2022-23 Annual Report | Future Ready

READY

MISSION & BOARD CORE VALUES

Mission

The San Marcos Unified School District is an innovative and collaborati community providing an unparalleled educational experience. Through an engaging and supportive environment, all our students are challe inspired, and poised to excel.

MISSION

Board Core Values

The San Marcos Unified School District is an innovative and collaborative community providing an unparalleled educational experience. Through an engaging and supportive environment, all our students are challenged, inspired, and poised to excel.

As elected members of the Governing Board of the San Marcos Unified School District, we accept the high honor and trust that has been pla in us to ensure that the students of the district receive an outstandin education that prepares them to be Future Ready in the 21st century The following core values underlie our work as a Board and the decisions we make for our students and staff:

SMUSD EQUITY STATEMENT

SMUSD Equity Statement

INNOVATION

We support and encourage innovative programs that challenge, inspi and prepare students for the 21st century world of work and citizenshi

EQUITY

The Portrait of a Graduate is a promise made to every SMUSD student, and we are committed to providing an unparalleled educational experience that prepares every graduate to be Future Ready - f rom the most able to the most vulnerable of our students. Racial, socioeconomic, social, or cultural factors should not predict whether or not students are prepared for college, career and civic engagement

We believe that the Portrait of a Graduate is a promise we have made to every SMUSD student, and that this promise will be realized through systems, policies, and experiences that promote equitable outcomes

EQUITY STATEMENT

To deliver on this promise, we will:

• Continually reflect on and refine our instructional practices to ensure they are meeting the needs of all learners;

HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF

Ensure that every student feels connected to school and is engaged, challenged, and inspired in their learning;

We believe that we will meet our goals for students by providing exceptional ongoing professional development and training for all SMUSD teachers, administrators and support staff

Provide the support needed for each student to develop academic proficiency and the competencies outlined in the Portrait of a Graduate;

The Portrait of a Graduate is a promise made to every SMUSD student, and we are committed to providing an unparalleled educational experience that prepares every graduate to be Future Ready - from the most able to the most vulnerable of our students. Racial, socioeconomic, social, or cultural factors should not predict whether or not students are prepared for college, career and civic engagement.

• Identify and address district systems, policies, and/or practices that are unintentionally getting in the way of the success of students;

RELATIONSHIPS

We believe that respectful and collaborative relationships with distric students, staff, families, employee associations, and the broader San community will support our efforts to meet the needs of all students.

Ensure that our campuses are safe, welcoming and inclusive places for all students, staff members, and families;

To deliver on this promise, we will:

Help students discover and cultivate the unique gifts, talents, and interests that each possesses;

• Continually reflect on and refine our instructional practices to ensure they are meeting the needs of all learners;

• Partner with our families and our community to support the success of all SMUSD students by modeling and expecting behavior and speech that promotes a culture of empathy, curiosity, and mutual respect

• Ensure that every student feels connected to school and is engaged, challenged, and inspired in their learning;

We believe that innovative programs, high levels of student achievement, outsta professional development and strong relationships will continue to position SMUSD destination district for students, families and employees for years to com

• Provide the support needed for each student to develop academic proficiency and the competencies outlined in the Portrait of a Graduate; Identify and address district systems, policies, and/or practices that are unintentionally getting in the way of the success of students;

Ensure that our campuses are safe, welcoming and inclusive places for all students, staff members, and families;

Help students discover and cultivate the unique gifts, talents, and interests that each possesses;

Partner with our families and our community to support the success of all SMUSD students by modeling and expecting behavior and speech that promotes a culture of empathy, curiosity, and mutual respect.

SAN MARCOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT EXECUTIVE CABINET TEAM

SAN MARCOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD

ROLE OF THE BOARD

MISSION & BOARD CORE VALUES

The SMUSD Governing Board is elected by the community to provide leadership and citizen oversight to the District’s 19 schools. Governing Board members work with the Superintendent to set the direction for the District that is focused on student learning and achievement, establishing an effective and efficient organizational structure, and providing support to the Superintendent and staff as they carry out the Board’s direction. This also includes ensuring accountability to the public for the performance of the District’s schools, adopting district policies, approving Local Control and Accountability Plans, adopting and monitoring budgets, monitoring district performance and student achievement and actively listening to public comments.

