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Northgate HS students in teacher Meg Honey's U.S. History class collected donations to benefit Eaton wildfire victims in the Altadena area, which they have learned was one of the first Black middle class neighborhoods that residents of the deep South migrated to in the 1920s as they sought to escape from oppressions of Jim Crow laws.

The students supported the Altadena Girls effort, started by a 14-year-old girl, which went viral on Instagram. The class effort culminated on Monday, Jan. 20 - the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Action - when Honey and some of her students and community volunteers packed up items collected and shipped them to the Altadena Girls. As of Friday, the class had collected about 15 moving boxes full of items requested, along with $3,000 in donations and a pledge from an anonymous donor who has offered to pay for all the shipping costs. Honey, overcome by the outpouring of generosity, was moved to tears, as she spearheaded the effort, which her students wholeheartedly embraced as a way to give back to the California community. Honey invited community members to support the project on social media posts. 

Students Airah Pozas, Babak Okhrayi, Anna Murgescu, Adam Novik, Samara Spiker and Kaley Nguyen said they wanted to help after they learned about the damage done to the Altadena neighborhood. 

Airah said she tried to imagine what it was like for the teens affected by the fires and that some of the items they put on their wish list were things that she would also want if she had lost everything. Babak and Adam, who are part of the school's Leadership class, said they view this project as another way to serve the greater community and it was especially meaningful on the MLK Jr. Day of Service. Babak said he donated a hoodie and some school supplies. 

Anna said students have learned about the Great Migration and that packing up the items on Monday was a great way to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy. Adam said Northgate fosters a strong sense of community service in its clubs and in its "If I could change the world" projects. "Giving back is part of what a lot of students do here," he said, adding that this project was significant since it tied in with what they had learned about the Great Migration and discrimination in U.S. history. Samara said she knows people who have had to evacuate due to the wildfires, which inspired her to want to help. And Kaley said she appreciated the opportunity to act on what they have been learning in class. "It's good to be able to put it into perspective and give to people who really need something," she said. 

Update: Here is a Facebook post from Honey showing the group's work on Monday, Jan. 20, which says:

"Today, hundreds of beautiful, new items were sorted, organized, and packed into fifteen huge boxes bound for Altadena.

A wonderful and community care focused day to support our friends in Southern California and to honor Dr. King’s legacy.

"Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’. - Dr. King, 1957"

Northgate HS U.S. History Teacher Meg Honey shows the Great Migration from the South to Los Angeles to her class (above left); students Airah Pozas, Anna Murgescu and Babak Okhravi hold items to benefit Altadena wildfire victims (above center); students sort items to be packed (above right)

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter includes:

• “Supporting Our Immigrant Families: Resource of the Week" - Immigration Forum on January 25 in Pittsburg,
• Northgate High School U.S. History students supporting the Altadena Girls project to help Eaton wildfire victims in the predominantly Black Altadena neighborhood, a community tied to their studies of the “Great Migration” 
• Updates on the recent AAPAC MLK Day celebration and details about the upcoming Farsi Heritage Language listening session on January 30;
• Hidden Valley Elementary School earned an Eco Award from the City of Martinez for its exceptional waste reduction efforts;
• School, student, and staff highlights from across the District shared on social media;
• And more!

You can read it here.

This week's Friday Letter spotlights:

• The 8th grade Career Technical Education (CTE) fair at Riverview MS,
• Student news including MDUSD football athletes recognized by Bay Area News Group, as well as MDHS girls basketball players highlighted by West Coast Preps,
• School news including the Second Annual Pozolada at Shore Acres Elementary is a success; and Northgate High School's nutritious meals and Girls Flag Football program are highlighted in a recent Diablo Magazine article focused on student wellness,
• Staff news highlighting Bay Area News Group's Honorable Mention for Ygnacio Valley HS Football Coach Rae Jackson Sr. in its HS football Coaches of the Year recognition,
• School Social Media Highlights from Gregory Gardens, Monte Gardens, Rio Vista and Fair Oaks elementary schools; Oak Grove, Pine Hollow and Sequoia middle schools; and College Now, Concord HS, Mt. Diablo HS and Olympic HS;
• Staff social media highlights spotlighting Technology Integration Leaders at Bel Air Elementary, College Park HS, Delta View Elementary, Foothill MS, Oak Grove MS, Valhalla Elementary, Westwood Elementary and Wren Avenue Elementary;
• And more!

