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The Mt. Diablo Unified School District is pleased to shine a light on our two 2026-27 District Teachers of the Year: Riverview MS teacher Mary Acebu and Shore Acres Elementary teacher April Saldivar! We are also recognizing the finalists: El Dorado Middle School’s Erin Hernandez, Pleasant Hill Middle School’s Brendan Moseley, Northgate High School’s Christine Reimer, and Fair Oaks Elementary’s Julia Romero. The six teachers were selected from nearly 150 outstanding educators from Preschool through grade 12 who were nominated and offered the opportunity to submit a brief questionnaire.

The questionnaires were scored by members of the MDUSD Teacher of the Year Selection Committee and the top-scoring individuals were interviewed. The MDUSD School Board plans to recognize the District Teachers of the Year, along with finalists and nominees, at its Wednesday, Feb. 25th meeting. Acebu and Saldivar will now advance to the Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year competition, which will name four finalists in the spring and two County Teachers of the Year in September. We are taking a closer look at Acebu and Saldivar this week, and will feature the finalists in next week's Friday Letter.

Both Acebu and Saldivar said they were pleased to be able to bring more attention to their schools and the Bay Point community as a result of this honor. They are both passionate educators who build strong relationships with their students and who enjoy working collaboratively with other staff members at their schools to meet students' needs.

They represent diverse learners such as Kindergartners who are learning to read and write in both English and Spanish, and Special Education students in middle school, including some who are mainstreamed in general education classes as they prepare for high school. 
Acebu teaches 7th and 8th grade Special Day Class students at Riverview MS in Bay Point, where she builds students' skills and confidence, using technology, humor and individualized instruction. In addition, she mentors new teachers and serves as the school's Technology Integration Leader (TIL), while also pursuing a doctorate in Education.

Saldivar teaches Kindergarten at Shore Acres Elementary in Bay Point, as the English partner in the Dual Language program that also includes Spanish instruction. She provides students with a strong foundation in phonics as they learn to read and write, and focuses on Science and Social Studies in her English Language Development (ELD) instruction to build students' vocabularies. 

Mary Acebu

Acebu, 33, was born in the Philippines, where she started teaching special education in a private school before immigrating to the U.S. Her mother immigrated to the U.S. while Acebu was a child, so she was raised largely by her father. Once in the U.S., she continued teaching special education to elementary and high school students in a non-public school in Antioch, then began teaching Special Day Class (SDC) students in 7th and 8th grades at Riverview MS 10 years ago. In addition, she mentors student teachers through the Saint Mary's College Teacher Residency Program with MDUSD, as well as the CalStateTEACH program at Fresno State University. And she is the Technology Integration Leader (TIL) at her school, who helps staff learn to implement new technology on campus.

"With Special Education, it's different every day and every year," Acebu said. "Every single student has a story. I like getting to know them, seeing the potential in them, and helping them get to where they need to be. When you build relationships, you enable rigor. Once they see that a teacher cares for them as a human being, that translates to buy-in on lessons and you can reach them at a higher level." She noted that in a Title 1 (low income) school, many students have experienced trauma and things happening at home affect how they behave and perform academically. "I like seeing growth," she said. "I see my kids getting better everyday, even if it takes a long time. I know that it takes a village to raise our children and I'm happy to be a part of that. I know they feel safe in my classroom and they're loved. They are not afraid to ask questions. Sometimes they say I'm the only one who makes them happy."

Focusing on students' Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is very important, Acebu says, explaining that she celebrates "small wins" in the classroom. "When everyone is on time. When everyone is working, we celebrate," she said. The celebrations can consist of verbal praise, positive behavior prizes, treats such as hot chocolate, or taking a break. As an immigrant English learner who was separated from her mother as a child and sometimes ate rice and soy sauce for lunch and dinner, Acebu said she can relate to issues some of her students face. "I want them to know that if you're given the right tools, you're not going to go astray," she said. She is proud that she has helped some students to move into mainstream general education classes with the support of resource teachers by showing them they were capable of doing that. She teaches a Life Skills Transitions class that introduces them to career pathways and virtual college tours, while also teaching them about the importance of building characteristics such as responsibility and resilience. "I want them to realize that you can do anything if you put your heart into it," she said. "If you really want something, you can achieve it."