Mission

The San Marcos Unified School District is an innovative and collaborative community providing an unparalleled educational experience. Through an engaging and supportive environment, all our students are challenged, inspired, and poised to excel.

Board Core Values

Board Core Values

As elected members of the Governing Board of the San Marcos Unified School District, we accept the high honor and trust that has been placed in us to ensure that the students of the district receive an outstanding education that prepares them to be Future Ready in the 21st century The following core values underlie our work as a Board and the decisions we make for our students and staff:

INNOVATION / The Board supports and encourages innovative programs that challenge, inspire, and prepare students for the 21st century world of work and citizenship.

EQUITY / The Board believes that the Portrait of a Graduate is a promise we have made to every SMUSD student, and that this promise will be realized through systems, policies, and experiences that promote equitable outcomes for all.

INNOVATION

We support and encourage innovative programs that challenge, inspire, and prepare students for the 21st century world of work and citizenship

HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF / The Board believes that we will meet our goals for students by providing exceptional ongoing professional development and training for all SMUSD teachers, administrators and support staff.

EQUITY

We believe that the Portrait of a Graduate is a promise we have made to every SMUSD student, and that this promise will be realized through systems, policies, and experiences that promote equitable outcomes for all.

HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF

RELATIONSHIPS / The Board believes that respectful and collaborative relationships with district students, staff, families, employee associations, and the broader San Marcos community will support efforts to meet the needs of all students.

We believe that we will meet our goals for students by providing exceptional ongoing professional development and training for all SMUSD teachers, administrators and support staff.

Dr. Andy Johnsen Superintendent

Dr. Tiffany Campbell Deputy Superintendent

Erin Garcia Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

Dr. Joel Garcia Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Development

Amy Ventetuolo Public Information Officer

Susan Boynton Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Jaime Chamberlin Board President

Dr. Carlos Ulloa Board Vice President

Sarah Ahmad Board Clerk

Stacy Carlson Board Member Re-elected

Andrés Martín Board Member Newly-elected

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Last year we realized the time was right to cast a fresh vision to ensure we are preparing San Marcos Unified students with the experiences and skills they will need after graduation. The result of nearly a year of analysis, dialogue and input was our Portrait of a Graduate: our vision to ensure our students leave SMUSD ready to pursue whatever future path they choose, or as we call it, Future Ready. This also resulted in a Strategic Plan which serves as the roadmap for how we will achieve this–it is our Strategic Promise to all SMUSD students.

As you’ll see through the pages of this year’s Annual Report, we are working to align all of our systems to fully engage in the work to bring our Strategic Promise to life. Through instructional practices, programs, experiences for students, staff training and development, and more, we are working to reshape what it means for students to engage in 21st learning that will equip them for their next stage of life. While this work is exciting, it doesn’t happen overnight, and our commitment to our students, staff, families and San Marcos community is that we will continue to pursue this critical work in the coming years to accomplish the goals in our Strategic Promise.

Another highlight of this year was the full reconstruction of Richland Elementary School. Previously the oldest school in the San Marcos Unified School District, built in 1960, Richland is now a brand new modernized campus, equipped for Future Ready learning. Another thank you to the Richland community for your patience during this project - but the outcome was worth it!

We have also taken this last year to refocus our efforts on the safety of students and staff on our campuses. We are the first school district in San Diego County to have a team from each school site and the District Office engage in the rigorous Diamond Safety Training to help keep our students and campuses safe. And we have also begun facilities improvements to ensure safe campuses and learning environments, with more work to come. But safety extends farther than physical surroundings and staff training. This is why we are also addressing the vitally important matter of student mental health. This year we launched a new mental health program for all students called “Let’s Face It. Together,” a campaign that includes Wellness Teams and a 24/7 crisis text line for students. It has already begun bearing fruit and will continue to be at the forefront of our efforts going forward.

