In the Spotlight

We believe in the power of stories to build our community, and our grant-funded programs make meaningful change by supporting the varied and diverse needs of the departments, schools, programs, students, staff, families, and community members that comprise the district. Read more about our impact in the Spotlight Stories below.

Project STARS: Supporting our LGBTQ+ students

With support from Kaiser Permanente’s Mental Health and Stigma Reduction Initiative, in 2018, the Youth Development Office established Project STARS (Strategies to Advance the Reduction of Stigma), an initiative aimed at improving access to and reducing the stigma of mental health supports, especially for LGBTQ+ students. This initiative provides the expansion of and support to Gay Straight Alliances (GSA) at EGUSD middle and high schools. In 2018, student members and their advisors benefited from leadership training at the first ever Youth STARS Summit. Project STARS also provides LGBTQ+ awareness, mental health and suicide prevention training for EGUSD staff.

Image of Samuel Jackman Middle School Rainbow Day, 2018.

From Classified to Credentialed: Supporting EGUSD staff in their teaching career pursuits

Through the California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program, EGUSD’s Human Resources Department is supporting 20 classified employees in their pursuit of a dual Education Specialist and Multiple Subject credential. The program increases the number of credentialed professionals eligible to teach in high-need areas by reinvesting in our own community. 

Welcoming Newcomers: CalNEW and Refugee School Impact Grants

With support from the California Newcomer Education and Well-Being (CalNEW) and Refugee School Impact (RSI) grants,  EGUSD’s Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) launched the Newcomer Assistance through Mentoring and Education (NAME) Program. NAME provides refugee and other newcomer students and their families with individualized, culturally responsive and trauma-informed services to facilitate transitions to life and school in the United States.

Image of Harriet Eddy Middle School, 2019.

PACE Project: Closing the Digital Divide

With support from the California Department of Education’s ASES Kids Code Grant Pilot Program, in 2019 EGUSD launched the Providing Accessible Coding Education (PACE) Project at Samuel Kennedy Elementary, Union House Elementary, and James Rutter Middle School. The goal of the PACE Project is for students in the ASES afterschool programs to develop not only coding skills but also critical thinking skills such as goal setting, design planning and evaluation, troubleshooting, and collaboration.  The robust coding curriculum and cutting-edge technology available through the PACE Project offer a sustainable model of comprehensive academic supports and college/career exposure that will reach underserved students in need of increased access to STEM-related curriculum and enrichment.

Image of Union House Elementary students in coding class, 2019.