Acebu is one of three teachers on campus bringing the Ocean Ambassadors science program to students. She modifies the lessons to make them appropriate for her students in collaboration with the general education teachers, using Universal Design for Learning strategies. Programs like these are crucial to Bay Point students, including some who have never been to the beach or to San Francisco, in part because parents work seven days a week or don't have cars. She is grateful to her colleagues at Riverview, including Para-educator Kim Montano, with whom she has worked for 10 years, and her new Student Teacher Andre Walker. "We used to be a dynamic duo," she said, "and now we're a terrific trio."

She wants to help bring about positive changes in the lives of her students, the new teachers she mentors, and among her colleagues at Riverside. "I just want to help people," Acebu said. This drive has motivated her to purse a doctorate in Instructional Technology through the American College of Education and to enroll in the Administrative Leadership Program offered by the Contra Costa County Office of Education. Her doctoral dissertation focuses on professional development and technology in Title 1 middle schools, which she says is sometimes not comprehensive enough to inspire teachers to embrace new resources. "When teachers feel supported and empowered and given the right resources," she said, "that results in better student outcomes."

King Dunbar, one of Acebu's 8th grade students, said she is a good teacher. "If we're having trouble with understanding something, we can always count on her to help us out with it," he said. "She helps me figure things out myself. She always has a nice attitude she brings to the class and she makes everybody happy." Acebu also builds relationships with students' families, which has resulted in some students and parents coming back to campus after students leave just to visit with her. Erika Colon, whose son Tyron McAllister was Acebu's student before he entered 9th grade at Mt. Diablo HS this year, visited with Acebu on Thursday with Tyron. "What I really like about her is she really works with you and your kids and she doesn't beat around the bush," Colon said. "She pushes them to their potential. I love that about her. She doesn't let them put themselves down. She shows them what they can do. She understands them. She knows what they need. She connects with them, but she's firm with them. I don't think we could ask for a better teacher than her. She makes her classroom fun. She really brings them love and joy just to be here. We have a parent-teacher bond. She comes to our students' high school graduations. She's amazing. She's rare." Tyron agreed. "She's the best teacher ever," he said, recalling the fun he had learning math in a "battle competition" where students would complete problems in front of the class. 

Acebu's CalTEACH mentee, Malachi Tripp, who teaches 6th grade Core English Language Arts and history at Riverview, also praised Acebu. "As a mentor, she is the best leader and coach you could ever dream of," he said, adding that her emotional intelligence and ability to understand people and situations is invaluable, along with her technology expertise. "She's very detailed and organized and she can come up with something that will open your eyes and amaze you." Tripp said she encouraged him to use technology such as Canva, even though he used to run from it. And he proudly told her that an administrator recently praised his use of a digital textbook, which was thanks to her. "She's changed my whole outlook on teaching, especially with what we have to deal with on a day to day basis," he said. "It's a blessing, it's a great thing for all of us, her being Teacher of the Year and being recognized for what she has done for the past 10+ years. She has said it takes a village. She has given love to all the people before her, who helped her get here today. Riverview is big on that." Tripp said he has seen the strong relationships Acebu builds with her students and feels a strong bond with her as his mentor. As a former Riverview student who attended Concord HS, then graduated from Mt. Diablo HS in 2002, Tripp said he wants to follow in Acebu's footsteps by helping others who want to get into the teaching profession, paying it forward, just like she has.

April Saldivar

Saldivar, 47, started her career as a daycare provider before obtaining her teaching credential and becoming a teacher at Shore Acres Elementary, where she has taught for eight years. She taught 1st grade, then became the Dual Language English partner for 1st grade, then taught Kindergarten during the pandemic over Zoom. She is now the English partner in the school's Dual Language Kindergarten program, working closely with Spanish language partner teacher Raquel Garcia Esquivel. "I have always been interested in working with kids," she said.

"After working for 15 years as a daycare provider, I knew I wanted to level up and reach out to broader communities." She studied sociology and education at UC Davis in her 30s. "Those studies helped me to know the student populations I wanted to serve," she said. "I was looking for a school like Shore Acres to help students access resources, reach their potential and work collaboratively with a community like this." 

