Hemet Unified School District

Education shapes leaders. Celebrate the college journeys of our HUSD Principals and Assistant Principals! #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

Rancho Viejo Middle School congratulates Shannon Smith on being selected as an Employee of Excellence!

Ms. Smith is a Physical Education (PE) teacher who also serves as the MTSS Coordinator. As a PE Teacher, Ms. Smith always brings enthusiasm and excitement to her classes, making physical education fun for all her students. As the MTSS Coordinator, she works with our support staff to provide additional academic and behavioral support to students. Ms. Smith is a vital part of the Rancho Viejo Team!

Thank you, Ms. Smith, for all you do for our students at Rancho Viejo!

Meet our school leaders! Their paths to higher education inspire us and show our students what’s possible. #CollegeKickoff #CKO2025 #HUSDLeaders

Our school leaders are proof that great things start with education. Celebrate their college journeys with us! #CollegeKickoff #CKO2025 #HUSDLeaders #InspiringSuccess

College Kickoff is here! All month long, students across the district are diving into college and career readiness with fun and meaningful activities! From scavenger hunts and classroom challenges to assemblies, workshops, and bulletin board competitions, students are exploring their futures and taking steps toward post-secondary success.

High school students are completing college applications and FAFSA/CA Dream Act forms, while our middle and elementary schools are learning about careers and exploring college opportunities.

College Kickoff is part of the Riverside County Office of Education Pledge: Every student in Riverside County will graduate prepared for college, the workforce, and civic life.

Let's celebrate our students’ efforts to plan for their futures—one step at a time!

#CollegeKickoff #CKO2025 #CollegeReady #CareerReady #TheHUSDway

Yesterday, at the Hamilton High School Gym, the Hamilton schools held their annual assembly to celebrate California Native American Day. This assembly came together with the collaboration of multiple local Native American Tribes in the area, sharing their rich and diverse cultures with students through presentations including bird song and dance, literature, clothing, art, and more! Many students from local Tribes volunteered to take part in bird singing and dancing, sharing their pride in their cultures. Thank you so much to all who helped make this assembly a success!

Hamilton Elementary is proud to recognize Mr. Welker as our Employee of Excellence. For the past two years, Mr. Welker has served as a Transitional Kindergarten teacher, bringing incredible enthusiasm and passion for teaching to our school community.

His classroom is a place where learning comes alive—engaging, exciting, and filled with joy. Students are captivated by his lessons and often share that they wish they could stay in his class forever. Families consistently express their appreciation for the positive and nurturing environment he creates, where students not only thrive academically but also develop a true love for learning.

Mr. Welker’s dedication extends beyond his classroom. He actively participates in school activities and contributes to making Hamilton Elementary a better place for all. His contagious enthusiasm inspires both students and colleagues, and his commitment to fostering growth is evident in the remarkable progress his students achieve.

We are truly honored that Mr. Welker has made Hamilton his home. He embodies the very best of what it means to be an educator, and we are proud to celebrate him as a shining example of excellence.

Ms. Villanueva comes to work every day with a smile and is eager to help all students, families, and colleagues alike. Her positive attitude is contagious to the front office team, and she is always willing to help anyone in need. What makes Ms. Villanueva extraordinary is her relentless work ethic, servicing multiple committees and programs at Diamond Valley Middle School, including School Site Council, English Learner Advisory Committee, and workshops like the Parent Institute for Quality Education. Ms. Villanueva is extremely tech-savvy and supports all of Diamond Valley’s social media engagement too!

Ms. Villanueva is awesome; she embodies the meaning of customer service, and we are proud to recognize this amazing Diamondback!

Tahquitz High School Proudly Recognizes Major Antonio Williams as their Employee of Excellence!

Major Antonio Williams is a true leader at Tahquitz High School. As our Senior Marine Instructor (SMI), Major Williams leads our scholars in our advanced MCJROTC classes.

Major Williams teaches leadership principles, management, and communication to our cadets. Additionally, he provides opportunities for our scholars to practice healthy habits through physical fitness routines, and to participate in community service and extracurricular activities.

Most recently, Major Williams presented the American flag to Dr. Christi Barrett in a touching and emotional 9/11 remembrance ceremony held during our district leadership meeting. We are proud of Major Williams and all he does for our school and community.

