About Our District
The mission of the Tustin Unified School District, a learning community rich in heritage and committed to a tradition of excellence, is to ensure that each student optimizes individual achievement through an educational system characterized by challenging and exciting curricula and inspiring personalized instruction, in partnership with our dynamic and involved communities.
- TUSD at a Glance
- Distinguished Schools
- District Map
- DISTRICT HISTORY
- Teacher of the Year Program
- Classified Employee of the Year Program
TUSD at a Glance
Distinguished Schools
Tustin Unified School District
Distinguished Schools
National Blue Ribbon Schools |
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California Gold Ribbon Schools
California Distinguished Schools |
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California Model Continuation School |
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Title I Academic Achievement Schools |
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District Map
See the map below for general school locations. Navigate to the school locator for an interactive image and more detailed information about each school.
DISTRICT HISTORY
Tustin Unified School District ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Legacy of Excellence The legacy of Tustin's schools dates back to the 1860s - two decades before Orange County became independent of Los Angeles. Education was a priority of Tustin's namesake and community developer Columbus Tustin, a Petaluma carriage maker who purchased 839 acres in the 1860s and plotted streets and square blocks through a terrain of wild mustard and sycamore trees. In 1872, he built a one-room schoolhouse and donated it to the community. Originally called Sycamore School District because of the abundant sycamore trees in the foothills, its first trustees were elected by 11 voters. Residents also approved a tax rate to provide $740 to build a larger schoolhouse and $300 for school supplies. The District's first teacher, Miss Annie Cozad, was paid $60 per month; its second teacher came five years later. Tustin's plans for a large city were temporarily waylaid in 1877 when Southern Pacific Railroad built its southern terminus in Santa Ana instead of Tustin. Columbus Tustin died in 1883 just as the community's population began to grow with new homes, stores, places of worship, and an addition to the school. The school district was renamed the Tustin School District with the creation of the County of Orange in 1889. After the turn of the century, Tustin grew as the upscale residential suburb of Santa Ana, the county seat of government. Tustin's homes and businesses reflected that upscale lifestyle and so did its schools. Growth in the early 20th Century mirrored that of many Orange County communities with larger schools built to accommodate an expanding population. Tustin Union High School opened in 1922 and served five elementary school districts: Tustin, San Joaquin, Trabuco, El Toro, and Laguna. Residents voted for unification in 1972 and Tustin's elementary and high schools were unified as a single district - Tustin Unified School District. Today the District serves over 24,000 students at 18 elementary schools, a K-8 school, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools. Its administrative center is located at 300 South C Street in Tustin. District Administration Center and School Bell The Tustin Unified School District offices are in the remodeled grammar school auditorium, built in 1950. After the grammar school was vacated, the elementary district administration moved from the Little Red School House into this building. The bell, cast in 1887, originally hung in the old Victorian schoolhouse and today welcomes visitors to the District Administration Center at 300 South C Street in Tustin. |
Updated: September 11, 2014
Teacher of the Year Program
The Tustin Unified School District’s annual awards program recognizes outstanding teachers who have displayed extraordinary teaching, creativity and excellence at their school and community. Winners and all the District’s nominees are honored at the annual Teacher of the Year Dinner in May. The event is co-sponsored by the Tustin Public Schools Foundation and the Tustin Unified School District.
The winning teachers represent the District in the Orange County Teachers of the Year program. The number of teachers to be chosen to represent districts in the Orange County Teachers of the Year program is determined Orange County Department of Education. The Orange County Department of Education interviews selected candidates and announces winners in May. The county finalists then go on to the California and National Teacher of the Year programs.
