San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

Our sessions and our hearts are full! 🫶

Day 2 of the Fourth Annual Early Education Symposium was nothing short of amazing. From puppet play and dancing with plates to hands-on fun with felt, every breakout session was filled with engaging experiences and meaningful strategies educators can bring back to their classrooms.

Thank you to all of our attendees for joining us. Your passion and commitment to early learning play a vital role in creating brighter futures for our youngest learners.

That’s a wrap on the first day of the 2026 Early Education Symposium ✨

At SBCSS, we believe every child deserves a strong start. It was inspiring to see early childhood educators, administrators, coaches, and community partners from across California come together around a shared passion for supporting our youngest learners.

Throughout the day, participants exchanged ideas, learned from one another, and explored literacy practices that help build strong foundations for our students. We can't wait to see what Day 2 brings!

Today, educators stepped into the design thinking process during our Design for Deeper Learning workshop, exploring how students can tackle real-world challenges through inquiry, innovation and problem-solving.

Participants investigated a California State Park challenge while utilizing physical computing tools, including micro sensors and drone technology, to collect data, make observations and develop solutions. Throughout the experience, educators explored connections between computer science, science and mathematics instruction for grades 3–8, while discovering how interdisciplinary learning can amplify student voice, advocacy and engagement.

Over 300 elementary principals and district leaders representing 20 school districts from across the County joined us for the second annual SBCSS Principal Conference. 🌟

During the event, participants engaged in meaningful discussions, explored effective practices and strengthened connections with fellow educators, all with the shared goal of supporting student achievement and creating positive learning environments for every child! �

Today, we honored four SBCSS retirees whose decades of dedication have helped transform lives through education.

Congratulations to:
• Melita Crowell, Application Support Manager, 30 years
• Vivian McFall, Principal, 29 years
• Penny Tharpe, Ed.D., Coordinating Principal, 26 years
• Marina Jimenez, Senior Multimedia Designer, 32 years

We also had the privilege of celebrating the 2026 Horace J. Boatwright Scholarship recipients, recognizing students who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming adversity, including experiences with homelessness, foster care, probation, and other significant life challenges.

Thank you to our retirees for your lasting impact, and congratulations to our scholarship recipients as you continue pursuing your educational goals! 🌟

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Your hard work and determination have brought you to this incredible milestone. As you embark on this next chapter, we are so excited to see where your journey takes you and all that you will accomplish. Wishing you continued success and endless opportunities ahead! 🎓✨