The small Bay Point campus has welcomed her with open arms. "Shore Acres has been an amazing school," Saldivar said. "My colleagues have been my greatest teachers - showing me how to teach well, differentiate, and discern what students need in the classroom. Being in the Dual Language program as the English side allows me access to the culture and the special place that Shore Acres is. The community is a very close-knit, tight, supportive, loving community and being a teacher here is a privilege."

In the Dual Language Program, Saldivar teaches 26 students in English for part of the day, then switches students with Garcia Esquival, and teaches 27 students for another portion of the day. This means both teachers are educating 53 students together, but in separate classrooms and in different languages. "And we have to assess each of them, so it’s a big load," Saldivar said. "We have to be very efficient, but at the same time, make sure they get everything they need." To help build their vocabulary in English, she uses the social studies and science curriculum during English Language Development (ELD). And Garcia Esquival teaches Spanish Language Development (SLD), to build students' vocabulary in Spanish. 

Saldivar has been working to strengthen the Dual Language program and improve literacy scores by implementing "science of reading" practices such as emphasizing phonics in her classroom over the past three years. "I have seen profound changes in achievement," she said, noting that she helped pilot these materials in the District. "I immediately saw the great effects that science of reading-based practices had on teaching literacy. It is very strong in phonemic awareness, syllable work, and sounds - all to get the kids to build the parts of their brain that can take apart sounds and put them together, give them meaning, blend, and segment - to build those structures in their brain so they can read, so it’s not so laborious, or a chore. That’s what we’re building upon - making sure our literacy instruction is strong. For me, the most important thing I can give my kinders is the ability to read by the time they leave kindergarten." She also tries to meet students' Social and Emotional (SEL) and developmental needs, praising them when they sound out words or break them into syllables, and listening empathetically to anything they want to share during "carpet time." 

As a Kindergarten teacher, Saldivar said she enjoys helping students to build confidence in themselves as learners. "I love when the students start to believe in themselves - that they are achieving," she said. "When they start kindergarten, they don’t know yet what they’re capable of. When they read on their own, that look on their face when they say, 'I’m doing it,' it's priceless." She also enjoys working with Olympic HS students who help her students as teaching assistants to earn service learning credit. "Some of them speak Spanish and a lot of them are from the Shore Acres community," Saldivar said. "So, it’s wonderful because they can feel very useful and they’re giving back to Shore Acres." 

Saldivar said she and all the Shore Acres teachers work to show the students their potential, and to show them they’re capable of anything. "As an AVID elementary school, we’re always trying to prepare the kids to believe that their future is in college or in a career," she said. "They can imagine themselves going there. We make a plan for how they get there." Flipping through one student's AVID Binder, she showed information that is shared with parents to help them study with their children. "Students who are the most organized are the most successful in school," she said, explaining that the AVID binder helps students learn how to be organized and shows parents how to build on what their children are learning in English, Spanish, literacy and math. "I show the parents exactly how I'm teaching during parent teacher conferences," she said. "I show them how to use sound boxes (boxes on paper that students write letters in to sound out words). I share high frequency words, and letter sounds, so at home, parents can support them. Getting the students to reach their goals takes a team. This AVID binder gives the parents the tools to do that both in English and Spanish. Students work on it at home and at school, so it’s a big part of becoming scholars, becoming students of excellence." 

Her teammates said Saldivar greatly deserves this recognition. "She's amazing," said TK Dual Language Spanish Partner teacher Blanca Lopez Casado, adding that she learns a lot from Saldivar. "She goes the extra mile. She teaches in a very pedagogical way that is differentiated and individualized. She's like the captain of the ship." Garcia Esquivel added: "We've been together three years now. The reason I like to teach kindergarten is because of her. I love working with her so much."

