This last month, students from all of our high school sites took part in the HUSD Mock Interview Competition. Student participants were interviewed by a panel and asked to reflect on both their experiences and their plans for the future. Workshops were also provided to prepare students for future career opportunities and inspire them to aim high with their goals!
Congratulations to the overall competition winners, as well as the winners from each site:
Overall:
1st - Destiny Diaz Ocampo (Hemet High School)
2nd - Emily Alcauter (Tahquitz High School)
3rd - Melanie Gomez (West Valley High School)
West Valley High School:
1st - Camila Lopez
2nd - Elaina Myers
3rd - Lovelle Harris (unavailable for photo)
Hemet High School:
1st - Katelyn Engel
2nd - Nadeisha Melendez
3rd - Jessica Torres
Tahquitz High School
1st - Jerimiah Gonzalez
2nd - Angela Higuera
3rd - Adrian Montes
Western Center Academy
1st - Riley George
2nd - Emma Wright
3rd - Camila Gutierrez
Hamilton Secondary School:
1st - David Carranza
2nd - Joey Rayas
3rd - Alex Flores Lopez
Academy of Innovation:
1st - Yahaira Ochoa
2nd - Jackeline Carillo Salas
3rd - Nadia Trapp
Alessandro High School:
1st - Jennah Ramirez
2nd - Emily Valdivieso
3rd - Moses Ortega Pineda
Congratulations to the overall competition winners, as well as the winners from each site:
Overall:
1st - Destiny Diaz Ocampo (Hemet High School)
2nd - Emily Alcauter (Tahquitz High School)
3rd - Melanie Gomez (West Valley High School)
West Valley High School:
1st - Camila Lopez
2nd - Elaina Myers
3rd - Lovelle Harris (unavailable for photo)
Hemet High School:
1st - Katelyn Engel
2nd - Nadeisha Melendez
3rd - Jessica Torres
Tahquitz High School
1st - Jerimiah Gonzalez
2nd - Angela Higuera
3rd - Adrian Montes
Western Center Academy
1st - Riley George
2nd - Emma Wright
3rd - Camila Gutierrez
Hamilton Secondary School:
1st - David Carranza
2nd - Joey Rayas
3rd - Alex Flores Lopez
Academy of Innovation:
1st - Yahaira Ochoa
2nd - Jackeline Carillo Salas
3rd - Nadia Trapp
Alessandro High School:
1st - Jennah Ramirez
2nd - Emily Valdivieso
3rd - Moses Ortega Pineda
The Tahquitz Titans' Football Team is off to the CIF-SS Division 10 Championship game! After an exciting win over Santa Monica High School (41 - 35), Tahquitz will be playing HIllcrest High School this Saturday, November 29th at 7 PM at Norte Vista High School. Support the team before they depart at 3:45 PM by lining up on Titan Way.
Ramona Elementary is proud to Recognize Mr. Gruntz as their Employee of Excellence!
Mr. Gruntz is an exceptional educator who consistently goes above and beyond for the Ramona Elementary community. In addition to providing an engaging and positive PE program for our students, he is the go-to person for scheduling and supports our school with remarkable organization and reliability. He leads our annual Spelling Bee and coordinates our largest school-wide event, the Ramona Fun Run, ensuring both are meaningful and memorable experiences for students and families.
Deeply respected by his colleagues, Mr. Gruntz is an irreplaceable member of the Ramona Elementary team, and we are proud to recognize him as an Employee of Excellence.
Mr. Gruntz is an exceptional educator who consistently goes above and beyond for the Ramona Elementary community. In addition to providing an engaging and positive PE program for our students, he is the go-to person for scheduling and supports our school with remarkable organization and reliability. He leads our annual Spelling Bee and coordinates our largest school-wide event, the Ramona Fun Run, ensuring both are meaningful and memorable experiences for students and families.
Deeply respected by his colleagues, Mr. Gruntz is an irreplaceable member of the Ramona Elementary team, and we are proud to recognize him as an Employee of Excellence.
Western Center Academy is proud to recognize Rebecca Shefchik and Kaitlyn Chadwick as Employees of Excellence!
Western Center Academy celebrates the outstanding work of Rebecca Shefchik and Kaitlyn Chadwick, a strong partnership in our math department whose efforts have strengthened learning across both middle and high school. Their commitment to student success shows in the range of courses they teach and the support they provide to students and colleagues.
Mrs. Shefchik teaches Geometry, AP Computer Science Principles, and STEM Engineering. She guides students through hands-on projects that build problem-solving skills and introduce them to real applications of computer science and engineering. Her work expands opportunities for students and helps them develop confidence in advanced STEM pathways.
