Valinda School of Academics

CITY OF INDUSTRY – Hacienda La Puente Unified showcased student, staff and District accomplishments and highlighted the various ways it is embracing this year’s theme, “Explore, Learn, Grow: Inspire Deep Learning,” during the eighth annual State of the District event on Jan. 19.

Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez led the presentation in front of a high-spirited audience of distinguished guests, HLPUSD Board members, administrators, staff and community members after two years of hosting the event virtually.

“The State of the District is such a unique and special occasion to celebrate a year’s worth of growth and success with the Hacienda La Puente Unified community,” Board President Christine H. Salazar said. “This event wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated students, teachers, staff and administrators. Thank you for all your tremendous hard work and we look forward to another year of success in 2023.”

The District’s 2022-23 theme, “Explore, Learn, Grow: Inspire Deep Learning,” was emphasized throughout the presentation as Jiménez recognized an abundance of academic achievements, awards bestowed upon various administrators and school sites and the success of new and expanded innovative programs that launched in 2022.

Throughout the presentation, Jiménez provided updates regarding the District’s budget, Measure BB master plan and the progress and completion of numerous facilities projects. He also shared lively videos that centered around this year’s theme and highlighted Career Technical Education pathways, Student Board Representative testimonials, the Youth Cinema Project and much more.

“This year’s theme is inspired by our partnership with the global initiative New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL) and it’s been amazing to see our leadership team’s communication and collaboration flourish to ensure NPDL’s success,” Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. Judy Fancher said. “Together, Hacienda La Puente Unified is bringing excitement to our classrooms by engaging in hands-on curriculum, incorporating technology to enhance problem-solving skills and encouraging scholars to think outside the box.”

At the end of the event, the District premiered its showcase video, which gave viewers an inside look at the expanded programs within the District, remarks from students, teachers, parents and staff, and celebrated Hacienda La Puente Unified’s accomplishments throughout 2022.

“I would like to thank our Board of Education, teachers, staff and administrators for their dedication to our students and to our parents and HLPUSD community for your continued partnership and support,” Jiménez said. “Lastly, I

would like to thank our students for all your hard work. You inspire me every day and I look forward to finishing this school year off strong and shaking each and every one of your hands during graduations this spring.”

The event was live-streamed for added convenience and is available on the HLPUSD YouTube channel.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

HLPUSD_STATEOFTHEDISTRICT1: Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez welcomes distinguished guests and executive cabinet members to a breakfast where he provided an in-depth presentation of the 2023 State of the District on Jan. 19.

HLPUSD_STATEOFTHEDISTRICT2: Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. Judy Fancher welcomes the District community and delivers a kind introduction for Dr. Alfonso Jiménez, Hacienda La Puente Unified’s Superintendent and lead speaker of the State of the District.

HLPUSD_STATEOFTHEDISTRICT3: Hacienda La Puente Unified Board of Education members, administrators, staff and community members gather to hear Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez share the Districts successes throughout 2023 during the annual State of the District event on Jan. 19.

CITY OF INDUSTRY – Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez has been selected as a 2022 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), emphasizing his great leadership and dedication to students, parents, staff and the District.

The annual award is presented to 25 school district leaders with less than five years of experience as a superintendent who has demonstrated dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core. Dr. Jiménez, who is in his third year as Superintendent for Hacienda La Puente Unified, brings nearly 27 years of expertise in the field to the District.

According to the NSPRA, Dr. Jiménez was chosen to receive this honor from a record number of nomination submissions that they received this year.

“I knew that Dr. Jiménez would be the ideal candidate to receive this honor --  his exceptional leadership, passion for education and enthusiasm for developing innovative programs is unmatched," said Dr. Judy Fancher, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Pre-K-12. "NSPRA was looking for Superintendents that create effective ways to inform and communicate with the community, which Dr. Jiménez has worked so hard to achieve over the past three years. He provided at-home town halls for the HLPUSD community during distance learning in 2020, presented the annual State of the District events virtually twice to ensure the community's safety and produced numerous brochures and fliers to help HLPUSD families stay connected with the District."