We are honored to be engaging in such important work that will help shape the future of our students and SMUSD for years to come. Thank you for taking a moment to celebrate the year’s successes with us, and for your ongoing support of our amazing students!

Andrew S. Johnsen, Ed.D. Superintendent

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

As the first year serving as Board President, I am truly filled with excitement about the vision and clear direction we are headed in as one of the top school districts in San Diego County. Our Portrait of a Graduate Strategic Promise is the roadmap for how we will ensure every student becomes Future Ready, and equipped with the critical 21st century skills to thrive in our ever-changing global economy. As I visit schools on our Board Tours, attend student events, or state and federal advocacy trips, I am constantly in awe of the resilience, creativity and determination of our students and remarkable staff. The San Marcos Unified School District truly is a place where each and every day we strive to do better, and achieve more, for our students. My hope is that you also see this commitment vividly, as you look through the pages of this year’s 2022-23 Annual Report.

Jaime Chamberlin Governing Board President

FAST FACTS

With a long-standing reputation of educational excellence, the San Marcos Unified School District is:

Ranked

TOP 5 SCHOOL DISTRICTS as one of the

in San Diego county

14 schools have received California Distinguished School designation

3 schools have received Gold Ribbon School Designation

3 schools have received Blue Ribbon School Designation

San Marcos Unified is the 5th largest school district in San Diego County with 19 schools:

10 Elementary schools

2 K-8 schools

3 middle schools

3 high schools

1 independent study school

+19,500 STUDENTS 95% GRADUATION RATE

*CA: 84%, *US: 86%

CAASPP - ELA TEST SCORES 22.7+ points above standard

23 Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings

2,534 students enrolled in an AP course

K-12 Visual & Performing Arts Programs

Thriving Athletics Department

2022-2023 Annual Report | 3

FUTURE READY TIMELINE

At SMUSD, our mission is to ensure our students are challenged, inspired, and poised to excelbut we must ask ourselves what this looks like in our 21st century global economy. Over the last year and half, we have recruited a dynamic Portrait of a Graduate Design Team of nearly 100 business & community leaders, local elected officials, parents, students, and alumni to outline the relevant skills and competencies our students will need. From there, we developed the final Portrait of a Graduate, and corresponding Board-approved Strategic Plan, or Strategic Promise, to bring this vision to life and ensure students are Future Ready. We invite you into our journey:

October-December

2021 Planning and formation of the Portrait Design Team

During this time planning for the Portrait of a Graduate Design process took place, as well as gathering and selecting Design Team members. These members consisted of nearly 100 individuals from the San Marcos community, including SMUSD staff, students, parents, alumni, San Marcos business and community leaders, and elected officials.

January-March

2022 Portrait of a Graduate Design Team Kick-Off

Over the course of these three months, the Design Team met four times to develop and gain consensus on the top competencies that would be the most critical for SMUSD graduates to have in a 21st century global economy. These competencies are: Adaptability, Communication, Critical Thinking, Empathy, and Leadership.

April-August

2022 Strategic Planning process

During this time, staff throughout San Marcos Unified met to engage in the long-term strategic plan development to bring the Portrait of a Graduate vision to life.

| San Marcos Unified School District

September-October

2022 During the September 29, 2022 Special Meeting, the Governing Board provided overall agreement on the direction of the Strategic Plan, and shared feedback on key areas. During the October 27, 2022 Special Meeting, the Board approved the adoption of the final Strategic Plan, which will serve as the roadmap to achieve the Portrait of a Graduate vision over the following years.

January

2023

The Strategic Plan publication, now known as our Strategic Promise, sharing the story and details of how we will redefine student success in a Future Ready System, is released to the community.