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter spotlights:

• Our 2026–27 MDUSD Teachers of the Year: Riverview Middle School’s Mary Acebu and Shore Acres Elementary’s April Saldivar;
• And finalists: El Dorado Middle School’s Erin Hernandez, Pleasant Hill Middle School’s Brendan Moseley, Northgate High School’s Christine Reimer, and Fair Oaks Elementary’s Julia Romero;
• SOAR Program Specialist Dr. Rosie Reid and Crossroads High School Site Administrator Coleen Martin named ACSA Region 6 Administrators of the Year;
• Black History Month Celebration at Gregory Gardens Elementary, hosted in partnership with the school and AAPAC;
• Mt. Diablo High School student Patrick Paul Porpayas placed second in the Contra Costa Poetry Out Loud Contest;
• Northgate High School’s Animation III students attend premiere of Goat animation film at Grand Lake Theater in Oakland as special guests;
• Glenbrook Academy hosts its first Family Engagement Night in Bay Point;
• There will be no school on Monday, February 16 due to the Presidents' Day Holiday
• School Social Media Highlights.

You can read it here.

On "World Read Aloud Day," which is celebrated the first Wednesday of February, Westwood Elementary and Meadow Homes Elementary invited special guests to read books to their students. 

MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark read, "The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath," by Julia Finley Mosca, to a class of 3rd graders, and also to several 5th graders in the library at Westwood Elementary. He chose the book in recognition of February as Black and African American History Month. Dr. Clark encouraged students to read to find out about other interesting people and places. "You can go anywhere in the whole world through reading," he said. He also answered lots of questions from the students about the book, as well as about his job as Superintendent. 

Meadow Homes Elementary welcomed more than a dozen guest readers to its campus, including Enrollment Services Director Aurelia Buscemi, Board President Debra Mason, and Multilingual Education Dept. Assistant Director Chitra Bhardwaj.

Buscemi read "Never Follow a Dinosaur," by Alex Latimer, which she used to read to students when she was a Principal at Pleasant Hill Elementary, whose mascot is a dinosaur. Buscemi engaged the students with hand motions and asked them questions about the story. "It's a very interactive book," she said after the class. "Students use their literacy skills, such as predicting what is going to happen, and making sense of what they hear, by asking questions and going back and re-reading things that don't make sense."

Trustee Mason said she chose "The Black Stallion" because it was one of her daughter's favorite books when she was a girl. Mason said she enjoys reading to students because she loves reading and hopes to pass that onto them. "I've read 3,000 books since I graduated from high school," Mason said. "I try to read a book a week - and I did last year."

Bhardwaj said she chose "Always Anjali" because it was about a girl who was teased about her name being different, but then she learned to appreciate her identity. Bhardwaj said she wants our students to take pride in their diverse identities. She said the teacher planned to do a follow-up project with the students on this topic.

Thank you to everyone who helped share their love of reading with our students!

Click here to watch a reel highlighting the event.

The 7th Annual MDUSD Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Expo on Feb. 5 at Mt. Diablo High School attracted nearly 600 juniors and seniors from District high schools, who met with representatives from 21 HBCUs. Approximately $1.8 million in scholarships was offered to about 35 students, including some who received four-year scholarships and certified admittance awards.

The HBCU representatives provided guidance on college readiness and shared the unique qualities of their colleges and universities with students. Ja'Wan Wright, from Philander Smith University in Little Rock, Ark., said the caravan HBCU program is traveling to several schools in California. "This gives us the opportunity to connect with students and show them what we have to offer," he said.

Concord HS juniors Tatiana Razvalieaeff and Symone Rollins said they appreciated learning about different opportunities after graduation. "I'm here to experience my culture collectively with everyone and to see things I'm interested in," said Symone, who wants to study psychology. Tatiana, who wants to pursue arts and sports, added: "I'm here to see my options and see what scholarships I could get." 

This year’s event also spotlighted the Drumlines from Mt. Diablo High School and Northgate High School, said Linda Pete, Director of Strategic Supports and Interventions. "The drum beats were energizing, and both schools highlighted the diverse talent in our schools."

The event was successful thanks to the hard work and leadership of Instructional Program Specialist Dr. Diane Fitzpatrick and Mt. Diablo HS Career & College Advisor Erika Ramos, Pete added. Ramos said she enjoyed seeing smiles all around the event. "It warms my heart to know that students can see their potential options at an HBCU," Ramos said.

