Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recognitions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board highlights student spelling‑bee champions and teacher honored as Presidential Award finalist
Summary
The board recognized student Victoria Lee (national spelling bee participant) and Viviana Penaloza (CNUSD’s first Spanish spelling bee champion) and honored teacher Scott Yakabowski as a California finalist for the 2025 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching; dozens of new administrators and principals were introduced.
The board set aside time to introduce roughly 22 new administrators, principals and district leaders and to recognize student and teacher achievements.
District leaders introduced a long list of hires by name and role (examples include Tracy Taylor, assistant principal at Wilson Elementary; Jasmine Nol, assistant principal at River Heights Intermediate; Miguel Velasquez, Director One Business Services). Board members and the executive cabinet welcomed the new staff and family members were frequently invited to stand and be acknowledged.
The board also recognized student Victoria Lee (Rondo School of Discovery) for winning the CNUSD district spelling bee and for advancing to the National Spelling Bee in Maryland; Victoria described the word that eliminated her ("obligate") and thanked teachers and family supports. The district also celebrated Viviana Penaloza as CNUSD’s first Spanish spelling bee champion, who represented CNUSD at the national Spanish spelling bee in Albuquerque.
Separately, Scott Yakabowski, a math teacher at Auburndale Intermediate, was recognized as one of five California finalists for the 2025 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Ryan Garcia, principal, introduced Yakabowski and highlighted 15 years of teaching and departmental leadership.
Why it matters: Recognitions showcase district academic and extracurricular successes and highlight personnel the district expects to rely on during the school year; introductions of new leaders are material for school communities who will interact with these administrators.
What’s next: New hires will assume duties at their assigned sites and the district plans to formally introduce recently appointed classified management (David Meade) in open session at the next meeting.