Current

We are now embarking on implementing the Strategic Promise by beginning to reengineer our systems to deliver on our promise to bring our Portrait of a Graduate to life and ensure students are Future Ready.

CAREER & COLLEGE

Becoming Future Ready means we are engaging students in their learning by providing opportunities in a variety of ways: through guest speakers, internships, opportunities for college and career exploration, SMUSD is preparing students for the next steps after graduation.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Future Ready: Career & College possibilities STEMmed from a high school internship for Charley Walsh

Senior, Charley Walsh, not only has her UCLA acceptance and is preparing for her first year in the fall, she also landed her first job in a long-term care tech start-up that stemmed from an internship from her Healthcare pathway courses at San Marcos High School.

“Ms. Davis’ Anatomy class made me want to pursue opportunities in healthcare and science,” says Walsh. After Ms. Davis’ class, Walsh landed two internships with Stanford University, before she began her current one at the long-term care start-up tech company, who has offered her a paid remote position.

“I’m so grateful for the Anatomy courses at SMUSD as well as the support and skills I learned through The San Marcos Promise. I’ve learned how to write a resume and interviewing skills, as well as discover all the resources available at my fingertips. With my new remote job, I can work through school while I am making a difference in the healthcare sector, before I even have my degree,” remarks Walsh, who is also a San Marcos Promise Ambassador.

Walsh is looking forward to her future career in Neuroscience, and she is quick to share why she believes she was able to discover her interests so early.

“My time at SMUSD definitely guided me to the path I am on now. From the rigor and variety of my courses, my supportive teachers, to the amazing experience on ASB, the student population around me who encouraged me, and the preparation for life outside the classroom, all helped bring me here,” says Walsh.

Walsh’s experience also allows her to serve as a role model for her younger siblings, “I’m taking everything I learned back to my family, and I want them to see that with your educational experience, you’ll get back exactly what you put in.”

“

My time at SMUSD definitely guided me to the path I am on now.”

Charley Walsh, San Marcos High School Senior

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PATHWAY

Students interested in the Building & Construction Trades industry at San Marcos High School have access to a large industrial woodworking area where they make everything from cabinetry and chairs, to a tiny home. Yes, a tiny home. When complete, the tiny home will be donated to a local non-profit, and in past years, the Wounded Warrior Village was a recipient for the home to be used for a homeless veteran.

FOOD SERVICE & HOSPITALITY PATHWAY

Chopping, prepping, catering - students enrolled in Culinary Arts courses gain experience in the Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation industry sector, and spend time truly hands-on in their learning. Whether it’s an engaging elective, or a career, Culinary Arts students get real-world experience catering events throughout our community.

PUBLIC SAFETY PATHWAY

The Public Safety pathway and Criminal Justice courses prepare students with a broad-based foundational knowledge in careers that involve public safety. Whether students are interested in pursuing legal or law enforcement careers, students are engaged in hands-on training and exercises.

ENGINEERING DESIGN PATHWAY

As the population continues to grow, engineers and architects will be called upon to imagine the future and turn it into reality. The Engineering & Architecture sector courses are designed to provide a foundation in engineering, architecture, and design. Examples of careers are Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Software Engineer, Environmental Engineer, and Chemical Engineer.

San Marcos & Mission Hills High School students both recipients of $180K NROTC Scholarships

Mission Hills High School student, Cadence Yeats, and San Marcos High School student, Fiona Burns, were each recipients of a $180,000 NROTC Scholarship from the United States Marine Corps. The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) allows aspiring Marine Officers the opportunity to complete their studies at a participating college or university and earn a commission in the United States Marine Corps. Congratulations Cadence & Fiona!

14 Career Technical Education Pathways:

Agriscience

Ornamental Horticulture

Animal Science

Design, Visual, and Media Arts

Cabinetry, Millwork, & Woodworking

Residential & Commercial Construction

Child Development

Education

Family & Human Services

Engineering Design

Patient Care

Food Service & Hospitality

Software & Systems Development

Public Safety

3,241 STUDENTS enrolled in a CTE course

A mental health program

A mental health program

ABOUT

Let's Face It. Together. is a mental health awareness campaign supported by the San Marcos Unified School District and the City of San Marcos. The campaign aims to help youth and teens get support from the District to address mental health challenges.

