Serving over 205,000 students across Fresno County, The Foundation @ FCOE raised over $3.9 million in 2022-2023 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
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.
PG & E Grant Helps Expand Kerman Online School
Support from a generous PG & E grant made a significant impact to the Kerman Online School at Kerman Unified. The Kerman Online School has developed into the flagship of dual enrollment opportunities for secondary students in Kerman Unified.
Fresno County Math Collaborative
In 2021, with a generous investment from Chevron, the FCSS-STEM team partnered with the Differentiated Assistance team to launch the Math Networked Improvement Community, now called the Fresno County Math Collaborative (FCMC). The focus of FCMC is to build capacity at school sites for both strong math instruction and sustained improvement.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Contest Series
The Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Contest Series featured the outstanding talents of Fresno County students in the categories of art, speech, and essay.
Grant Awarded to Alice M. Worsley School
Cultural Arts Rotary Foundation awards Worsley School with a grant for recreational reading books that will help motivate students to read outside of the classroom, strengthening their reading skills. Worsley school serves students who are in custody of the juvenile court system.
2023 Innovation Grants
Congratulations to the 2023 Innovation Grant Awards recipients! Each year, the Foundation is proud to offer each school district a grant of up to $1,000 to fund an innovative project that will excite and engage students in and out of the classroom.
Career Tech Expo
Every year, the Career Tech Expo draws nearly 2,500 high school students from Fresno and the surrounding counties to learn about careers and educational opportunities available through many trade and training facilities. Students and parents have an opportunity to speak to industry professionals about their experiences and get their outlook on future employment opportunities to assist them in planning future goals and careers.
2023 Deb and Dr. Allen Clyde Scholarship
Congratulations to Gemma Fortunado, the 2023 recipient of the Deb and Dr. Allen Clyde Charitable Fund Scholarship. Gemma is pursuing her bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education with the goal of becoming a high school agriculture mechanics teacher.
Fresno County Summer Arts Academy
FCSS student programs wrapped up in July with the Fresno County Summer Arts Academy showcase. Students had a wonderful time discovering and expanding their artistic talents and skills through courses taught by Fresno City College faculty in choir, concert band, Jazz band, journalism, modern dance, photography, rock band, speech and debate, theatre acting and costume crafts.