2 EDCAL April 1, 2019
Vista High School earns
six-year accreditation
Council
meets
Vista High School in Lynwood USD
has been awarded a six-year accreditation
by the Western Association of Schools and
Colleges for fostering high-quality student
learning and ongoing school improvement.
Vista was awarded following a two-day,
mid-cycle review by WASC to evaluate
programs and operations. Vista provided
evidence of meeting achievement ob-
jectives, including teaching students to
be productive thinkers and demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of key facts,
concepts and skills in all subjects. At Vista,
students achieve this by using technology
to access, communicate, interpret and eval-
uate information.
“This is a great accomplishment, and I’m
proud of every member of the Vista staff
for working together to make this possible,”
said Principal Gilbert Mireles.
The WASC team observed how the
school provides students with a nurturing
learning environment that promotes aca-
demic achievement, personal growth and
the rights and diversity of others.
ACSA Superintendency Council
President Katie McNamara,
second from right, gives wel-
come remarks at the March 20
Superintendency Council meet-
ing along with, from left, ACSA
President Holly Edds, ACSA
Executive Director Wes Smith
and Superintendency Council
Vice President Julie Vitale.
Discussion items included
ACSA partnership with USC to
develop research briefs, Equity
Administrator Lab and LCAP
report and charter legislation.
The council’s next meeting is
April 25.
ENGAGE
Continued from page 1
first districtwide College and Career Fair,
a resource fair, literacy festival, parenting
skills workshops and more.
“Having grown up in this district, I
have a good understanding of what the
students need, what the families need,
what our communities and leaders need,”
Almendarez said. “That has to be a focus
for school leaders — what can we all do
collaboratively to produce the greatest
outcomes for our students.”
The strengthening of the Community
Cabinet program can also be attributed
to CJUSD school board members. Al-
mendarez has kept his board engaged in
the process and has worked hard to give
them an understanding of his strategy and
what he’s trying to accomplish.
“The board sets the direction and tone
for what we do,” he said. “Then it is a
collaborative process to make sure our
students are getting our best work.”
Terilyn Finders, director of Communi-
cations and Legislative Affairs for Fagen
Friedman & Fulfrost LLP, believes the
shared work of the superintendent and
board with these public-facing campaigns
is critical for success.
“Getting board members pointed in
the right direction is essential especially
when there is new energy within the group
or with a new project,” she said. “A su-
perintendent needs to channel everything
toward the best interest of the district and
the students.”
For Al-
“You can’t just
mendarez, that has
meant workshops
come in and be
rigid and say this with the board
early on each year
is how we’re
and a like-mind-
going to do
ed approach to
moving the district
something. We
forward.
all have to be
“You can’t just
fluid and have
come in and be
the ability to
rigid and say this is
how we’re going to
change
do something,” he
directions as
said. “We all have
needed.”
to be fluid and
have the ability to
Jerry Almendarez
change directions
CJUSD
as needed.”
Superintendent
Almendarez
said the Com-
munity Cabinet
continues to focus
its mission through ongoing dialogue with
students, teachers and principals.
“We want to continue to pursue ways to
make direct connections between our com-
munity professionals and our students, such
as mock interviews, career fairs, mentoring
and internships,” he said.
Lynwood High School senior Alan Lopez stands with Edison International representative Francisco Martinez
after winning the $40,000 Edison International STEM Scholarship on March 20.
STEM
Continued from page 1
the College Bridge program at Cerritos
College, and has used his summers to
attend programs at UCLA and Stanford
— where his sister now studies.
He wants to one day explore how to
use technology to improve human inter-
action.
“Alan is an imaginative young man
who has a bright future in front of him,”
said Lynwood Unified Superintendent
Gudiel Crosthwaite. “We are proud that
he has won the Edison honor, keeping the
scholarship in the Lopez family and in
Lynwood’s.”
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