Names in the News: Special Edition

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Jordan High School Wins First LBUSD Esports Championship

Jordan High School made history this year by participating in its first LBUSD High School Esports Championship—and bringing home the championship title!

Jordan’s team was composed of three talented freshmen and one senior: Luis Avila, Phillip Rodriguez, Aidan Fuentes, and Daniel Pulido. Their teamwork and competitive spirit led them to an impressive 4–2 victory in a best-of-seven series, with each match lasting five minutes.

The team was led by coaches Amanda Chavez and Mario Vasquez, whose guidance and support were essential throughout the season. Their leadership helped shape and motivate this remarkable group into champions.

We are incredibly proud of our Esports team for their dedication and success. Congratulations to Jordan’s first Esports championship!

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LBUSD Sweeps at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Student Film Festival

The Aquarium of the Pacific hosted its highly anticipated fifth annual High Tide Student Film Festival, where students were challenged to create a short video on selected ocean-themed topics, including Marina Species and Habitats, Ocean Celebrities, and Fish Tales.

The festival included incredible award prizes, featuring a $2,000 Gold Award, a $1,500 Silver Award, a $1,000 Bronze Award, and a $500 Category and Honorable Mention Award.

LBUSD students were standout winners in the competition, ranking in the top three, and received special recognition for their creative visual storytelling.

The list of winners includes:

• Bryan Arteaga (11th grade) from Jordan High School
• Jennifer Cardenas Vidal (12th grade) from Jordan High School
• Emily Raya (11th grade) from Jordan High School
• Keeree Sross (11th grade) from Jordan High School
• Dexter Draggoo (9th grade) from Ernest S. McBride High School
• Oliver Hamilton (9th grade) from Millikan High School
• Braden Mosteig (10th grade) from Long Beach Polytechnic High School
• Xochil Soto Ryan (12th grade) from Long Beach Polytechnic High School
• Mia Dos Santos (11th grade) from Sato Academy of Math & Science

Congratulations to our students for their remarkable accomplishments!

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Advancing Equity in Education: LBUSD Team Presents at CSHA

Long Beach Unified staff members from the Special Education Teaching and Learning Team, Amy Culligan and Laura Gottlieb, recently presented at the California Speech and Language Hearing Association conference. Their engaging presentation was titled “Embracing Dismissal in Public Schools: A Framework for Exiting Students.”

Culligan and Gottlieb's work is focused on ensuring that students are included in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The presentation addressed the eligibility and dismissal processes in public schools, using legally defensible assessments. It emphasized the ethical considerations for students with disabilities, the importance of documenting educational impact, and the necessity for special education and related services.

Thank you, Amy Culligan and Laura Gottlieb, for your dedication and for championing our students!

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LBUSD Students Shine at Migrant Debate Tournament

Long Beach Unified School District students at the 2025 Migrant Education State Speech and Debate Tournament were top winners once again!

Out of 31 students representing Los Angeles County, 11 were from LBUSD, with 10 earning top honors, a reflection of their talent, preparation, and determination. Notable highlights include a Jefferson student, who repeated last year’s success by securing 1st Place in Extemporaneous Speech and 2nd Place in Prepared Speech. The high school debate team, with students from Poly, Millikan, Lakewood, and SATO, earned the tournament’s highest recognition: 1st Place, High School Debate State Champions.

In addition to their academic achievements, four LBUSD students competed in the Spanish category, showcasing both their public speaking and bilingual skills. Their performances highlighted the importance of linguistic diversity and cultural pride in education.

We commend all participating students for representing LBUSD with excellence and determination!

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Long Beach Music Teacher, Valerie Vinnard, Named Quarterfinalist for 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award

Cesar Chavez Elementary School music teacher, Valerie Vinnard, has been named a quarterfinalist for the prestigious 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum.

This national award honors exceptional music educators who have made a lasting impact on students and the field of music education. Valerie’s nomination is a testament to her dedication, creativity, and the meaningful influence she has had on her students and school community.

Each year, one recipient is selected from ten finalists and honored during GRAMMY Week in Los Angeles, just days before the GRAMMY Awards. Finalists and semifinalists also receive matching grants for their schools to further support music programs nationwide.

Congratulations to Valerie Vinnard on this incredible recognition!

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2025 Library Bookmark Contest Winners

We’re excited to announce the winners of the 2025 Library Bookmark Contest, held in honor of April’s School Library Month and inspired by the theme “Drawn to the Library.”

Students from across grade levels let their creativity shine as they designed bookmarks that reflect their love for reading and the library.

 The list of winners includes:

• Thiago Moreno, (kindergarten) Longfellow Elementary School.
• Alia Wright, (4th grade) Gant Elementary
• Soleil Erazo, (6th grade) Hughes Middle School
• Yuri Dela Cuesta, (9th grade) Poly High School

A big thank you to our excellent library staff and families who continue to support student creativity and literacy every day!

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Twelve LBUSD Students Selected to Attend Tech Trek STEM Camp

Twelve outstanding LBUSD students have been selected to attend Tech Trek STEM Camp this summer. Tech Trek is a week-long residential camp for seventh grade girls that is held at college campuses throughout California. Six students will attend camp at Whittier College and six will attend at UC Santa Barbara. Students from Bancroft, Hamilton, Hughes, Nelson, and Powell were selected.

The campers will reside in a college dorm for a week and attend a daily STEM class, create group projects, participate in one or more field trips, and interact with female STEM role models. Classes and workshops include aerospace engineering, robotics, neurology, forensics, anatomy, and chemistry. Evening presentations and activities include Women in STEM Careers, College Prep and Planning, and an engineering design group activity.