Ms. Chadwick supports student learning in several areas as well. She teaches Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, multimedia, and college-level math courses on campus, and she leads our middle school yearbook program. Her attention to detail, clear communication, and steady support help students develop strong technical and creative skills.
Together, they recently organized and hosted a regional math competition that brought students from across Riverside County to our campus. Their leadership, planning, and commitment made the event a success and helped raise the profile of mathematics at WCA.
Rebecca Shefchik and Kaitlyn Chadwick bring dedication, creativity, and a student-centered approach to everything they do. Their partnership strengthens our programs, and their contributions make a meaningful impact on our Mammoth Herd.
Thank you, Rebecca and Kaitlyn, for your hard work and for the difference you make every day.
Western Center Academy celebrates the outstanding work of Rebecca Shefchik and Kaitlyn Chadwick, a strong partnership in our math department whose efforts have strengthened learning across both middle and high school. Their commitment to student success shows in the range of courses they teach and the support they provide to students and colleagues.
Mrs. Shefchik teaches Geometry, AP Computer Science Principles, and STEM Engineering. She guides students through hands-on projects that build problem-solving skills and introduce them to real applications of computer science and engineering. Her work expands opportunities for students and helps them develop confidence in advanced STEM pathways.
Ms. Chadwick supports student learning in several areas as well. She teaches Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, multimedia, and college-level math courses on campus, and she leads our middle school yearbook program. Her attention to detail, clear communication, and steady support help students develop strong technical and creative skills.
Together, they recently organized and hosted a regional math competition that brought students from across Riverside County to our campus. Their leadership, planning, and commitment made the event a success and helped raise the profile of mathematics at WCA.
Rebecca Shefchik and Kaitlyn Chadwick bring dedication, creativity, and a student-centered approach to everything they do. Their partnership strengthens our programs, and their contributions make a meaningful impact on our Mammoth Herd.
Thank you, Rebecca and Kaitlyn, for your hard work and for the difference you make every day.
West Valley High School is proud to recognize Frank Urquiza as their Employee of Excellence!
Mr. Urquiza is a steady, reliable presence on our campus and consistently goes above and beyond to support our teachers in a wide range of needs. His leadership and commitment were especially evident in his major role coordinating the Destination High Performance visit, an event that proved highly successful thanks in large part to his effort and organization.
Mr. Urquiza is a natural leader who can always be counted on to step in for the benefit of our students. His dedication strengthens our school community every day. We are truly fortunate to have him at West Valley High Schoo!
Mr. Urquiza is a steady, reliable presence on our campus and consistently goes above and beyond to support our teachers in a wide range of needs. His leadership and commitment were especially evident in his major role coordinating the Destination High Performance visit, an event that proved highly successful thanks in large part to his effort and organization.
Mr. Urquiza is a natural leader who can always be counted on to step in for the benefit of our students. His dedication strengthens our school community every day. We are truly fortunate to have him at West Valley High Schoo!
Hamilton High proudly recognizes Math Teacher Jennifer Halstead as an Employee of Excellence!
Hamilton High recognizes Jennifer Halstead as an Employee of Excellence. Jennifer has been serving Hemet Unified for seventeen years now and brings with her continued curiosity and adaptability to the ever-changing world of education. We are grateful to Jennifer for her unwavering dedication to continually adapting and improving her practice, most recently through her engagement with Classroom Improvement PDSA cycles. Jennifer upholds high expectations for our students and provides appropriate scaffolding to ensure that students meet academic standards. Ms. Halstead is dedicated to our students not only through her instruction but also as Club Advisor for National Honor Society which hosts Blood Drives at our site and actively engages in other acts of community service. She also volunteers consistently at our football games and is always willing to participate in school activities such as pep rallies. Thank you, Jennifer, for your professionalism and for being the embodiment of HUSD’s Mission and Vision. You truly embrace, educate, and empower our students!
Hamilton High recognizes Jennifer Halstead as an Employee of Excellence. Jennifer has been serving Hemet Unified for seventeen years now and brings with her continued curiosity and adaptability to the ever-changing world of education. We are grateful to Jennifer for her unwavering dedication to continually adapting and improving her practice, most recently through her engagement with Classroom Improvement PDSA cycles. Jennifer upholds high expectations for our students and provides appropriate scaffolding to ensure that students meet academic standards. Ms. Halstead is dedicated to our students not only through her instruction but also as Club Advisor for National Honor Society which hosts Blood Drives at our site and actively engages in other acts of community service. She also volunteers consistently at our football games and is always willing to participate in school activities such as pep rallies. Thank you, Jennifer, for your professionalism and for being the embodiment of HUSD’s Mission and Vision. You truly embrace, educate, and empower our students!