Click here to see a reel highlighting the event.

MDUSD is excited to have launched a new Teacher Residency program in partnership with St. Mary's College of California, which offers teachers in training the opportunity to work alongside a highly qualified teacher mentor in our District three days a week. This year, 12 teacher residents have been placed in Hidden Valley, Strandwood and Wren Avenue elementary schools; and at El Dorado and Riverview middle schools. They include residents pursuing multiple subject, single subject math, and special education credentials, who receive stipends of $31,400 per year and are given priority for substitute teaching positions while they are residents and for teaching positions after they earn their preliminary credentials at the end of this school year.

"I think it's going really well," said Christina Nelson, MDUSD's Teacher Residency Program Coordinator. "We're hoping to fill hard-to-fill positions and we are focused on diversifying the workforce." 

MDUSD and St. Mary's College are co-hosting a virtual information night from 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 for those who are interested in participating in the second year of the program in 2026-27 (RSVP here). The application deadline to St. Mary's is March 1 and candidates can apply to the MDUSD residency after they are accepted.

At Riverview MS, teacher resident Dre Walker said he feels blessed to have been accepted into the program and paired with Special Education teacher Mary Acebu, a 13-year veteran who teaches Special Day Class students in grades 7-8. "I have to step up my game this year, in terms of lesson planning and being able to group the students strategically," she said, explaining how she is adapting to having another educator in the classroom along with para-educator Kimberley Montano. The students shift from one class to the next because many are mainstreamed for part of the day. "I'm here to show him the ropes on IEPs (Individualized Education Programs), testing, using different technologies to reach the kids, district requirements, and getting him ready for next year, once he becomes a full-fledged special education teacher."

Both Walker and Acebu agree that it is rewarding to teach special education. "Kids light up in the classroom once they understand something - that's always the goal," Acebu said. "They'll say, 'Oh, you taught me that last week,' and it just clicks. Those 'aha' moments - I live for those. I love that the most - being with the kids. I know if I can change even one student's life, I think I've fulfilled my purpose."

Walker sees the strong relationships that Acebu has built with her current and former students and he is working to establish his own connections with students. "She has found the students' superpowers," he said. "Most of our students have a skillset they don't realize. We bring it to light, so they can see it and run with it. These kids need an opportunity to be with quality teachers who believe in them."

One student named Alex said she likes both Acebu and Walker. "She's fantastic," Alex said of Acebu. "She's the fun teacher. She's nice and she's kind. And Mr. Dre - he's kind and he likes my artwork and how I try my best when I'm doing my work." Walker and Alex get along so well that they have created their own handshake, which they excitedly demonstrated.

Both Acebu and Walker are on the same wavelength in terms of blending academic and social and emotional learning by making their classroom a positive place where students feel safe, respected, academically challenged, welcome and valued. "We teach them to love themselves and to love others," Walker said. "Our kids are not afraid to ask questions," Acebu added.

Relying on the Universal Design for Learning, they design lessons to meet students' individual needs. Acebu, who is one of the school's Technology Integration Leaders, uses multimedia, websites and creates her own virtual lessons taking students places they have never been, such as Japan. When they use videos, such as CNN 10 current events, Acebu and Walker stop the program often to talk about it and how it relates to students' lives, explaining vocabulary words that may be unfamiliar. Acebu tries to make lessons engaging by rephrasing questions, alternating between multiple choice, writing and oral lessons. When some students said they didn't know why they were getting Tuesday off, that sparked a discussion about Veterans Day and why it's important - and Acebu learned that some students have military family members.

"She's fluid," Walker observed. "She's constantly changing based on the surroundings and characteristics of her students." By listening to the students, Acebu said she is able to figure out what they are interested in and what they have questions about. She also gives them short breaks during lessons so they don't feel bombarded by too many questions in a row. And she encourages students to ask questions if they don't understand something, which helps them feel confident and prepares them for high school. 

Walker attends staff meetings and is included in Acebu's communications to other staff members and to parents, which include weekly reports about what students are learning. Acebu said teaching life skills is Walker's forte. He loves explaining things like Native American History and Digital Citizenship to students.

