Azusa Unified touts student achievement, internships, safety upgrades and bilingual programs

Arturo Ortega, superintendent of the Azusa Unified School District, told the Board of Education the district closed the school year with awards for career academies, expanded career and technical internships, new safety systems and growth in dual-language instruction.

"Azusa Unified continues to stand out with a steadfast commitment to academic achievement, career readiness, student wellness, and community connection," Ortega said, summarizing the district's priorities as the year ended.

Ortega highlighted Azusa High School's academies, saying the Engineering Academy was honored as a model academy and the Medical Academy received the Wheel Academy of Excellence Award and was featured on Univision for its programming. He told the board Azusa High School students won the Congressional Art Competition first place for the fourth consecutive year and that this year AUSD students claimed the top three awards in the competition.

On career preparation, Ortega said 50 Azusa High School students completed paid internships last summer through the K-twelve Foothill Consortium, the largest number among regional schools. He credited staff members Lori Madden and Patricia Dorsey with coordinating those internships.

Athletics and alternative pathways also drew mention. Ortega said seven Azusa High School teams advanced to California Interscholastic Federation playoffs. He noted Sierra High School was recognized as a model continuation school (one of 31 in the state) and cited the school's undefeated volleyball season and expanded AP offerings.

Facilities and safety investments included new shaded outdoor tables and custom cafeteria furniture. Ortega said the district implemented the Cintegix Safety System to allow any staff member to request assistance or initiate a lockdown with a button press.

On student wellness and family services, Ortega described the district's community schools initiative and said staff hosted three districtwide community circle days focused on team building, restorative practices and social-emotional learning. He said families received on-site flu clinics, dental visits and eye exams that included free prescription glasses, and that the district placed dedicated social workers at every school site.

Ortega also reported expansion of dual-language immersion. He described a Mandarin dual-language kindergarten where students are learning to recognize Chinese characters and read sentences, and noted the district's use of SEAL, a research-based approach to support multilingual learners.

Nutrition services received national attention, Ortega said: AUSD's Monte Cristo sandwich was featured by Share Our Strength during School Breakfast Week and the district placed in the Powered by School Food Professionals Awards for scratch-cooked menu adaptations.

Ortega closed by saying the district had been voted a favorite school district in the San Gabriel Valley for a second consecutive year and that the district remains focused on preparing every student for future success.