Let’s Face It. Together. is a mental health program created in partnership with the City of San Marcos to help youth, teens, and adults get support from SMUSD to address mental health challenges.

From counselors on their school campus, or a referral to an outside healthcare provider, Wellness Teams will guide students and families through the process from beginning to end.

This program will act as a bridge for students, parents, teachers and administrators by connecting students in need with appropriate services to improve their mental health and quality of life. Thanks to the support of the City of San Marcos, we’ve been able to add on to the existing layers of support for students by bringing:

This program will act as a bridge for students, parents, teachers and administrators by connecting students in need with appropriate services to improve their mental health and quality of life.

SMUSD WELLNESS TEAM

24/7 CRISIS TEXT LINE

Students can now text to access free support from trained mental health staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

WELLNESS TEAMS

Wellness Teams, comprised of school-based mental health providers and family liaisons, have been assembled throughout the District and are prepared to help students seek additional emotional or mental health support. These Wellness Teams will assess the needs of students and refer families to the best suited resource.

HOW IT WORKS

• TEXT: Students and parents can text “SMUSD” to “741741” to get immediate and confidential help. They’ll be referred to a wellness advocate who can provide guidance and facilitate a plan that suits their unique needs.

CARE SOLACE

• TALK: If a student prefers to talk it out first, they can visit any counseling sta or speak to a trusted faculty member, who can guide them through the process.

Serving every school in the district, wellness teams make home visits and help connect a student and their family with wraparound support services.

Connecting to the right resources and appointments outside of school can be difficult to navigate but Care Solace facilitates connection to services in a fraction of the time it might take for students, families, and staff to navigate it on their own.

• CALL: If this is a mental health emergency, don't wait! Call 988 immediately.

Moving from childhood to adolescence is hard, especially with today’s digital and social issues our students face. While the struggles may not be new, the global pandemic and shifts in virtual and in-person learning, have exacerbated these issues taking a mental and emotional toll on students. In addition to expediting a connection to resources for students, the program works to dismantle stigmas surrounding mental health and let students know they are not alone. Let’s Face It. Together.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS AND SAN MARCOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

SUPPORT.

Since launching the program, from January 2023, SMUSD teams have already conducted:

45

conversations to the 24/7 Crisis Text Line *Data represents the first quarter of 2023

3,071 Care Solace interactions

21,505 Care Solace communications to coordinate care (calls, emails, texts)

SAN MARCOS UNIFIED FILES POSITIVE BUDGET CERTIFICATION

Building on budget stability measures taken over the past several years, in December 2022 San Marcos Unified was proud to file a Positive Budget Certification, which is the highest level of budget certification a district can achieve, signifying a district is in good financial standing.

MOODY’S INVESTOR SERVICE UPGRADES SAN MARCOS UNIFIED’S CREDIT RATING

In fall 2022, Moody’s Investors Service affirmed the district’s credit ratings, and revising the rating from negative to stable. This positive outcome came largely due to the improved outlook of the district’s financial position resulting from actions taken by the Governing Board and Administration to eliminate ongoing deficit spending in 2022-23 through implementation of its fiscal stabilization plan. In its published credit opinion, Moody’s noted the “new leadership team has shown commitment to improving operations through the implementation of tighter position controls, an emphasis on transparency and engagement with the Board and community.” Similar to an individual’s credit score, a higher credit rating helps lower interest and issuance costs, directly translating to taxpayer savings.

HOW FUNDING IS SPENT *

$329.1M Budget Revenues

$300M Budget Expenditures

9.29% Reserves

3% minimum reserves required by the State

83.4% Employee salaries & benefits

10.9% Services & Operating

4.8% Supplies

0.9% Capital Outlay

It is common for school district budgets to have Employee salaries & benefits as the largest expense

*As of the 2022-23 Second Interim Budget Report, March 2023.