Dr. Jiménez is a recognized educator with a background grounded in Pre-K-12 leadership. He has devoted his career to expanding access and achieving equity for students of diverse backgrounds and needs, striving to provide the highest-quality education for all students.

Over the past three years, Dr. Jiménez has expanded the District’s Computing, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (C-STEM) program. He was named the UC Davis Center for C-STEM Superintendent of the Year in 2022 for his work in integrating hands-on coding and robotics into math and science education.

Dr. Jiménez has also expanded the implementation of the use of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning, which has helped the District enhance its career technical education pathways and launched the Intersectional Ethnic Studies TK-12 curriculum, Speech and Debate, Youth Cinema Project, expanded Conga Kids and many other learning opportunities.

“It has been such a joy working alongside Dr. Jiménez the past few years and it was an honor to recommend him for this well-deserved recognition,” Board President Christine H. Salazar said. “Our theme this year is about finding new ways to inspire deep learning. Dr. Jiménez has done an outstanding job helping us create professional development opportunities for our educators, presenting and collaborating at numerous conferences to represent HLPUSD, creating community partnerships to boost academic achievement and much more.”

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District has been recognized by the NSPRA previously, receiving three separate awards for excellence in the State of the District, Facts at a Glance and Superintendent Updates.

"It is an immense honor to be recognized by NSPRA alongside a phenomenal group of Superintendents that build positive communication and constant collaboration within their community," Jiménez said. "My goals are to continue exploring innovative ways to leverage District institutions and policy frameworks to maximize all students' talents, interests and abilities. I would like to extend my appreciation to the Board of Education for their constant support, as well as to our teachers, staff, community and, of course – our outstanding HLPUSD students who inspire me each and every day."

Dr. Jiménez will be profiled in upcoming issues of NSPRA’s monthly Member Memo e-newsletter, and will be recognized at the NSPRA 2023 National Seminar in St. Louis in July.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

HLPUSD_SUPERINTENDENTSTOWATCH1: Nelson Elementary School students proudly guide Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez through a tour of their color projects and artifacts during a Día de Los Muertos Walking Ceremony on Nov. 1, 2022.

HLPUSD_SUPERINTENDENTSTOWATCH2: Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez supports students as they engage in various hands-on math experiences using coding and exploration during a school site visit in October 2022.

OUT NOW: Our Fall/Winter Digital Newsletter, which features the successes and celebrations of our students, staff and District during the first half of the 2022-23 school year, and a focus on our innovative programs and Career Technical Education pathways! Please visit https://bit.ly/HLPNEWSLETTER to read more!

CITY OF INDUSTRY – Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s new Board of Education members, Gino Kwok, Esq. and Nancy Loera, as well as returning Board member Jeffrey De La Torre, took their oath of office during the Board meeting on Dec. 13.

State Senator Bob Archuleta swore in Kwok and Loera, while De La Torre was sworn in by daughter Anna Maria De La Torre, mother Maria De La Torre and wife Elena De La Torre. During the meeting, the Board reorganized for one-year terms, electing Christine H. Salazar as Board president, Stephanie Serrano as vice president and Jeffrey De La Torre as clerk, with Leora and Kwok serving the community as Board members.

Kwok, the new representative of Area 4, previously served on the Board from 2011 to 2020, twice serving as its president. His notable achievements on the Board include the establishment of a summer math enrichment program at the middle school level, helping to create and expand the Spanish, Chinese, and Korean Dual Immersion Programs and spearheading a $45 million capital improvement project for schools across the District.

Kwok also said he looks forward to using his expertise in public education and the law to help address the long-term mental, emotional and physical effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students.

Sixth-grade teacher Loera is taking over representation for Trustee Area 2. She has worked as an educator for 18 years in Compton Unified School District and said she is looking forward to using her expertise as an educator to serve the students and staff of HLPUSD.

Loera said she is a huge proponent of the District’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math program and the Visual & Performing Arts pathways, and aims to advocate for these programs and other similar educational endeavors while serving the Hacienda La Puente Unified community.

