California School for the Deaf, Riverside

WAIT... KIDA THE GREAT CAME TO CSDR PROM?! 🤯🔥

Yes, you read that right!

Our Cubs were treated to an unforgettable surprise when Kida Burns, better known as Kida the Great, stopped by prom to perform and teach a few of his signature dance moves.

Kida is one of the most recognized dancers of his generation, known for winning So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation and for his work as a dancer, choreographer, and creative collaborator with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Justin Bieber, Usher, Chris Brown, and more. His talent, creativity, and energy have inspired millions around the world.

To have someone of Kida’s caliber spend time with our Cubs was truly special.

A huge THANK YOU to Kida for making our prom experience one for the history books.

Special thanks as well to Shaheem, Kida’s brother, for helping make this connection possible and for supporting opportunities that uplift Deaf youth.

And a very special thank you to Yamila Davis for helping bring everything together and making this incredible experience possible for our students. Also, most importantly, a huge shout out to Class of 2027 and their sponsors for making the biggest highlight happen during prom.

Moments like these remind us that our Cubs deserve opportunities to learn from and be inspired by some of the very best.

Cubs, we hope you’re still practicing those moves.

A night to remember, captured beautifully through the lens of our very own staff/alumna!

A special thank you to our librarian, Scarlett Valencia, and her photography business, Scarlett Valencia Photography, for capturing the unforgettable moments, laughter, friendships, and memories from Prom 2026.

Families and students can view the full prom photo album by visiting Scarlett’s site and relive the magic of this incredible evening. And if you made it to the last photo in this post... 👀

You may have noticed a very excited faces that saw who stopped by prom and helped make the night even more memorable. You won’t want to miss what’s next.

Check out our next post for the amazing guest appearance!

Behind every successful school day is a team of incredible people making it happen!

From instruction to student life, groundskeeping to maintenance, finances to operations, our CSDR staff are always working to keep our campus and students thriving!

Our Cabinet Team celebrated ALL the dedicated staff who help make CSDR a place where students can grow and succeed.

Our Cubs community continues to prove that when we work as one, there is no limit to what we can achieve. A true definition to our theme motto this year, United in Purpose, Unlimited Possibility.

Thank you for your commitment and heart you bring to campus each day!

Senior Spotlight • Part 2 🎓

Today, we continue celebrating the incredible Class of 2026 by recognizing the next group of graduating Cubs.

These cubs have helped shape our campus community as well. As graduation approaches, we honor not only their accomplishments, but also the impact they have made during their time at CSDR.

United in Purpose. Unlimited in Possibility.

Congratulations to our Cubs! We are cheering you on every step of the way.

Senior Spotlight • Part 1 🎓

The countdown to graduation begins as we recognize the first group of Cubs from the Class of 2026.

Each Cub represented in this spotlight has contributed to our community with their leadership, academic achievement, school spirit, and personal growth.

United in Purpose. Unlimited in Possibility.

Congratulations to these outstanding seniors as they prepare for their next chapter.

Graduation season is here!
 
The California School for the Deaf, Riverside proudly invites our Class of 2026 Cubs’ families to celebrate this unforgettable milestone together.
 
We are excited to welcome Mr. Michael Spady as this year’s Commencement Speaker.
 
Michael Anthony Spady is a respected Deaf actor, mentor, and a long time coach for our Cubs whose perseverance and dedication continue to inspire our community.
 
We look forward to celebrating our graduates alongside their families, friends, staff, and community as we honor their achievements and bright futures of our Cubs.

At the California School for the Deaf, Riverside, we believe in honoring the individuals whose leadership, service, and dedication have left a lasting impact on our campus and community.

We proudly honored the legacy of Dr. Lawrence (Larry) Newman who made history as the first Deaf individual to serve as a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet at CSDR, where he served as the school’s third Assistant Superintendent. His leadership helped pave the way for future generations of Deaf professionals and educational leaders.

Before his administrative leadership, Dr. Newman dedicated twenty years to CSDR as a high school math teacher and was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 1968. He later served as principal of the Taft School for the Deaf in Santa Ana before returning to CSDR as Assistant Superintendent for 11 years. His wife, Betty Newman, also devoted 24 years of service to CSDR as a teacher, making their family’s impact on our community deeply rooted and lasting.

To celebrate his extraordinary legacy, we officially named our High School Core Building in his honor during a plaque dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Our Superintendent, April McArthur shared heartfelt remarks, Dr. Newman’s children reflected on their experiences growing up on this campus, and our High School ASBG students expressed appreciation for the path he helped create for future generations.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Kevin Struxness and Mike Anderson for their support in helping make this meaningful recognition possible.

Dr. Newman’s legacy of leadership, excellence, and advocacy will continue to inspire the CSDR community for generations to come.

New POSITIONS!

Positions are now open at California School for the Deaf, Riverside, including:
• Personnel Specialist
• Bilingual Arts Teacher

Plus, application deadlines for two previously posted positions have been EXTENDED!
• Science Teacher
• Middle School Principal

We’re looking for professionals who:
• Believe in Deaf education and student empowerment
• Value ASL and bilingual learning environments
• Bring passion, collaboration, and leadership
• Want to make a lasting impact in students’ lives
• Don’t mind wearing RED and GRAY with pride!

Interested in joining our community? Visit the link in our bio for application details and to VIEW ADDITIONAL POSITIONS that are still open.

Come be a CUB!