KCSOS

10/01/2026

Special Friends Day is an inclusive, sensory-friendly morning at the Kern County Fair. For over 50 years, the Kern County Sheriffs Mounted Posse and dedicated volunteers have served lunch to thousands of children as part of this fun tradition.

Learn more about the history and partnerships behind Special Friends Lunch in our latest EdConnect feature: bit.ly/4hqsQrr

09/30/2026

Bakersfield City School District brought community leaders together for its annual districtwide Community Partners in Education event. The program gives participants an up-close look at local schools while building lasting partnerships between BCSD and the broader community.

At Harding Elementary School, guests experienced the school’s vibrant spirit and welcoming culture firsthand.

Read more in EdConnect: bit.ly/4jxG2fp

09/29/2026

Mario Lizarraga, an Automotive Collision & Refinishing Technology instructor at the Kern High School District Regional Occupational Center, became the first-ever Kern County recipient of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, receiving $100,000 in recognition of his impact on students and skilled trades education.

The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools team, ROC CTEC students, staff, community members, and Lizarraga's friends and family gathered this morning to surprise him with the award.

Read about the day in the latest EdConnect feature: bit.ly/4zaRQJj

09/28/2026

Alekha Goldberg's persistence and passion for science have earned her national recognition. She is one of 30 finalists in the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, the nation’s premier STEM research competition for middle school students.

Inspired by her brother’s own experience with a traumatic brain injury, the Peak to Peak Mountain Charter TK - 8 Pine Mountain Club, CA student conducted a science experiment investigating whether methylene blue could help protect the brain from secondary traumatic brain injury. As a finalist, she will travel to Washington, D.C. this October to test her STEM skills and compete for more than $100,000 in prizes.

Learn more about Goldberg's research journey in the latest EdConnect feature: bit.ly/3VEFXwx

09/26/2026

Yesterday, RISE Culinary students put their skills to work for the first time in the Bell Tower Plaza kitchen, preparing and serving a special plated meal for KCSOS mechanics as a thank-you for their hard work and dedication to supporting students.

With guidance from their teacher and KCSOS staff, students planned, prepped, cooked, plated and served each dish, putting their culinary skills, teamwork and professionalism into action.

We’re proud of our RISE Culinary students for taking on this hands-on experience and showing what they can accomplish!🎉

09/25/2026

It was a special day at the Richardson Center as we celebrated the completion of its modernization project with a ribbon cutting! 🎉

Students helped kick off the celebration with a flag salute and special performance before guests toured the facility and saw the many improvements firsthand. Thank you to the staff who helped make this project possible and to the families and community members who joined us to celebrate this exciting milestone.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped bring the modernized Richardson Center to life! 🚀

09/25/2026

Explore opportunities with KCSOS and take the next step in your career! We are currently hiring for the following roles:

26-27 AmeriCorps Mentor (Buttonwillow, Shafter, Lost Hills, & Wasco only)
Benefit Technician Assistant
Child Development Associate - Part Time (North Kern)
Content Coordinator- CALPADS and Accountability (KiDS)
Database Specialist II
Indemnity Claims Examiner- Workers' Compensation
Indemnity Claims Examiner- Workers' Compensation (Fresno/Clovis, CA)
Indemnity Claims Examiner- Workers' Compensation (Sacramento, CA)
Instructional Aide V- Interpreter for the Deaf
Lead Graphic Artist
Mechanic II
Program Facilitator II-Bilingual (North Kern)
Property and Liability Adjuster II (Fresno/Clovis, CA)
Property and Liability Adjuster II (Sacramento, CA)
Teacher - Special Day Class, Extensive Support Needs

Read job descriptions and apply online at edjoin.org/kcsos.

09/24/2026

Ready, aim, launch! Aurora Learning Center students put their STEM skills to the test in an epic catapult challenge.

Using their knowledge and creativity, students built custom catapults that launched foam balls across the multi-purpose room. The results had students, staff, and parents cheering in amazement!

Classes competed for three awards: Most Creative, Farthest Launch, and Best Sportsmanship.

Swipe through to see the talented participants locked in on the launch, and later showing off their unique designs to the judges.

09/24/2026

What can happen when families put down their phones and gather around the dinner table? ❤️ For more than three decades, Lamont Elementary School District's Cene Con Sus Hijos has encouraged families to make time for meals, meaningful conversations and connections that can last a lifetime. Read all about it and see the photo gallery in our latest EdConnect feature. 👇️

A shared meal can be about much more than food. For more than three decades, Lamont Elementary School District’s Cene Con Sus Hijos has encouraged families to put away the distractions, sit down together and connect through

09/24/2026

Tiny teeth deserve big-time care! An early visit can help:
🪥 Prevent cavities
🦷 Monitor development
💡 Give parents helpful tips
😊 Make the dentist a familiar, positive place

📲 Call Kern County Children’s Dental Health Network at 661-546-8903 to schedule a dental screening.
📍 1675 Chester Ave., Suite 100, Bakersfield
🔗 Visit us online at www.kccdhn.org.

KCCDHN is a program of KCSOS, funded by First 5 Kern (Prop 10).