For more Budget information, please scan

New Home to School Transportation Funding

For the first time in more than 10 years, the 2022-23 enacted State Budget included additional funding for Home to School Transportation providing San Marcos Unified with additional funding of approximately $2.8 million per year to either expand Home to School transportation or absorb the funds into the existing Transportation Budget. At San Marcos Unified, our team jumped at the chance to develop a plan to expand service, which was unanimously approved by our Governing Board.

The State specifically requires school districts to prioritize the funding to provide Home to School Transportation to low-income students in TK-6th grade for free, while also giving non-eligible students the opportunity to utilize the transportation for a fee.

SMUSD is working to implement Home to School Transportation as quickly as possible, with the first phase of the plan to begin this fall, at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

San Marcos Elementary School Receives Grant Funding to Transform into a Community School

San Marcos Unified has received a California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSSPP) planning grant in the amount of $200,000 to begin the process of transforming San Marcos Elementary into a Community School. A Community School is a collaboration of school & District resources, outside community agencies, and social services, to ensure students are whole and healthy so they can be prepared to learn and thrive academically. This includes enhancing and elevating strategies and current practices to address basic needs like, housing, food, healthcare, transportation and more. As the Community School transformation at San Marcos Elementary continues, additional implementation and extension grant funds will be available.

San Marcos Elementary School families are faced with unique challenges that the community school initiative will address.

88%

of the student body

at San Marcos Elementary meet the state criteria of high-need “unduplicated” pupils, these are:

■ Emergent Bilinguals

■ Eligible for free or reduced meals

■ Foster youth

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

From our youngest learners, to our alumni, SMUSD is equipping students now and continuing to support them as they achieve their dreams.

Transitional Kindergarten Expansion: Reaching More Young Learners

As part of the State’s expansion of Transitional Kindergarten, or TK, the eligibility window for incoming students will gradually widen each year until fall 2025 when all four-year-olds can enroll in TK. However, at San Marcos Unified we have been offering Transitional Kindergarten since 2011, so when the opportunity to expand the program was passed, we were ready. With AM and PM sessions and new classrooms in construction, SMUSD is leading the way in early education.

Superintendent-Student Advisory Council

The Superintendent-Student Advisory Council was started by Superintendent Johnsen last school year, and was formed to encourage student leadership and provide feedback to the Superintendent on the student experience.

RISING STARS

TK video:

New in January, the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce in partnership with SMUSD, hosted a monthly Rising Stars event at Palomar College to recognize and honor student achievement, complete with San Marcos Chamber and SMUSD leaders & Board members, business leaders and local elected officials.

Three seniors from each high school in San Marcos Unified, are honored for demonstrating character, integrity, love of learning, involvement in school and community activities and/or the ability to overcome challenging life circumstances without compromising their education.

This Council is currently tackling issues at all three high schools including, student activism & student voice, cultural advocacy, inclusivity, and the Portrait of Graduate implementation. They are working to bring more students to this group each month to make more widespread changes on school campuses.

2023 Rising Stars:

Emily Gonzalez-Chavez, Twin Oaks High School

Brisa Jaime, Mission Hills High School

Nicholas (Ray) Pulido, San Marcos High School

Rami Khalid, Twin Oaks High School

Kimberly Hernandez, Mission Hills High School

Jessie Way, San Marcos High School

Monica Lopez Alvarado, Twin Oaks High School

Henry Davis, Mission Hills High School

Jarisbel Lobato Zamora, San Marcos High School

Jesse Osborne, Twin Oaks High School

Kelly Amador Villareal, Mission Hills High School

Rosa Garcia Romero, San Marcos High School

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

GIOVANNI GARCIA, ‘12

After graduating from Mission Hills High School in 2012, Giovanni Garcia was ready for his next step with his acceptance to Cal State San Marcos and future dreams to serve his country. “My plan was to be an officer in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from CSUSM,” recalls Garcia, who was already in the reserves preparing for his next step.