Both Acebu and Walker said they would highly recommend the Teacher Residency program to aspiring teachers, as well as to veteran teacher mentors. "It can seem overwhelming to work with another person in the class, but it takes skill, patience and leadership," Acebu said. "When you know what you're able to bring to the table to help someone be the best teacher they can be, this is the perfect program to help people who want to be teachers in the future."

Walker said Acebu welcomed him with open arms and treated him as an equal when he first arrived. "At age 57, I'm learning new things," Walker said. "She's amazing."

Note: This news item was originally published Nov. 15, 2025. It was updated Feb. 6, 2026 with details about the Feb. 10, 2026 information night.

Click here to register.

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter spotlights: 

• The 7th Annual MDUSD HBCU Fair at Mt. Diablo High School,
• Career Pathways across our District,
• Mt. Diablo High School’s Patient Care Pathway students,
• Silverwood Elementary students recognized at the PTA District level for their creativity and excellence in the PTA Reflections program;
• The Foundry Career Pathway in its inaugural year at Olympic HS;
• World Read Aloud Day visits and special readings at Westwood and Meadow Homes Elementary Schools;
• College Park HS Mock Trial team finishes its second year of competition;
• School and Staff Social Media Highlights including recognitions for National School Counseling Week;
• And more!

You can read it here.

MDUSD's College Now program at Diablo Valley College (DVC), enables 11th and 12th-graders to begin their college journeys while they are still in high school. College Now is recruiting students who will be high school juniors and seniors in 2026-27 for the program, which gives students the opportunity to take 3–4 high school classes each day, taught by MDUSD teachers, while also enrolling in DVC courses that meet high school graduation requirements, all on the DVC campus. The program is hosting Family Information Nights at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4 at Willow Creek Center (and virtually), and at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Mt. Diablo HS (see flyers). Applications are due Feb. 12.

"This program is a great fit for motivated, self-directed students who are excited to explore their future and experience learning in a real college setting, with the guidance and support they need to succeed," said Program Administrator Susan Hartwig. Students in the alternative high school program also have the opportunity to explore possible career interests. The goal of the program is for all College Now graduates to finish high school with at least one year of college completed.

This head start on college saves both time and money when students go on to complete college. Since 2016-17, College Now has provided academic rigor in a supportive community of teachers, counselors and tutors, to help students navigate college. It is seeking 60 11th graders and about 10 12th graders to fill spots available. Students currently in the program highly recommend it, saying it gives them independence, flexible schedules, and the ability take college classes in subjects that interest them.

Seniors Fernando Solis and Zahra Almukter, who both previously attended Concord HS, said they were seeking something different from a traditional high school experience. They like the small class sizes with three teachers and a counselor who value their opinions and want to help them achieve their goals. "They're very attentive and they care," Zahara said, adding that Counselor Rima Boujaoude has helped her with both school and personal issues. "She has a great place in my heart." They also both said their class conversations are thoughtful and deep. Almukter referenced a discussion analyzing race in America in her Psychology class. Fernando added: "In my Sociology class, we talk about sensitive topics and have discussions about race and gender and how we perceive ourselves."

Juniors Tristan Moffett, Akieam Owens, Brisa Torres and Madison Barrett also praised the program. They appreciate learning alongside other students who are focused on going to college or military academies. Like the seniors, they value the close-knit community and one-in-one attention they receive. College Now students are still connected to their "home" schools and can participate in sports and other activities on those campuses, as well as part-time jobs. Madison is on the College Park HS Girls Wrestling team, Akieam is planning to participate in track at Mt. Diablo HS and Brisa participated in Cheer at Mt. Diablo HS. All three said the College Now teachers were very supportive of students who juggle extracurricular activities or jobs with school and noted that they can take classes as early as 6 a.m. or as late as 8 p.m. to fit their schedules. They also said they appreciate the AVID classes at College Now, which help them to develop skills such as study habits, time management and self advocacy that are needed in college. They recommend the program, but said students who join it must be prepared to work hard, with help. "It's a super fast pace," Brisa said. "You have to realize these are college classes. There's no slacking off. You need to make sure you're ready." Madison agreed, saying, "They want you to do your best, but they expect a lot of you and there's definitely a lot of support." Tristan added: "They know that you're here to succeed and in order to get you there, they have to push you, but the workload is up to you." They also said they take advantage of college resources such as study halls, student centers and the modern library. 