Dartmouth Knights are honored to highlight Mr. Cesar Duran as their Employee of Excellence!
Cesar Duran is a truly exceptional member of the Dartmouth team and an embodiment of our commitment to excellence. As a team player, Cesar consistently demonstrates a willingness to lend a hand and go above and beyond for his colleagues and the organization. His strong work ethic and dedication have been evident and recognized in his career growth. He started on the night shift for a year and a half and he quickly moved to a mid-shift custodian role.
A hard worker and an all-around great asset, Cesar also brings the valuable discipline and commitment honed during his six years of service in the Air Force. He is a reliable, dedicated, and high-performing employee who contributes significantly to the success and positive culture of Dartmouth Middle School. We are proud to call him a Knight!
Cesar Duran is a truly exceptional member of the Dartmouth team and an embodiment of our commitment to excellence. As a team player, Cesar consistently demonstrates a willingness to lend a hand and go above and beyond for his colleagues and the organization. His strong work ethic and dedication have been evident and recognized in his career growth. He started on the night shift for a year and a half and he quickly moved to a mid-shift custodian role.
A hard worker and an all-around great asset, Cesar also brings the valuable discipline and commitment honed during his six years of service in the Air Force. He is a reliable, dedicated, and high-performing employee who contributes significantly to the success and positive culture of Dartmouth Middle School. We are proud to call him a Knight!
It is with great pleasure that we recognize Itamar Leon as Little Lake’s Employee of Excellence.
As one of our resident substitute teachers, she has consistently demonstrated remarkable dedication and flexibility. On the Friday before the start of the school year, she was asked to help open a brand-new Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class and without hesitation, she came right in to get the classroom ready for students. From day one, she has been absolutely phenomenal with her TK students, creating a nurturing and caring classroom environment where every child feels valued and supported. She comes well-prepared each day, brings engaging lessons to life, and thoughtfully attends to the individual needs of her students. Beyond her classroom work, she has gone above and beyond by assisting with report cards and parent-teacher conferences, always maintaining a positive attitude and a deep commitment to our school community. We are truly grateful for her hard work and dedication to our students this school year.
Thank you, Ms. Leon, for all you have done for our Little Lake Lions this year! You are making a positive difference in the lives of our students.
As one of our resident substitute teachers, she has consistently demonstrated remarkable dedication and flexibility. On the Friday before the start of the school year, she was asked to help open a brand-new Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class and without hesitation, she came right in to get the classroom ready for students. From day one, she has been absolutely phenomenal with her TK students, creating a nurturing and caring classroom environment where every child feels valued and supported. She comes well-prepared each day, brings engaging lessons to life, and thoughtfully attends to the individual needs of her students. Beyond her classroom work, she has gone above and beyond by assisting with report cards and parent-teacher conferences, always maintaining a positive attitude and a deep commitment to our school community. We are truly grateful for her hard work and dedication to our students this school year.
Thank you, Ms. Leon, for all you have done for our Little Lake Lions this year! You are making a positive difference in the lives of our students.
The West Valley Girls Volleyball Team has officially advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 7 Finals this Saturday night, where they’ll face Cate High School for WV's first Girls Volleyball CIF championship game in school history! In Saturday’s semifinals, the Mustangs were unstoppable — sweeping Elsinore (25-22, 25-14, 25-17) for the third time this season!
Hemet Unified deeply appreciates the generosity and commitment of our valued community partners. Your ongoing support plays a vital role in enriching educational experiences and empowering every student to thrive. #TheHUSDway #HUSD #HemetUnified #Generosity
Jacob Wiens Proudly Recognizes Reading Intervention Teacher Adriana Acero as their Employee of Excellence!
Jacob Wiens is proud to recognize Adriana Acero as our Employee of Excellence. As our Reading Intervention Teacher and English Language Coordinator, Ms. Acero consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication to student success. Her passion for literacy and language development is evident in the intensive reading support she provides and the leadership she shows in promoting student growth and confidence.
Ms. Acero goes above and beyond to support all learners, especially our English Language Learners. She leads our Newcomer group with care and enthusiasm, helping new students feel welcomed and supported. She also plays a key role in organizing and communicating information for ELPAC testing, ensuring a smooth process for staff and families. Ms. Acero’s professionalism, compassion, and commitment make her an invaluable member of the Jacob Wiens team.
