Serving over 206,000 students across Fresno County, The Foundation @ FCOE raised over $1.6 million in 2023-2024 to support programs and services that ensure students obtain a well-rounded education with Excellence, Access, and Innovation at the forefront.
- Excellence: To support academic and co-curricular student events coordinated by the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, such as Academic Decathlon, College Night, Science Fair, Spelling Bee, Young Authors’ Faire, and Career Tech Expo.
- Access: To help fund countywide programs that promote opportunities for student success, such as early care and education, empowerment and equity supports, graduation rate improvement, college and career-tech readiness, libraries, technology and more.
- Innovation: To provide grants to school programs across the county that demonstrate innovation and improve student educational success.
Countywide Impact
Health Youth Corps Showcase
The Health Youth Corps Showcase brought together passionate high school students to present innovative, research-driven solutions to real health issues affecting their communities. The event highlighted the creativity and leadership of youth who are deeply engaged in improving public health where they live and learn. Projects were grounded in both personal relevance and community need, showcasing how health is shaped not just by systems and policies—but by voices on the ground.
March Superintendent's Superstar
The March Superintendent's Superstar is Zoe, a senior at University High School. Zoe is a distinguished student leader and a shining example of dedication and perseverance. With a GPA of 4.029, she demonstrates academic excellence while balancing a range of leadership roles and extracurricular activities. She currently serves as the President of the Black Student Union and Captain of the Debate and History Day teams, where she leads her peers with passion and integrity.
Clovis West Student Advances at Science Fair
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.
Arts Education Month
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.
February Superintendent's Superstar
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.
MathCounts
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.
January Superintendent's Superstar
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.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Competitions
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.
Educator of the Year Awards
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.
Health Youth Corps Conference
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.
Students Travel to Oregon Shakespeare Festival
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.
Career Tech Expo 2024
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.
Congratulations 2024 Honorees!
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.
$10,000 Gift to Scout Island Outdoor Education Center
The Bonner Family Foundation made a generous $10,000 gift to the Scout Island Outdoor Education Center. The Scout Island Outdoor Education Center is located along the San Joaquin Riverwith within Fresno City limits. Scout Island provides outdoor educational experiences for students throughout the eighty-five acres of invaluable habitat for native wildlife and riverside vegetation.
2024 Science Olympiad
Approximately 600 students in grades 3-12 pushed their academic limits to compete in this year's elementary and secondary competitions of the Science Olympiad hosted by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools STEM Department. The Science Olympiad competition is like an academic track meet with a series of 23 team events.
Increasing Access to the Arts
Increasing access to the arts has long been a priority of the Foundation and building strong partnerships in the community contributes to students having a variety of opportunities. Aaron Bryan, Director of FCSS Arts Education, and his team, partnered with Mike Gibson at Fresno Lexus and Broadway in Fresno to give students a wonderful theatrical experience.
Promoting Access: FCSS Kids Day
The annual FCSS Kids Day event welcomed 1,500 students with special needs to embark on a day full of fun and learning. Many organizations came together for this one-of-a-kind event including Fresno Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff's Department, Fresno Fire Department, and many more, to engage students and their families in an experience they might not otherwise have been able to enjoy.
Health Youth Corps Showcase
The Health Youth Corps Showcase was held at Fresno City College with tremendous success. The Showcase is the culminating event for students who participate all year-long in the Health Youth Corps program as student ambassadors promoting positive health choices among their high school peers.
Life Skills at Washington Union High School
In 2023, Washington Unified School District was a recipient of the Kaiser Permanente Economic Opportunity Grant. The goal of the Economic Opportunity Grant was to support programs that help students excel in school and become equipped to pursue careers and quality jobs. With the grant funding, the district was able to transform the Life Skills classroom at Washington Union High School to better impact students with disabilities gaining essential job skills for life after high school.
First Annual Health Youth Corps Conference
The FCSS-Health Services Department held the first-ever Health Youth Corps Conference at Washington Union High School. Over 250 Fresno County students learned about the role they will have in the future to positively impact the health outcomes in the Central Valley.