[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6592169,"mediaKeyId","2906877-eb34b2b53d1d68f3761d3db5f34f0026","parentId",2906877,"title","Mount Diablo Unified honors Teachers of the Year; two district finalists named for county and state competitions","audioSeconds",1353,"startMs",1816000,"endMs",3169000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906877-eb34b2b53d1d68f3761d3db5f34f0026&start=1816&end=3169","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906877-eb34b2b53d1d68f3761d3db5f34f0026/thumbnail_1816000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6592169/California/Mount-Diablo-Unified-honors-Teachers-of-the-Year-two-district-finalists-named-for-county-and-state-competitions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592169-cb25a549312412859f2495fc95e90914/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985124&Signature=QfA06hMix5A4VBAMppK6fsHntxPMdtiIG8Fcfj-8LvsXP11fF1wBzjT9L96lM~a5aEjlcjjRPnG4IdyV6IVmdn3DvGDHaclNiOdOJyNtHn1jBUUwCWWFFKZ1mX2X~gEaWtC8k85htQ6Sj2xGkzfnvXX-2i7XiBWTHPjC0HLhk552JsxFlA~zFK1xyKFUXTlVshHocA-0d1hSQPhODtgpzr8VsJKrLdQ5TeoDghQfbkUGJb3uyfR1lah-IzPdzxojVzXKX-s2RanrYgGt1vlPohbqt7oGWIsDkdiBI3T2Pqm2ro8Ha2v5mPBhRhnTsO0nF9RlW3-4jYGeKIGUhGrEig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-09T07:30:35.233Z","article","The Mount Diablo Unified School District Board of Education used part of its March 12 meeting to recognize the district’s Teachers of the Year. The board presented awards to multiple finalists and named two teachers to represent the district in county and state-level Teacher of the Year competitions.

Superintendent Clark and board members described the finalists’ accomplishments before calling them forward for remarks and certificates. The district invited finalists from across grade levels and programs. Presentations highlighted classroom experience, leadership roles and community engagement. Among the finalists recognized were Tabitha Box (Ignacio Valley High School), Lisa Cotrone (Concord High School), Veronica Lino Garcia (Cambridge Elementary), Catherine Gates (Pleasant Hill Middle School), Teresa Gutierrez (Meadow Homes Elementary), Ernie Miglana (Sequoia Middle School) and others.

The district announced David Pintado (Mount Diablo High School) and Elizabeth Swanson (Silverwood Elementary School) as the two teachers who will represent Mount Diablo Unified in the county and state Teacher of the Year competitions. Pintado, who holds a medical degree and transitioned to career technical education, was recognized for work in health science and for founding a CPR and first-aid training program that involves students. \"We are here to change the society,\" Pintado said in brief remarks, thanking colleagues and family.

Swanson, a longtime TK teacher at Silverwood with decades of experience, said she plans to continue to advocate for play-based, child-centered early learning and praised her school team. \"I plan to continue to be a proponent of play because we know that when children have advocacy for themselves and their families, we can make changes,\" Swanson said.

Why it matters: Teacher of the Year recognition highlights individual classroom practices and district priorities around instruction, bilingual education and student supports. The selected district representatives will compete in county and state processes that can bring additional recognition to their schools and programs.

What’s next: The district will send its two representatives to the Contra Costa County and California Teacher of the Year competitions; the district also plans to photograph finalists and share their recognition more broadly.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mt. Diablo USD Board Meeting 3/12/2025 Part 2","oneSentenceSummary","At the March 12 board meeting the district honored its Teachers of the Year finalists and announced two teachers who will represent Mount Diablo Unified in county and state competitions: David Pintado and Elizabeth Swanson. The board recognized multiple finalists and presented certificates and gifts.","taxTitle","Mt. Diablo Unified, School Districts, California","taxId",14134,"location","California","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6592173,"Mount Diablo Unified board adopts consent agenda and multiple policy updates; reports two closed-session personnel actions",6123,125000,6248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906877-eb34b2b53d1d68f3761d3db5f34f0026&start=125&end=6248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906877-eb34b2b53d1d68f3761d3db5f34f0026/thumbnail_125000.jpg","/articles/6592173/California/Mount-Diablo-Unified-board-adopts-consent-agenda-and-multiple-policy-updates-reports-two-closed-session-personnel-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592173-417fab01e68464d9d16ccff76c65019f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985124&Signature=otOQfjwuVDnhIsiFnFED5FwWOj2r2fXR720LXnHNDWi46knVCXZ8O4a0~G5rBuFtEUmFQ4oitqNT8tBSsGWTio1CRNQrJ7ElU9x3-Px2VVX6pD1L-jnBcgdLNHqNpZmFRFNIz61ItWo9nI~2Zab-qGxp-ypwHkEPJCuAkDyxmK0tGo8avj3557l400LmnVgrt67TWZc1F7jUVoBEJC3nOWkgzSDnFJDwO8x2iokUlenqWZjwsPaznSRHJnLw2V5p-S7Htf~YWnjkTrjTVTESSZIO34fZOZAdFDyoiLAhSWU8G5Jt6Av8ppuEmC0rzrJ19W~ohDOCHvPxke1eqN-MmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Diablo Unified School District Board of Education took several formal actions at its March 12 meeting, approving minutes, adopting the agenda and consent items, and approving policy revisions. The board also reported two actions taken in closed session.

