony that included certificates for the students and a cultural gift exchange. Click headline above for more...
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Duarte High School students who meet admissions requirements will receive guaranteed admittance to APU, a $10,000 renewable scholarship, application fee waiver, and support with the application process. “On behalf of our Board of Education, staff, students and their families, we look forward to this exciting opportunity with APU,” said Mucerino. “Along with our recent partnership with the California School of the Arts, this agreement with APU demonstrates Duarte’s commitment to advance its school district and increase the success of its students while promoting a college bound culture.” The agreement begins fall 2017 and also includes this year’s graduates who met the program’s academic requirements. Click on Headline above to learn more...
