Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Irvine Unified honors classified employees, student board members and highlights AVID expansion
Summary
The Irvine Unified School District board honored five classified employees of the year, recognized outgoing student board members and heard an AVID program report showing growth to 14 secondary schools and 384 students this year, with plans to expand further in 2025–26.
The Irvine Unified School District Board of Education on May 20 honored five classified employees of the year and recognized the district’s five outgoing student board members, while receiving an update on the AVID college-and-career readiness program.
The board and CSEA chapter leaders presented awards to Jennifer Martinez (instructional assistant, Bridal Elementary), Aishwarya Tia Garajan (special‑education instructional aide, Portola Springs), Ken Kafton (print services, maintenance & operations), Monica Yang (college and career technician, Portola High School) and Brett Burda (administrative assistant, IT). "Tonight we gather to celebrate the unsung heroes of our educational system," Gus Salamantes, chapter president, said as he described the nomination and reference‑check process used to select five honorees from more than 60 nominees.
Why it matters: Board members and district leaders said the recognitions underscore the role classified staff play in daily operations — from supporting special education students to keeping campuses safe and maintaining technology — and noted the district’s classified workforce exceeds 2,000 employees.
AVID expansion and student testimonials: Keith and Jenny Tai, AVID district director, reported that AVID began in IUSD as a pilot in 2022–23 and has expanded to 14 secondary sites this school year with 384 students enrolled in 19 added elective sections; the district plans to add Solis Park in 2025–26 to bring the program to 15 secondary schools. Tai said several sites earned AVID certification and that student and parent surveys show measurable gains in confidence and study skills. "AVID has pushed me to become a person who knows better time management and how to study," student Leila Ohtani said during the presentation.
Student board members: The board recognized student representatives who are leaving their posts after the school year. The group included Chloe Tsai (University High School), Zaire Omar (Northwood High School), Charlotte Pham (Woodbridge High School), Kobe Tran (Portola High School) and Ishaan Gaikwad (Irvine High School). Members spoke about leadership lessons and the value of student voice; several announced college plans and successors.
District context and next steps: Superintendent Parham used the report to reiterate district priorities tied to student well‑being and programming, noting Mental Health Awareness Month and classified appreciation week. AVID leaders said they will continue site expansion and monitoring; the board did not vote on AVID funding during the meeting, and the program’s continued scale-up will depend on routine budget and staffing decisions in coming months.
Credits and details: The award nominations were vetted by a selection committee including last year’s classified employees of the year and CSEA representatives; the district and board encouraged community members to nominate employees in future cycles. AVID statistics reported to the board: 384 students in 19 added sections this school year; three schools earned AVID certified site status; planned expansion to include Solis Park for 2025–26.