Minutes and agenda: The board approved the minutes for the Feb. 26, 2025 regular meeting on an oral motion by Trustee Mason with a second by Mr. McDougall; the board recorded unanimous support and the clerk reported a 5-0-0 vote. The agenda for the March 12 meeting was later adopted on a motion by Trustee Kount, seconded by Trustee Mason, and approved unanimously.

Consent agenda and personnel: The board approved the consent agenda on a motion by Trustee Kount with a second from Trustee Mason; the motion passed by a recorded unanimous vote. During the meeting the superintendent reported the closed-session report: under Government Code section 54957(b)(1) the board by a 5-0 vote approved the resignation of one employee pursuant to a separation agreement and, by the same vote, approved the non-reelection of an employee or employees (the transcript did not specify names).

Policy revisions: The board considered and adopted revisions to multiple board policies and administrative regulations listed as items 16.1 and 16.2 on the agenda. On item 16.1 the board approved revisions to BP 4118, BP 4140, BP 4157, BP 4240 and AR 4157 (as presented) on a motion by Trustee Kount with a second by Trustee Mason, and the motion carried 5-0. Item 16.2—a grouped set of additional policy updates—was approved on a motion by Trustee Mason with a second by Trustee McDougall and recorded as a 5-0 vote.

Votes at a glance:
- Approve minutes (02/26/2025): motion by Trustee Mason; second Mr. McDougall; outcome approved; vote 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.
- Adopt agenda (03/12/2025): motion by Trustee Kount; second Trustee Mason; outcome approved; vote 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.
- Approve consent agenda: motion by Trustee Kount; second Trustee Mason; outcome approved; vote 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.
- Approve BP/AR revisions (item 16.1): motion by Trustee Kount; second Trustee Mason; outcome approved; vote 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.
- Approve grouped policy revisions (item 16.2): motion by Trustee Mason; second Trustee McDougall; outcome approved; vote 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

Why it matters: The adopted policies and consent items cover routine district business and governance rules; reporting of closed-session personnel actions fulfills the Brown Act requirement to disclose certain outcomes when allowed. The board recorded unanimous support for the listed actions.

What’s next: Several items listed as first reads (16.3 and 16.4) were presented for information and will return for future consideration, per the agenda notes.","The Mount Diablo Unified School District board on March 12 approved meeting minutes and the consent agenda, adopted board policy revisions, and reported two closed-session personnel actions: one employee resignation by separation agreement and a non-reelection. All votes recorded were unanimous where noted.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6592178,"Teachers, parents and union representatives urge Mount Diablo Unified to restore 10-day parent conferences",341,521000,862000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906877-eb34b2b53d1d68f3761d3db5f34f0026&start=521&end=862","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906877-eb34b2b53d1d68f3761d3db5f34f0026/thumbnail_521000.jpg","/articles/6592178/California/Teachers-parents-and-union-representatives-urge-Mount-Diablo-Unified-to-restore-10-day-parent-conferences","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6592178-b9c63ce9c60441a2c167e052ab10007c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985124&Signature=Q-ROIkQwHburXQgHfgQaFuZFne9zeDQ-yJ4223VWIWRBfMl~39SlPu9Z4rrMQ6IdANqz82~ioiqgz4ow7n0w3Q043oPK3JKxfzPB6cIhm1t5FoZOoldVRhDUHjiZq7wYBiljl90krX9bx87xSdQ5qNq2vCNTsiGVGh10aC-fBtP1neXFGPW~rWqAjwTYGL1ru2phUwO8743XVWjh5mOHe4UgduoiWpdqzRHJElB04pnJdT5SjxxAXck7H7SaBAB1qMXYeubKCU2VI6mPxGeSeI9LEDxBJtouTq8faas5ENPpZLblYhwEeJXNu-HN10T4sAv1~WacQcIsSP~mPXFWDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Mount Diablo Unified School District Board of Education meeting on March 12, multiple teachers, parents and union representatives urged the board and district negotiators to restore 10 days for elementary parent-teacher conferences, saying the current eight-day schedule is insufficient for translation, relationship-building and equitable family engagement.