Returning Board member and representative of Trustee Area 5, De La Torre has been an educator for more than 30 years. In his next term on the Board, De La Torre said he hopes to see the implementation of ethnic studies in schools and the completion of District facility projects, including the Center of the Performing Arts, Aquatics Center and William Workman High School Sports Complex.

De La Torre added that he looks forward to advocating for educational equity for all students, transparency in the District’s use of resources and continuing to incorporate supportive and innovative learning experiences for all students.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have such an outstanding Board of Education serving our students and community,” Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez said. “At Hacienda La Puente Unified, we continue to develop, sustain, recognize and promote programs of excellence and strong partnerships with parents and the community. Together, we will work to ensure all students in the District will succeed in meeting high standards and achieving immeasurable success.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

HLPUSD_BOARDMEMBERS1: Re-elected Board member Jeffrey De La Torre and his family celebrate after being sworn in to office on Dec. 13.

HLPUSD_BOARDMEMBERS2: Gino Kwok brings his family to the podium upon being sworn in by State Senator Bob Archuleta during the HLPUSD Board meeting.

HLPUSD_BOARDMEMBERS3: State Senator Bob Archuleta swears in new Hacienda La Puente Unified Board member Nancy Loera in front of her family and the District community during the Board meeting on Dec. 13.

CITY OF INDUSTRY – Hacienda La Puente Unified’s Board of Education celebrated two of its longest-standing Board members, honoring the contributions of clerk Dr. Joseph K. Chang and member Anthony Duarte during a ceremony on Dec. 6.

Chang, a Hacienda La Puente Unified resident since 1978, was first elected to the Board in 1993, serving as a member, clerk, vice president and five-time Board president for a total of seven terms. During those 29 years, he worked alongside seven superintendents, handed diplomas to thousands of graduating students and awarded hundreds of seniors with the Dr. Chang Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarship, aiming to assist students in pursuing a career in STEM-related fields.

“It has been a great honor to serve the students and families of our communities,” Chang said. “I want to thank families for trusting and supporting me for 29 years and the District staff for their patience and confidence with my decisions focused on improving HLPUSD learning experiences.”

Duarte is also a longtime community member, having attended Nelson Elementary School and Sparks Middle School. He was first elected to the Board in 2012 and has since served as a member, clerk, vice president and Board president. Duarte said a few of his proudest moments include the implementation of transitional kindergarten- through- 12th-grade Ethnic Studies curriculum, the creation of the Equity and Access Department which supports the homeless and foster youth, approving several upcoming facilities projects and witnessing the La Puente High School Pool, Kitchen and Locker Rooms Project come to fruition.

“It has been an honor to serve on the Hacienda La Puente Unified Board of Education over the past 10 years,” Duarte said. “I am proud of the projects we have been able to accomplish and the ones to be completed in the near future. The HLPUSD family would be nothing without our dedicated staff. I know that Dr. Jiménez and all our hard-working faculty will continue to lead us into the future and keep HLPUSD one of the best school Districts in the state.”

Both Board members have had numerous family members attend and graduate from HLPUSD, which helped ignite their initial interest in running for the Board with the goal of enhancing the curriculum and learning opportunities for all students.

During the ceremony, the retiring members were recognized with Certificates of Recognition from The City of La Puente Mayor Charlie Klinakis, words of appreciation from dignitaries and community applause.

Chang and Duarte said their farewells during their last Board meeting on Nov. 21, expressing gratitude to the Board of Education, Jiménez and administrators for their constant collaboration and partnership and thanked the community for allowing them the privilege of serving Hacienda La Puente Unified.   

“Thank you, Dr. Chang and Mr. Duarte, for your dedication, pride and constant collaboration to ensure our students have the tools necessary to meet the challenges and opportunities of a changing world,” Jiménez said. “On behalf of the Board of Education, it has been an immense honor to work alongside you the past few years and we will miss you dearly.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

HLPUSD_BOARD: From left to right: Board Clerk Dr. Joseph K. Chang, City of La Puente Councilman Gabriel Quiñones, City of La Puente Mayor Charlie Klinakis and Board member Anthony Duarte celebrate the retirement of Chang and Duarte during an appreciation ceremony on Dec. 6.