* | Orange County Teacher of the Year Semifinalist |
** | Orange County Teacher of the Year Finalist |
*** | Orange County Teacher of the Year AND California Teacher of the Year |
Year |
Elementary Level |
Secondary Level |
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2021 |
Adriana Zamora Sycamore Magnet Academy |
Michael Fisk Tustin High School |
2020 |
Allison Goodlander** Barbara Benson Elementary School |
Rick McKinley* Foothill High School |
2019 |
Megan Venezia* Estock Elementary School |
Stacy Colon Beckman High School |
2018 |
Carrie Murillo* Nelson Elementary School |
Joanna Vandal* Tustin High School |
2017 |
Elizabeth Catron |
Chris Price |
2016 |
Courtney Smith** |
Zachariah Samarin* |
2015 |
Janis Leach** |
Johnny Gonzalez |
2014 |
Jennifer Morrow
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Joy Wardlaw
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Year |
Elementary School |
Middle School |
High School |
2013 |
Cindy Ellis Tustin Ranch ES |
Jennifer Kang-Rodriguez A.G. Currie MS |
Jeff Farr Foothill HS |
2012 |
Jennifer Sandland** |
Kristina Posavec |
David Goldenberg*** |
2011 |
Tina Kim** |
Jaclyn Martin |
Monique Dale |
2010 |
Michael Hoffmann |
Jamie Joyce* |
Heather Combest |
2009 |
Emily Neddersen |
Lisa Fuggitti |
Darin Hallstrom* |
2008 |
Kimberly Luther |
Alison Ngo |
Natasha Hamlin* |
2007 |
Katy Sheyka |
Eric Kilian** |
Joan Kasper |
2006 |
Ted Wert |
Ian Williamson* |
Linda Levine* |
Year |
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2005 |
Dean Jennings |
John Nolan |
2004 |
Doug Fischer |
Annie Tran |
2003 |
Monica Azimioara* |
Dr. Paul Lewanski*** |
2002 |
Dan Langston* |
Helen McCabe** |
2001 |
Susan Anthony |
Susan Geery* |
2000 |
Georgeanna Stark |
Sean Pfaff |
1999 |
Carla Poellnitz* |
Kathy Sampson |
Year |
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1998 |
Darin Hallstrom |
1997 |
Kathy Greenwood |
1996 |
David Peay |
1995 |
Rhonda Parks** |
1994 |
Betsy Banyard-Florence |
1993 |
Diana Carr |
1992 |
Diane Aust |
1991 |
Bonnie Sharp** |
1990 |
Beth Self |
1989 |
Lisa Roseman** |
1988 |
Shirley Saunders |
1987 |
Barbara Johnson |
Classified Employee of the Year Program
Tustin Unified's annual awards program recognizes classified or support services employees whose contribution to TUSD have proven to be outstanding.
The award is given to the classified employee who provides valuable services to schools and staff, contributes to a positive instructional environment, and goes above and beyond their job requirements.
Year |
Classified Employee |
Position / Location |
2020 |
Michael-Ann Pevehouse |
Health Clerk Arroyo Elementary School |
2019 |
Honour Del Crognale |
School Library Media Technician Heritage Elementary School |
2018 | Veronica Rivas |
Community Liaison Heideman Elementary Scool |
2017 | Patty Ellis | School Secretary Estock Elementary School |
2016 |
Al Acosta |
Head Custodian |
2015 |
Lily Kozai |
Paraeducator |
2014 |
Shawna Whiteside |
School Secretary |
2013 |
Pierre Sanjurjo |
Custodian |
2012 |
Margie Bowker |
Special Education Paraeducator |
2011 |
Theresa Duran |
School Secretary |
2010 |
Frank Rodriguez |
Head Custodian |
2009 |
David Miranda |
Head Custodian |
2008 |
Maryellen Sweeney |
Computer Resource Assistant |
2007 |
Amador Espinoza |
Head Custodian |
2006 |
Tim Groleau |
Head Custodian |
2005 |
Gilbert Rivera |
Campus Supervisor |
2004 |
Jeff Azvedo |
Head Custodian |
2003 |
LaVerne Skinner |
Lead Payroll Clerk |
2002 |
Karen Hansen |
Special Day Class Instructional Aide and |
2001 |
Bob Zanine |
Head Custodian |
2000 |
Irene Thomas |
Community Liaison |
1999 |
Al Galloway |
Campus Supervisor |
1998 |
Amy Nakamoto |
Clerk Typist |