Tech Trek camperships are paid for through donations from the American Association of University Women (AAUW); there is no cost to the families other than transportation to and from camp.

The Tech Trek program requires that girls (including those who identify as girls) be nominated by their seventh-grade science, math, or technology teachers to apply. Selection is made by their local AAUW Tech Trek committee, based on the student’s application, essay, and interview.

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Sato High School Drone Soccer Team Wins National Championship in Utica, NY

The Sato High School Drone Soccer team has soared to victory, winning the 2025 U.S. Drone Soccer National Championships held at the Skydome in Utica, New York, the nation’s largest indoor anechoic chamber for unmanned aerial vehicle experimentation. The competition brought together the top 24 teams from across the country, all winners of their respective district championships.

In a thrilling final match, Sato High School defeated the defending national champions from Cabrillo High School, in an all-California showdown that showcased the city's growing leadership in drone technology education and innovation. This marks Sato’s second national title, having previously won the championship in 2023.

Under the expert guidance of Coaches Albert and Andrea Gallo, the Sato Mushu team has demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork, and dedication, solidifying their position as a powerhouse in the drone soccer arena. Their consistent performance underscores the strength of Sato Academy’s STEM-focused programs and the students’ commitment to excellence.

Principal of Sato Academy, Ronnie Coleman, extended his congratulations, noting, “The team was fantastic. Their performance exciting but their school spirit in tournament and in victory was extraordinary. They were proud ambassadors for the school. Coach Gallo is a rare talent and his ability to build a winning program is exemplary. He expects discipline and performance and offers care and kindness.  He is crafting skills, disciplines and memories that will remain with these kids forever. Hooray Sato!”

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Council of the Great City Schools Highlights Center of Black Student Excellence

The Council of Great City Schools recently featured the opening of the Center of Black Student Excellence. The celebration and milestone of the grand opening was intended to highlight the center’s mission of honoring and uplifting Black students, culture, and achievements.

The article went on to note Superintendent Dr. Jill Baker’s powerful speech at the event, emphasizing that the Center reflects the hopes and lived experiences of students and families. “This is a direct answer to what students and the community have asked for,” she said. “To the community, you shaped the vision. Your hopes, dreams, and lived experiences brought the Center of Black Student Excellence to life.”

The event also drew national attention, with Ray Hart, Executive Director of the Council of the Great City Schools, praising the Center as “a bold promise” and a signal that Long Beach is investing deeply in equity, identity, and opportunity for all students.

As families and community members toured the new space, attendees were able to view student artwork, powerful quotes, and cultural elements, and the sense of pride was palpable. With support from the district’s Black Student Achievement Initiative Advisory team, the Center of Black Student Excellence stands as a testament to what’s possible when communities are heard, valued, and empowered. Read more here. 

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Port of L.B. Honors LBUSD Students with Scholarships

The Port of Long Beach has awarded nearly $355,000 in scholarships to 190 high schools, including those in the Long Beach Unified School District, for students pursuing education and career pathways in port-related fields such as engineering, environmental science, maritime law, and technical trades.

The scholarships were announced during the Port’s annual Celebrating Education event, which brings together students, educators, policymakers, and business leaders to highlight the Port’s educational initiatives and honor the achievements of participating students.

At the high school level, the Port is launching its third pathway program in collaboration with the Long Beach Unified School District, known as the BEACH Pathway at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Set to begin this fall, the four-year program will enroll 125 students in a curriculum aligned with the Port’s Zero Emissions, Energy Resilient Operations (ZEERO) initiative, providing an incredible resource to LBUSD students.

Congratulations to all our scholarship recipients!

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Phonics in Action: LBUSD as a Model for Literacy Success

In the last few years, LBUSD has quickly become a California success story in utilizing structured phonics learning, making a notable difference in students’ educational advancement.  

Julie Celestial, a teacher at LBUSD, effectively uses the method in her kindergarten classroom, showcasing the benefits of the approach. During a recent lesson, 25 kindergartners gazed at the whiteboard, sounding out the word “bee”, learning the long “e” sound, and blending words such as “Pete” and “cheek”. Words that they’ll soon be able to read in this lesson’s accompanying book

The lesson, simple and effective, is part of a much more significant change. “It’s pretty cool to watch,” Celestial notes. “There’s a lot less reluctant readers and struggling readers because of phonics."

The results speak volumes. In the 2023-24 school year, 78% of Long Beach’s kindergarteners met reading standards—up 13 points from the year before. Proficiency rates for first and second graders now top 70%, while transitional kindergarten is also showing significant advancement. The LBUSD’s goal is to hit 85% proficiency across grades by the end of each school year, aiming for excellence across the district.

What’s been established at Long Beach Unified could soon be emulated across California. As lawmakers consider a landmark bill that would mandate phonics instruction statewide, LBUSD sets an incredible example, making students the clear winners. Read more at LA Times.

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Hughes Middle School Students to Perform at Carnegie Hall

Eighteen talented students from Hughes Middle School are headed to the East Coast to perform Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in D minor at New York’s iconic Carnegie Hall on June 7.

“This experience is going to be timeless for them,” said Harlee Balajadia, who leads the choral program at the Bixby Knolls campus. “It’s going to show them something that can’t be taught within four walls.”

Balajadia, a Long Beach native who has been teaching at Hughes since 2020, said he’s most excited for his students to gain a real-world glimpse into the life of a professional musician.

The Long Beach Unified School District congratulates these outstanding students and wishes them luck as they take the stage at Carnegie Hall! Read more at the Long Beach Post.