You can read it here.

Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent the following message to the MDUSD Community on Jan. 9, 2025:

Dear Mt. Diablo Unified School District Community,

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to keep you informed about an important process underway in our District: the collective bargaining negotiations between the Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) and the Mt. Diablo Education Association (MDEA).

Collective bargaining is a collaborative process through which we negotiate the terms of employment contracts, including salaries, benefits, working conditions, and other topics that directly impact our educators and students. 

To keep our community informed, we have created a dedicated webpage on the MDUSD website “Human Resources / Labor Relations” tab where you can follow the progress of these negotiations. Click here:  Labor Relations. The page includes:

• Updates from bargaining sessions

• Contracts and proposals

• Important documents related to the process

We encourage you to visit this page regularly to stay updated on this important work. Negotiations are often complex and can take time, as both parties work together to reach agreements that balance the needs of our teachers, students, and District resources.

We understand that clear communication is vital during this process, and we are committed to keeping you updated every step of the way. Please visit our website regularly to stay informed and engaged.

Thank you for your support and engagement. We will continue to provide updates as the process progresses.

Thank you, 

Dr. Adam Clark

Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent the following message to the MDUSD community on Jan. 8, 2025:

Dear Students, Families, and Staff of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District,

I am writing to you today to reaffirm Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s unwavering commitment to equity in our schools, specifically within our athletic programs. As a School District, we must ensure that every student, regardless of gender, has access to the resources, facilities, and opportunities they need to succeed and thrive.

This letter comes in the wake of a settlement agreed upon between the District and a class of female students addressing disparities under Title IX at College Park High School. The findings that led to this agreement highlight unacceptable inequities that have persisted for far too long. On behalf of the District, I want to sincerely apologize for these failures and assure you that we are committed to rectifying them.

As part of this settlement and beyond the settlement, the District is committed to ensuring fairness and equity across all of our high school athletic programs. Accordingly, the District is and will be instituting the following:

1. Equal access to athletic facilities, equipment, and scheduling for boys’ and girls’ teams.

2. Renovations to ensure parity in locker rooms, fields, and training facilities at CPHS by 2027.

3. Annual surveys to identify and increase athletic participation based on student interest.

4. Ensuring prime game times and equitable publicity for all sports teams.

5. Centralized scheduling and monitoring by a Title IX Coordinator to uphold compliance.

6. A comprehensive policy to oversee booster clubs, ensuring funds are distributed equitably.

We are already taking proactive steps to implement these changes, including instituting consistent and equitable practices across all District schools. A Title IX Consultant will help guide our compliance efforts, and we are working closely with not only College Park but all of our high schools to begin improvements immediately. These actions are just the beginning of our work to address inequities and strengthen equity across all schools in our District.

Athletics should serve as a platform for empowerment and growth, and we are committed to promoting an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and able to reach their fullest potential.

We invite you to stay informed about our progress as we implement these reforms. Updates will be shared regularly on the District’s website. Together, we can ensure that all students in MDUSD have access to the opportunities they deserve.

Thank you for your continued support as we work to create a more equitable future for our students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Clark

Shore Acres Elementary Counselor (Consejera) Marcie Torres is excited to share that the school's 2nd Annual "Pozolada" held on Friday, Dec. 20th, was a huge success!