With a double-major bachelor’s degree in both Criminology & Sociology in hand, he was well on his way, until a family friend shared about his amazing experience serving as a deputy for the Sheriff’s Office. It was then Garcia began to explore the idea of serving his community. Garcia wanted to be the first in his family to serve in the military and law enforcement. “The idea of staying in my community and giving back locally was appealing. It would also allow me to remain in San Diego County close to family and friends which I highly value,” said Garcia, who has now been proudly serving as a deputy for almost six years.

More recently, he was promoted to a School Resource Officer at Mission Hills High School, his alma mater. “When the opportunity came to apply for the role of SRO at San Marcos Unified, I thought it would be awesome to serve as a mentor in the same community and district I graduated from, and would be really rewarding to be a positive influence on our students,” remarked Garcia. Whether it’s helping students with challenges, or watching them play at a soccer or football game, he seeks to be another support system for students.

“The support I received in my time at SMUSD, and Mission Hills, helped set me up for the next chapter of life. My teachers, counselors, and coaches were there to support me with all my goals. Now my goal is to do the same thing for our students, and give back in any way that I can.”

CASSIDY MELKONIAN, ‘19

Cassidy Melkonian’s junior year of high school brought clarity to her future plans unlike anything she could have imagined. After attending a college seminar at San Marcos High School, she realized both her passions could be combined into a career path - math and sports. “I knew I was always good at math, but never thought of combining that passion with my passion for sports,” remarks Melkonian.

After graduating from Mission Hills in 2019, and graduating in just three and a half years from California Baptist University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science, major in Sports Analytics, and a minor in Business, she decided to begin her career in data analytics right where it all started—as the newest San Marcos Unified School District Data Analyst.

“After college, I was trying to get my foot in the door in the world of data analytics and was thrilled to find a home here at SMUSD. I am so proud to see my journey come full circle and give back where I had such an amazing experience,” says Melkonian.

In thinking back on her steps into her career path, she is grateful and proud of her time at SMUSD which helped guide her to where she is today. “My math teachers, Mr. Guseman and Mr. Billings made math so fun and also sparked my early interest in analytics. Plus, everything I learned as a student at SMUSD really prepared me for life after school, from learning how to present yourself to writing a resume, I felt super equipped and prepared for college and career from my time in the district,” says Melkonian.

As her career develops Cassidy plans to pursue that big dream planted years ago at SMUSD, “as I grow in my career my goal is to one day do data analytics for my dream team, the Seattle Seahawks.”

FACILITIES

A goal outlined in our Strategic Promise is the development of Future Ready Learning Environments, ensuring our classrooms and campuses are welcoming places, promoting academic, social-emotional, and physical well-being. This past year, our Facilities and Maintenance and Operations teams have been hard at work bringing this to fruition.

SMUSD’S NEW AG FARM: A MODERN FACILITY FOR A HISTORIC SAN MARCOS INDUSTRY

From 1976 to 2010, Agricultural Farm classes were in operation at San Marcos High School, until the move to a dedicated facility on Cassou Road. After more than a decade at the current location, the SMUSD Ag Farm is currently undergoing a complete renovation, set to be complete by Summer 2023 which will accommodate potential future class expansion to other SMUSD schools.

Harkening back to the farming roots of the San Marcos community, the new upgraded and expanded Ag Farm will feature:

1 new small livestock barn: 3,360 square feet

recent

1 new large livestock barn: 2,604 square feet

Reconstruction of the poultry barn: 651 square feet

The completed Ag Farm will include a variety of livestock including cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, sheep, goats, turkeys, and more.