Mr. Andrew Silva, our Alternative to Suspension (ATS) Teacher, is being recognized as Fruitvale’s Employee of Excellence. Mr. Silva has done an outstanding job with the ATS program, embodying our core values to Embrace, Educate, and Empower every student, every day.

In addition to his role as the ATS teacher, Mr. Silva also serves as our fantastic Admin Designee and leads several after-school clubs. His unwavering commitment to our students, staff, and families is deeply appreciated and has been instrumental in making Fruitvale such a great place to learn and work.

Congratulations on this well deserved recognition Mr. Silva!

Cawston Elementary is honored to recognize School Counselor, Aida Sandoval as their Employee of Excellence. Mrs. Sandoval is a dedicated and passionate school counselor who plays a vital role in supporting the students and staff at Cawston Elementary. She leads our student leadership program, including the morning valet team, where students greet families and help open car doors with a warm welcome. Mrs. Sandoval also facilitates important school-wide initiatives such as Red Ribbon Week and Kindness Week, helping to promote safety and a culture of compassion. In addition, she provides social skills lessons, encourages strong attendance habits, and provides all-around support to ensure a positive school environment. Known for her teamwork and commitment, Mrs. Sandoval is a valued and inspiring member of the Cawston community.

🎉 It’s Math Week at RCOE! 🎉

From September 8–12, families are invited to Riverside County’s Virtual Math Week—a free, online celebration full of fun math games, exciting stories, and hands-on activities for students in PreK–8.

Activities are available in English and Spanish and can be enjoyed right from home!

✨ Join the fun here: bit.ly/Region10MathWeek2025

Let’s celebrate math, enjoy learning together, and log your minutes for a chance to win awesome prizes!

Join us in celebrating our September Students of the Month—remarkable young individuals who not only excel in the classroom but also rise above life’s challenges with courage and determination. 💪📚 Your strength, perseverance, and positive attitude inspire us all! Congratulations!

Come join us for the Hemet Unified School District College and Career Fair on September 15th! College representatives and career professionals will be present to share more about opportunities and pathways to success. See more details in our flyer!

On Thursday, August 7, HUSD kicked off the 2025–26 school year with the annual all-staff Welcome Back event! 🎉 From school spirit to student performances and an inspiring keynote by Superintendent Dr. Christi Barrett, Welcome Back brought together every school site and district team. Here’s a look at the highlights from this memorable event!

We are excited to welcome back students and staff for another amazing school year! Happy first day of school to all! 📚 🏫 🍎 #TheHUSDway

As we begin a new school year, we’re excited to welcome our entire school community back. Here’s to a safe, successful, and inspiring year ahead! See you on Monday!

On July 22–24, nearly 200 leaders—including Directors, Principals, Assistant Principals, and Managers—came together for our annual Leadership Colloquium, a multi-day professional learning experience to kick off the 2025–26 school year!

The event featured a powerful lineup of speakers who inspired, informed, and equipped our leaders for the year ahead:

🍊 Dr. Christi Barrett, Superintendent – Vision-setting keynote and motivation to lead with purpose
🍊 Jeff Oldfield, PhD, RCOE – Thought-provocative keynote: Thinking About AI in Education
🍊 Dr. Jennifer Martin, Assistant Superintendent of Improvement & Analytics – Learning Vignettes Panel + Action Planning
🍊 Dr. Mary Wendland & Dr. Nereyda Gonzalez, Assistant Superintendents – Models of Excellence
🍊 Dr. Derek Jindra, Assistant Superintendent of HR – Quality-Aligned Feedback, Evaluations & Title IX Updates
🍊 Sonia Ramirez, Director of Communications – HUSD Website Migration & Staff Training
🍊 Carolyn Yoakum, Director of Fiscal Services – Extra Duty Process Updates
🍊 Lucy Dressel, Director of Safety & Benefits – Workers’ Compensation Overview

It was a strong start to a year built on collaboration, clarity, and bold leadership! #THEHUSDWAY

Special thanks to the Riverside County Office of Education, Apptegy, ACSA Region XIX, HUSD Instructional Development Department, and the Soboba Casino Event Center.