"This event started off as an idea last year, and now is an anticipated tradition organized by Shore Acres' Noon Supervisors, Estela Mojica and Lily Herenandez," Marcie said. It included a Pozole contest in which 13 families and staff members brought pots of pozole to share with the community that were rated by 20 judges.

Pozole is a traditional Mexican stew/soup made with meat and hominy that is typically eaten at celebrations and holidays, Marcie explained. "There are different variations of Pozoles such as Pozole Blanco (white), Verde (green), and Rojo (red), which can also be made with different meats."

People from different regions of Mexico make pozole differently, which gives each version unique flavors, along with special family touches "that can be passed down from generations," Marcie continued. "The overall favorite was a red pozole made by parent Maria Orozco, who was declared the 2024 Queen of Pozole." 

The event also included desserts, a Mexican Band playing music, and toys for every child that attended, Marcie said.

Lily shared that this event is special because the entire community came together to make it happen. This included teachers and staff donating toys for the children and setting up the event, parents helping with decorations and serving food, and Contra Costa Sheriffs also donating toys and bikes.

It's important to have these types of events, Lily added, "since we get to share our culture and traditions to celebrate and bring together our school and community."

The 2025-2026 California Teacher of the Year Program is now open and seeks nomination of pre- kindergarten through grade 12 teachers, including adult education teachers if they are providing instruction in the same curriculum as those who teach in elementary or secondary grades. Teachers who have some administrative responsibilities are also eligible; however, teaching must be their primary responsibility.

The California Teacher of the Year Program actively encourages applicants that fully represent the diverse ethnic and cultural composition of our state’s teaching force, as well as of its varied geographical settings. Teachers are eligible to go on to county, state, and national competition. The program seeks teachers with exemplary personal growth, commitment, personal attitude, and professional skills.

The California Teacher of the Year Program celebrates and pays special tribute to the tireless efforts of our state's outstanding teachers. In doing so, the program brings well-deserved recognition to the whole teaching profession.

The state program’s goals are to:

● identify and honor outstanding teachers throughout California within a structure of local, regional, and statewide recognition activities;

● select, for special commendation and responsibility, teachers who will effectively represent California teachers during the year, speaking for, energizing, and symbolizing the positive contributions of the teaching profession statewide;

● focus attention on the positive accomplishments of students and teachers throughout California

● emphasize maintaining and improving student achievement.

Within this context, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District is seeking nominations of outstanding educators from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and adult education to be Teacher of the Year. Two teachers will be selected as the Teacher of the Year and will be eligible to represent the district in the County Teacher of the Year competition.

As a member of our district staff, or as a student, parent or community member, you are cordially invited to nominate one or more teachers for this award. Once nominated, teachers will be invited to complete a brief questionnaire. The responses will be evaluated by a panel of district representatives and community members, who will then recommend a smaller number of candidates for submission of a video of their teaching and an interview. Two teachers will be selected to be the Mt. Diablo USD Teachers of the Year and will proceed on to the Contra Costa County Office of Education Teacher of the Year Competition.

Deadline to submit a Teacher of the Year Nomination Form: 12 p.m. Friday, January 10, 2025

Link to Nomination Form
Maestro del Año

At its Dec. 18, 2024 meeting, the MDUSD School Board elected Linda Mayo as President and Cherise Khaund as Vice President. The Board also welcomed newly elected Board Member Tom McDougall, who represents Area 5, along with Area 3 Trustee Keisha Nzewi, who ran for re-election unopposed in November. In addition, the Board appointed Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark as its Secretary.

McDougall and Nzewi took ceremonial Oaths of Office, since Dr. Clark had previously administered their official Oaths of Office on Friday, Dec. 13 to comply with legal requirements. Both were elected to four-year terms.

MDUSD's Governance Team includes (l-r) Board President Linda Mayo, Board Member Debra Mason, Board Member Tom McDougall, Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark (Board Secretary), Board Member Keisha Nzewi, Board Vice President Cherise Khaund, and Student Board Member Crystal Ochoa.