Thornton High School staff delivered a school spotlight to the Jefferson Union board, emphasizing equity, student voice and social-emotional learning approaches the school uses to support students. Principal Dr. Marinko summarized recent progress on the California School Dashboard, improvements in English language arts and math, and graduation rate gains. He framed the school’s mission around equity, growth and community engagement.

The presentation highlighted Thornton’s Remote Independent Study (RIS) program, which the principal said has served close to 500 students since distance learning and currently reports strong graduation rates ("in excess of 80 percent" was stated) and ongoing efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism. The principal explained RIS students are connected at least one day per week in person, use integrated Google Classroom structures to merge in-person and remote cohorts, and participate in ropes courses, field trips and community service to foster social connection.

Erica Lehi, a Thornton senior in RIS, told trustees that the pandemic left her in an academic "dead zone" but that the RIS program and staff supports — counselors, teachers and in-person check-ins — helped her regain footing. "I have felt nothing short of absolute support... they helped me grow," she said, and noted plans to pursue equine therapy and take a gap year after graduating in May.

Trustees praised the presentation and asked for additional data on chronic absenteeism and program outcomes; the principal and staff said they would provide further metrics in follow-up reporting.

Next steps: trustees encouraged continued data reporting and invited colleagues to Thornton events, including a culminating "Feast of Resistance" on Dec. 19.