Samira Kilicheva, a junior who transferred into the program from Mt. Diablo HS, where she started out as an English Learner as an immigrant from Uzbekistan, is thriving in the College Now program. She expects to be "reclassified" as Fluent English Proficient when she takes the required exam in the Spring, and no longer needs to take English Language Development (ELD) courses. But when she sometimes doesn't understand a word or concept, she said the College Now teachers are patient and help to explain the meaning using different words. "I really like it," she said. "The teachers really love their jobs and they put their passion into teaching and it makes me love this place even more." She appreciates that History Teacher Mrs. Shaw doesn't tell her the answers. "She leads me to the answer so I can get it myself," Samira said, adding that she recommends the program highly. "This place is perfect for people who know what they want, or if you don’t know, there are so many people here who help you understand, and it motivates you to become better each day and it gives you a lot of opportunities. This place leads you step by step into the real world."

This week's MDUSD Friday Letter spotlights:

• The College Now program at Diablo Valley College (DVC),
• The Great Kindness Challenge, which took place at many of our schools,
• The Ygnacio Valley High School Education Academy, 
• A beautiful new "Stars" mural at Delta View Elementary School, made possible through the support of the Mt. Diablo Education Foundation;
• A recent driver safety lesson held for immigrant boys from Afghanistan at Ygnacio Valley High School in collaboration with the Family Justice Center;
• School and Staff Social Media Highlights celebrating school events, staff shout-outs, and more from around the District.

You can read it here.

MDUSD Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent the following message to District families and staff on Jan. 27, 2026:

Dear MDUSD Community,

Many have reached out and expressed concerns regarding recent reports of increased federal immigration enforcement activity across the country. I want to take this opportunity to reassure all of our students, families and staff that the safety and well-being of everyone in our schools remains our top priority.

Mt. Diablo Unified School District has clear policies in place to protect our students and their information. We do not release any student or their personal information to anyone other than their parent or legal guardian. In the situation of federal immigration agents, such as ICE, we will only respond if agents present a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge. Without such a warrant, no access to our campuses or student information will be granted.

All of our school administrators and front office staff are trained and aware of these procedures. Additionally, if there is any sign of unsafe activity near or around our campuses, we will immediately enact our school safety plans, which may include lockdown protocols and modified dismissal procedures to ensure student safety.

We are also aware that some federal agencies may not follow standard operating procedures in the field, which is why we proceed with extreme caution in any such circumstance. Our approach remains rooted in protecting the rights of our students and staff, and in maintaining safe, welcoming campuses for all.

We understand the fear and uncertainty many students and families are feeling. Our schools are safe, and we are committed to ensuring that every student feels supported and protected. We will continue to monitor developments closely and provide additional guidance as needed.

Thank you for your partnership and trust as we work together to keep our community safe.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Clark
Superintendent
Mt. Diablo Unified School District

The SOAR Program hosted its 3rd Annual Winter Resource Fair on Thursday, January 23, at the Willow Creek Center. SOAR families received essential items including blankets, toys, socks, shoes, hats, gloves, umbrellas, grocery items, free haircuts, and a hot meal. In addition, more than 40 bicycles and an assortment of gift cards were raffled off to families.

The SOAR (Support Office for Access and Resources) Program extends its sincere thanks to the MDUSD community for the incredible support that made this event possible, including financial contributions, donations of bicycles and other essential items, and the many hours volunteered by staff and community members, said Program Specialist Rosie Reid.

While donations are accepted year-round, the annual donation drive—which enables staff to purchase needed items and support families in accessing these and other critical resources—will continue through January 30, 2026.

Any MDUSD family in need of clothing, shoes, winter apparel, school supplies, hygiene products, or assistance with referrals to community agencies or public benefits is encouraged to contact or visit the SOAR Office.

SOAR Office
1026 Mohr Lane
Concord, CA 94518
Hours: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., school days