The comments were made during the public comment period by educators and union leaders who said conferences are often the only face-to-face contact some families have with school staff. \"This way of acting is not collaboration,\" said Alyssa Juarez, identified in her remarks as vice president for Medea, referencing district bargaining over conference scheduling. \"The district's idea of bargaining is to tell Medea what you want and then refuse to accept anything else.\" Juarez said the union surveyed members and that the majority asked for more conference time and a later placement in the year; she said the district has offered no more than eight days and asserted nearby districts do not offer as many conference days as MDUSD.

Several classroom teachers described how eight days constrains meaningful conferences. \"This is our only chance, in most cases, to meet with parents for the entire year,\" said Tricia Collins, a teacher at Silverwood Elementary. She said eight days limits schedules to about 20 minutes per family in back-to-back appointments and that translation for English Learner families typically requires two time slots. \"When I had 10 days, I met with my families for 30 minutes with a 5-minute window between each conference,\" Collins added, saying that structure allowed time for translators and late families.

Teachers from Title I sites stressed translation needs and large caseloads. \"Many of our classes are at capacity,\" said Bev Grafft, a third-grade teacher at Ignacio Valley Elementary. Educator Megan Bramhall said she teaches a dual bilingual first-grade class with a maximum capacity of 62 students and said roughly 50 families requested Spanish conferences, increasing the need for interpreter time. Bramhall also cited data she downloaded from the California Department of Education showing 52 languages in the district.

Sequoia Middle School teacher Brett Haupt framed the issue as one of equity, saying reductions in conference time would disproportionately affect families who need the most teacher contact and translation support. \"It's the parents that do need [the time] who we really need to build those relationships with that will struggle,\" he said.

Union and district-organizational comments broadened the critique. Mrs. Ortega (identified in remarks as speaking on behalf of district organizations) described persistent facilities and operations complaints and reported the district had received 100 HVAC-related working-condition submissions; she also reiterated union bargaining priorities including smaller class sizes, more counselors and more elementary general music teachers. \"What are the district's priorities?\" Ortega asked the board.

Speakers said they sought specific changes in bargaining and direction from the board. The public commenters asked the board to instruct the district negotiator to compromise with hand in hand with teachers' needs for planning, translation and family engagement time.

The board did not take an immediate vote on conference scheduling during this meeting; speakers addressed the board during the public comment period and union representatives said bargaining is ongoing.

The series of public comments also included separate concerns about school leadership at Riverview Middle School and appeals related to cohort placement at Foothill and Northgate, which commenters asked the district to expedite. Those matters were raised as public comment and not the subject of board action at the meeting.

Why it matters: Parent-teacher conferences are a primary family–school communication channel. Teachers and union representatives told the board that reducing conference days would reduce equitable access to translators and meaningful family engagement—issues litigated in bargaining and tied to the district's stated goals for student supports.

What’s next: Speakers asked the board to direct the superintendent or the lead negotiator to consider extending conference days and to address translation capacity and other bargaining priorities in upcoming sessions.","Teachers, parents and union leaders urged the Mount Diablo Unified School District board on March 12 to restore 10 days for elementary parent-teacher conferences, saying eight days does not allow enough time for translation or meaningful discussion, particularly at Title I and high-multilingual sites.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mount Diablo Unified honors Teachers of the Year; two district finalists named for county and state competitions

Mount Diablo Unified board adopts consent agenda and multiple policy updates; reports two closed-session personnel actions

Teachers, parents and union representatives urge Mount Diablo Unified to restore 10-day parent conferences