The Fresno County Science Fair, hosted by Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (FCSS), once again showcased the incredible talent and innovation of local students. Among the standout participants was Olaf Muchalski, a junior from Clovis West High School, who captured the top prize by being named the Sweepstakes winner. With this prestigious honor, Olaf will now advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where he will compete against some of the brightest young minds from around the world.

March was Arts Education Month, a time dedicated to promoting and recognizing the importance of arts education in schools, as well as highlighting the value of integrating visual arts, music, theater, dance, and other creative disciplines into the educational experience. Throughout the month, FCSS celebrated by hosting performances every Friday, featuring talented students from local high schools. These performances were made possible in part by a grant from the Hewlett Foundation, which supports arts education initiatives.

The February Superintendent's Superstar is Jade, a junior at Laton High School and a shining example of school spirit. As a Navajo Native American and Hispanic student, Jade has maximized all that the district provides to grow, lead and inspire. Raised in the close-knit community of Laton, she has flourished in an environment that values connection, opportunity and perseverance. Drawing strength from her grandparents, the father figures who have guided her, and -- most importantly -- her mother’s unwavering support, Jade has turned encouragement into action. Guided by the saying, “Be the reason the tree grows,” she credits those who have nurtured her success and, in turn, strives to uplift others.

The excitement was palpable as 103 students from across Fresno County gathered to compete in the annual FCSS MathCounts Competition, a thrilling event that celebrates mathematical talent, problem-solving skills, and academic excellence. Hosted by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools at Fresno State, this competition brings together some of the brightest middle and elementary school minds for a day of challenging math problems and spirited collaboration.

The January Superintendent's Superstar is Rylee, an 8th grade student at Rafer Johnson Junior High School in the Kingsburg Elementary Charter School District. As this month’s Superstar recipient for her school, she possesses a heart full of resilience and a radiant spirit. Her journey through middle school has been anything but easy. Rylee has risen above, continually inspiring her peers, teachers and community with her strength and determination. Rylee is known for her cheerful disposition and unwavering commitment to embodying her school’s core values of patience, integrity, justice, humanity, and courage.

The 2025 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Reception took place this month, celebrating the remarkable achievements of student winners in the speech, art, and essay categories of the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Competition Series hosted by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. This year’s theme, “Dreaming Together: Changed by the Past, Molding the Future,” challenged students to explore their dreams—whether inspired by a historical figure or someone in their own lives. The competion brings together an inspiring group of young minds who demonstrated creativity, thoughtfulness, and a deep understanding of the values Dr. King championed.

The Educator of the Year Awards is a special ceremony that celebrates and honors the incredible educators of Fresno County who go above and beyond in shaping the lives of their students. These dedicated individuals inspire, motivate, and empower the next generation, fostering an environment where students can thrive academically and personally. The awards provide an opportunity to recognize the hard work, passion, and commitment of those who play such a crucial role in the success and growth of their students, making a lasting impact on both their educational journeys and futures.

The Health Youth Corps Conference, hosted by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools-Health Services Department on November 18, focused on empowering students from the Central Valley to play an active role in promoting community health, both now and as future leaders. This impactful event welcomed students from Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, and Tulare counties, giving them a platform to explore how they can influence the region's health outcomes and to deepen their understanding of health equity.

Since 2020, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has provided significant funding to expand arts education in Fresno County’s rural school districts. Through these grants, the FCSS Arts Education Department has been working with a cohort of like-minded educators to develop arts-focused strategies and lessons for classrooms. Today’s generation deserves rich educational experiences that extend beyond traditional classroom learning, ensuring that theater remains a vibrant part of our communities.

New year, new opportunities for Fresno County students to help them discover their talents, interests, and passions. The FCSS CTE/ROP Department hosted the annual Career Tech Expo at Chukchansi Park on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The Expo welcomed students to explore various career opportunities in industries such as medical and finance, automotive and transportation, building trades and construction, early childhood education, agriculture, energy and utilities, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, public safety, engineering, architecture, and small business.

The FCOE Honors is an annual honor given to local community members who enrich education and the lives of Fresno County students through Academics, Agriculture, Arts, and Athletics. The honorees are recognized at the FCOE Honors Gala awards banquet and fundraiser. Proceeds from the Gala help build, enhance, and advance essential programs and services coordinated by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools.

The Knowing Native Ways project was created to allow Native American students (6% of the population) at Foothill Elementary the opportunity to authentically see themselves portrayed in literature and the students of all races to gain an authentic view of the Native American culture.

Building a Dual Language Classroom Library was a tremendous success at San Joaquin Elementary. Students were given access to new bilingual books for K-4th grade, which allowed students to enjoy reading literature in their very own space. Teachers are also able to utilize the books for whole class instruction, small group instruction, and independent student reading time.

Students at Big Creek Elementary participated in the FIRST Lego League engineering program. They had to design, build, and program a robot to accomplish various tasks in a competitive environment.

The Pause. Breathe. Repeat. project allowed Harvest Elementary to expand and strengthen the social-emotional learning curriculum with SPOT books. SPOT books take difficult concepts and helps make them more understandable in a way that helps students discuss how they are feeling.

The recent STEM and NGSS initiatives have encouraged educators to create innovative and engaging teaching methods to bring some excitement to learning science into the classroom. One approach, explored by high school students at DeWolf in Fresno Unified, was through the integration of Molecular Gastronomy in Chemistry.

Students at Washington Union High School were able to learn about and raise trout from eggs to fry through this hands-on project. They learned about the trout life cycle and their needs. Students were responsible for taking care of them and maintaining the aquarium.

The Bringing History to Life project at Orange Cove High School brought life to the content students were learning in Chicano and Latin American History and Government/Economics with a storage chest of history-inspired aesthetics, including a variety of costumes and accessories (i.e. Lincoln’s hat, shawl).