As the 2025-2026 school year draws to a close in the Rialto Unified School District, this K12 district has sustained a successful year where Dwight D. Eisenhower High School earned a California Distinguished School honor, Ben F. Kolb and Ethel Kucera Middle Schools earned Schools to Watch honors, Sam V. Curtis Elementary School was exclusively named an National AVIDDemonstration School, and individual teacher, classified, and administrative accolades were highlighted at the San Bernardino County Schools level.
But this was also the year of civic engagement and advocacy for some passionate local students who made a positive mark from opportunities afforded through top district administrators.
Beginning in 2026, many socially conscious high school students across the country planned walkouts, citing ICE raids, rising gas prices, increased political tension, and escalating talks on the Middle East conflict and voting rights as reasons for their protest…