SMUSD Ag Farm most

RICHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPENS THE DOORS TO A BRAND NEW CAMPUS

In January 2023, San Marcos’ oldest elementary school opened its doors back from Winter Break with a brand new school campus. The new Richland Elementary School Phase 1 construction is now complete with students learning in a 21st century Future Ready environment. Equipped with:

■ five new multi-level buildings

■ a Makerspace

■ playground equipment

■ raised garden area

■ new and expanded pick-up and drop-off locations

■ additional parking

Phase 2 of the project is currently underway which will demolish the old elementary structures and include the completion of new play and athletic fields and additional playground structures.

NEW KINDERGARTEN BUILDINGS AT DOUBLE PEAK SCHOOL

Perched above the hilltop of the beautiful San Elijo community, Double Peak School is currently under construction to add two new Kindergarten buildings to accommodate the State expansion of our Transitional Kindergarten program and add capacity. Once complete in the Summer of 2023, the construction of the new Kindergarten buildings will encompass:

■ 2 single-story buildings, connected by a covered breezeway

■ 7,602 square feet

■ 5 classrooms

■ expanded bike rack

■ workrooms, restrooms, custodial closet, and storage

JOLI ANN ELEMENTARY RECEIVES TWO NEW PLAYGROUNDS

After supply chain delays and shortages, Joli Ann Elementary School is now complete with two new playgrounds. A new Kindergarten-specific playground complete with xylophones, a jungle gym, and two slides is now in place, as well as a new primary playground with a Nautilus or obstacle-course style equipment with climbers and slides.

3,300+ STAFF

15.6 YEARS Average Teacher Longevity

2022-23 AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Twin Oaks High School

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, MODEL CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL DESIGNATION

This State Designation recognizes schools that provide comprehensive services to at-risk youth through exemplary instruction, flexible scheduling, guidance and counseling services.

Lezya Weglarz, MTSS Coordinator

SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, SCHOOL COUNSELOR ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

The School Counselor Awards program recognizes elementary, middle, and high school counselors for the essential role they play in our students’ health, well-being, and success.

Michelle Santiago, School Social Worker

SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR

The School Social Work Awards program honors school social workers for the work they do to support students, families, and communities and break down barriers to academic achievement.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2022-23 SMUSD EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

Donna Gonzales

Susan Weston

Julianne Delaway

Emily Triska

Martha Vargas

Edeana Jones

Angela Mendez

Lisa Briley

Andrea Berning

Jackie Kinnear

Darshell Norman

Norma Vargas

Stephanie Childress

Amanda Munoz-Pena

Jami Hainey

Reeva Barwicke

Elvira Valdez

Jamie Couch

Aurelia Soros-McNichols

Oliva Perales

Maria Aparicio

Audra Houtchens

Natalie Tomechak

Dylan Connor

Sandra Rosengreen

Danielle Dorsey

Corina Guillen

Julie Felix

Shari Gutierrez

Marci Davis, Anatomy & Physiology Teacher

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES, TOP 100 TEACHERS

San Marcos High School teacher, Marci Davis, was named a winner of the Top 100 Teachers Contest, out of over 10,000 nominees, presented by Norwegian Cruise Lines, also awarding her with a vacation getaway.

Dr. Tiffany Campbell, Deputy Superintendent

SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, EQUITY CHAMPION LIGHTHOUSE AWARD

The Lighthouse Awards program spotlights champions for educational equity in our schools, districts, and communities in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Andy Johnsen, Superintendent

CALIFORNIA SCHOOL PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATION, SUPERINTENDENT TO WATCH

Martha Duarte

Jaclyn McKenzie

Monica La Dell

Joy Hasler

Anja Jungersen

Eva Jenkins

Linda De Leon

Emily Knoebel

Reyes Lopez

Esmeralda Galvan

Flossie Lopez

Tiana Kuey

Sami Belmonte

Gilberto Barragan

One of only four Superintendents in the State to receive this award, which recognizes a leader who demonstrates dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication, who utilizes communication technology and strategies in innovative and effective ways to engage and inform their communities and to expand authentic engagement efforts.

Ana Maria McBrayer

Ryan Miller

Printing of the 2022-23 Annual Report generously provided by: