Highlights from the May 18 Board of Education Meeting

The Board of Education kicked off the May 18 regular meeting with our Toyota Drive for Engagement drawing. For the thirteenth year, Tustin Toyota has generously supported this program to sustain overall student involvement across TUSD by highlighting seniors who model dedication to academics. Based on the drawing Monday evening, Tustin Toyota will award a new Toyota Corolla to a graduate from Foothill High School at their ceremony on May 28.

The Board then thanked the Assistance League for their continued support of our students, staff and programs. Their generous support has funded multiple initiatives, including academic family engagement nights, transportation and scholarships for outdoor education, student attendance incentive programs, and other site-specific supports designed to enhance student success.

In addition, the Board celebrated our TUSD 2026 Classified Employee of the Year, Kathy Valdovinos. Ms. Valdovinos serves as a key member of the front office team at Hillview. As shared by Principal Erick Fineberg, "Kathy exemplifies the very best of what it means to be a classified employee...She is the backbone of our campus while consistently going above and beyond to ensure that our school runs smoothly, safely, and with a strong sense of community."

The Board also honored Tustin High School teacher Jennifer Douglas in celebration of her recognition as a 2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year semi-finalist. Mrs. Douglas is one of only nine educators from across Orange County to earn the distinction this year. She is a remarkable educator who truly stands out for her dedication to every one of her students and their families.

And, the Board celebrated Daisy Salazar (THS), Angelina Garcia (FHS) and Anna Hughes (Hewes) in celebration of their academic excellence as recognized by the Orange County Department of Education and the Angels Baseball Foundation. Daisy Salazar and Angelina Garcia are two of only five students across the county to receive AVID Angels Stop Gap Scholarships, effectively providing a full ride for four years of college. Anna Hughes has also been named an Angels Scholar, one of only eight AVID eighth-graders selected from 67 schools across the county, and will receive a $10,000 scholarship. Daisy, Angelina and Anna were all selected for their academic excellence, leadership, community involvement and desire to achieve higher education.

Lastly, the Board honored Peters Canyon's boys volleyball team in recognition of their first-place win in the 2026 Elementary Boys Volleyball Championship. Congratulations to Jalen Alcantara, Andrew Byun, Oliver Dang, Kyle D’Errico, Casey DeVore, David Freeman, Vincent Geurts, Asher Giffin, Cody Ho, Keegan Ho, Alex Karasik, Nicholas Kim, Dante Schwartz, Weston Song, and Jeremy Wong, in addition to their coaches, Tim Larson and Jade Vasconcellos. The season was filled with a fantastic display of athleticism, sportsmanship, teamwork, and determination on and off the court from these athletes.