As the Hemet Unified School District prepares to welcome students back for the 2025-26 school year, the summer months have been filled with meaningful professional development opportunities across all departments. These trainings and meetings are more than just a seasonal routine - they are a critical part of aligning teams, reinforcing the district’s shared vision, and ensuring every staff member is equipped to support student success from day one. By bringing staff together to learn, collaborate, and strategize, HUSD is laying the foundation for a cohesive, safe and engaging learning environment for all students.
One of the most impactful gatherings this summer was the three-day Leadership Colloquium held in July, which brought together Directors, Principals, and Assistant principals to kick-off the 2025-2026 school year. The event featured several inspiring speakers, including Superintendent Dr. Christi Barrett, who delivered a vision-setting keynote as well as Jeff Oldfield, PhD, who discussed the future of AI in Education. With a focus on collaboration, clarity, and leadership, the colloquium provided leaders with the tools and insights needed to drive success for the year ahead.
On July 25th, the Transportation Department hosted its annual symposium, offering bus drivers and transportation staff critical updates and training. The agenda included behavior de-escalation strategies, driver safety protocols, and an open forum for team members to connect directly with the district cabinet—including the superintendent and all assistant superintendents. The symposium emphasized not only operational readiness but also the essential role transportation staff play in building positive relationships with students and families.
The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) also hosted its annual training. More than 260 staff members came together on Wednesday, August 6th to explore key topics such as personality styles and effective communication, a “Connection Counts” workshop centered on improving student attendance and recovery efforts, and a deep dive into collaboration and daily huddles. These huddles—brief 15-minute meetings involving key site staff—are a districtwide initiative designed to identify and proactively address emerging safety or behavioral concerns.
To further enhance campus safety, the Security Department also held a critical training on Friday, August 8, for all Campus Security Officers (CSOs), School Resource Officers (SROs), and representatives from Hemet Police Department and Riverside County Sheriff's Office, who collaborated to facilitate this important training. The training will cover arrest procedures, safety protocols, and a refresher on the EVOLV Safety System, a state-of-the-art weapons detection solution that has been implemented at all secondary school sites. These sessions underscore the district’s ongoing commitment to ensuring safe and welcoming environments for every student and staff member.
As we move into the 2025–26 school year, these professional development opportunities have equipped our staff with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to continue providing a safe, supportive, and high-quality learning environment for all students. By investing in staff’s growth and fostering collaboration across departments, we ensure that Hemet Unified School District is prepared to meet the challenges of the coming year. Together, we will continue to build on our successes and work toward an even brighter future for our students, families, and community.