Jacob Wiens is proud to recognize Adriana Acero as our Employee of Excellence. As our Reading Intervention Teacher and English Language Coordinator, Ms. Acero consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication to student success. Her passion for literacy and language development is evident in the intensive reading support she provides and the leadership she shows in promoting student growth and confidence.
Ms. Acero goes above and beyond to support all learners, especially our English Language Learners. She leads our Newcomer group with care and enthusiasm, helping new students feel welcomed and supported. She also plays a key role in organizing and communicating information for ELPAC testing, ensuring a smooth process for staff and families. Ms. Acero’s professionalism, compassion, and commitment make her an invaluable member of the Jacob Wiens team.
College shaped their story. Now they help students write theirs!#CollegeKickoff #CKO2025 #FutureReady
Our principals once sat where students do now — dreaming big and aiming higher. #CollegeKickoff #CKO2025 #HUSDLeaders
Hemet Unified deeply appreciates the generosity and commitment of our valued community partners. Your ongoing support plays a vital role in enriching educational experiences and empowering every student to thrive. #TheHUSDway #HUSD #HemetUnified #Generosity
Behind every strong school is a leader who values learning. #CollegeKickoff #CKO2025 #HUSDProud
Learning never stops — just ask our school leaders! #CollegeKickoff #CKO2025 #HUSDLeaders
Hemet Unified deeply appreciates the generosity and commitment of our valued community partners. Your ongoing support plays a vital role in enriching educational experiences and empowering every student to thrive. #TheHUSDway #HUSD #HemetUnified #Generosity
Cottonwood School is proud to recognize Melyssa Gonzales, Middle School SAI teacher, as an Employee of Excellence!
Cottonwood has had the pleasure of working with Melyssa both as an instructional aide and now as a teacher, and we could not be more proud of her professional growth. A former Alder Resident Student Teacher, she has demonstrated an inspiring commitment to excellence and continuous learning.
Melyssa is actively involved in teacher-led clubs and consistently goes above and beyond her daily responsibilities. She builds students’ confidence, fosters their success, and creates a welcoming classroom environment where every scholar feels supported. Her energy, positivity, and genuine care for others make her a shining example of dedication and leadership.
Whether offering a safe space for students during emotional moments or collaborating with colleagues, Melyssa’s warmth, organization, and professionalism enrich our entire school community. We are grateful for all she does!
Cottonwood has had the pleasure of working with Melyssa both as an instructional aide and now as a teacher, and we could not be more proud of her professional growth. A former Alder Resident Student Teacher, she has demonstrated an inspiring commitment to excellence and continuous learning.
Melyssa is actively involved in teacher-led clubs and consistently goes above and beyond her daily responsibilities. She builds students’ confidence, fosters their success, and creates a welcoming classroom environment where every scholar feels supported. Her energy, positivity, and genuine care for others make her a shining example of dedication and leadership.
Whether offering a safe space for students during emotional moments or collaborating with colleagues, Melyssa’s warmth, organization, and professionalism enrich our entire school community. We are grateful for all she does!
Our leaders are proof that education opens doors. Join us in celebrating their college journeys! #CollegeKickoff #CKO2025 #HUSDLeaders #InspireStudents
Harmony Elementary School is proud to recognize Literacy Specialist Tessa Jennings as their Employee of Excellence!
Harmony is delighted to name Tessa Jennings as our Employee of Excellence. As an outstanding Literacy Specialist, her work is defined by an unwavering passion for student learning and a profound commitment to teacher growth. Tessa is highly knowledgeable about best instructional practices, routinely showcasing this expertise through impactful model lessons, co-teaching, and effective coaching of our staff. She consistently goes above and beyond to support the team, demonstrating remarkable flexibility and a positive, adaptable spirit.
Exemplifying Embrace, Educate, Empower across the board, Tessa builds strong relationships with everyone through her friendly, compassionate, and kind demeanor. Thank you for all you do Tessa!
Harmony is delighted to name Tessa Jennings as our Employee of Excellence. As an outstanding Literacy Specialist, her work is defined by an unwavering passion for student learning and a profound commitment to teacher growth. Tessa is highly knowledgeable about best instructional practices, routinely showcasing this expertise through impactful model lessons, co-teaching, and effective coaching of our staff. She consistently goes above and beyond to support the team, demonstrating remarkable flexibility and a positive, adaptable spirit.
Exemplifying Embrace, Educate, Empower across the board, Tessa builds strong relationships with everyone through her friendly, compassionate, and kind demeanor. Thank you for all you do Tessa!
