Humboldt County Office of Education

Humboldt County Office of Education Welcome to the official page of the Humboldt County Office of Education. Humboldt County comprises the Eureka–Arcata–Fortuna area.

The Humboldt County Office of Education covers 4,052 square miles, has 31 districts and almost 18,550 students. The Humboldt County Office of Education serves as intermediaries between the state and local school districts within the county. HCOE helps with implementation of regional programs, provides fiscal oversight, monitors teacher credentialing, supplies curriculum supports and trains, and he

lps in other areas of interest to local districts and the state. It is located on the far North Coast ~270 miles north of San Francisco. Humboldt County is a densely forested mountainous, and rural county with about 110 miles of coastline (more than any other county in the state)[7] situated along the Pacific coast in Northern California's rugged Coast (Mountain) Ranges. HCOE reserves the right to delete any posts that it deems inappropriate.

Crystal Fennell, a 6th – 8th grade English Language Arts teacher at Stanwood A. Murphy Elementary School in the Scotia U...
06/05/2026

Crystal Fennell, a 6th – 8th grade English Language Arts teacher at Stanwood A. Murphy Elementary School in the Scotia Union School District, has been named the 2026-27 Humboldt County Teacher of the Year by the Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools, Michael Davies-Hughes.

“Crystal Fennell shows what great teaching looks like,” said Davies-Hughes. “She builds strong connections with students, creates a classroom where students feel they belong, and uses stories and community to help them learn. She cares deeply about her students and helps them grow every day. She is a wonderful choice for Humboldt County Teacher of the Year.”

To read the full press release, go to hcoe.org/toy2026

06/05/2026

Apply Now, Decide Later! Want to see how much free aid you could receive before committing to a degree or career certificate? Fill out a free financial aid application (CA Dream Act Application or FAFSA) by the September 2 deadline! Visit csac.ca.gov/apply

June 2 is here! Today we honor The Right to Belong and the legacy of Alice Piper — a young Paiute student who fought for...
06/02/2026

June 2 is here! Today we honor The Right to Belong and the legacy of Alice Piper — a young Paiute student who fought for her Constitutional rights. She did this, in her own words, “Because I wanted to go to school.” Her determination helped end school segregation for Native students in California and paved the way for national civil rights progress.

Her story reminds us that young people can be powerful leaders, that community action drives lasting change, and that belonging is a right, not a privilege.

HCOE’s K–12 Teaching Toolkit will equip educators with lessons, history, and activities to support learning on June 2 and beyond. Uplift Alice’s story in your classroom, sign up to receive the toolkit at hcoe.org/nasmc.

Photo: A statue of Alice Piper outside the entrance to Big Pine High School. Courtesy of the Native Development Network.

June 2 is also the anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted U.S. citizenship to Native Americans for the...
06/01/2026

June 2 is also the anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted U.S. citizenship to Native Americans for the first time in 1924. But citizenship didn’t guarantee what you might think rights as a citizen provides.

• Many states still blocked Native people from voting until the 1940s, ’50s, and even into the ’60s.
• Discriminatory policies continued to affect access to education, land rights, and political representation.
• Native people did not have freedom of religion until 1978.

Recognizing June 2 helps us understand how laws, court cases, and community action shape the ongoing fight for belonging. HCOE’s Teaching Toolkit offers resources to support thoughtful teaching of this history.

Join the mailing list to receive the toolkit at hcoe.org/nasmc

Photo: U.S. President Calvin Coolidge with four members of the Osage Nation after Coolidge signed the bill granting Native people full citizenship, Library of Congress Catalog.

Calling all Humboldt County teachers and farm to school partners! The CDFA’s California Farm to School Program has creat...
05/29/2026

Calling all Humboldt County teachers and farm to school partners! The CDFA’s California Farm to School Program has created an interactive map to help you find local farms that can host your students for a field trip — and the reasons to go are plenty!

Farm visits connect to core subjects like science, math, and social studies, while giving students hands-on, real-world learning that sticks. They build food literacy, spark curiosity about careers in agriculture, and support student well-being through time spent outdoors. Plus, they're fun and memorable!

Use the map's built-in filters to find a farm that fits your class size, schedule, and transportation needs. Click any farm to see field trip details and contact info. Best viewed on desktop.

Want to recommend a farm or have questions? Contact Meerae Park at [email protected]

Browse the map: https://arcg.is/9jyvS2

Pictured: Redwood Roots Farm

The celebrations continue, today we're honoring Tammy Pires!Nominated by Superintendent Roger Macdonald, Tammy has serve...
05/28/2026

The celebrations continue, today we're honoring Tammy Pires!

Nominated by Superintendent Roger Macdonald, Tammy has served as Superintendent's Secretary at the District Office since 2002. She supports district leadership across Human Resources, CALPADS, budget coordination, Board Policy, and communications. Roger describes her as "the glue that holds our District together."

Tammy's investment in her community runs just as deep. She has volunteered with school booster groups, coached cheerleading at both the youth and high school levels, and continues to show up for student programs long after her own children have graduated.

Congratulations, Tammy, thank you for over two decades of dedicated service to students, staff, and the greater community!

In the early 1900s, many Native children in California were forced into segregated “Indian day schools,” institutions cr...
05/28/2026

In the early 1900s, many Native children in California were forced into segregated “Indian day schools,” institutions created under federal assimilation policies that sought to separate children from their languages, cultures, and ways of life. These schools limited educational opportunities and attempted to replace Indigenous knowledge with a narrow vision of who Native children were allowed to become.
When a new public high school was planned in the town of Big Pine, Native students were turned away.

15-year-old Paiute student Alice Piper, supported by her family and community, challenged the decision and together with a few other students brought a case against the school district.

On June 2, 1924, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Piper v. Big Pine School District, affirming that Native children had the right to attend public schools in California. The decision opened access for Native students across the state and became an early legal precedent in the broader struggle against school segregation, contributing to a wider movement toward educational equity in the United States.

Want to help students learn this story? Sign up to receive teaching materials at hcoe.org/nasmc

Photo: Big Pine Paiute Day School, photographer Andrew A. Forbes. Courtesy of the Native Development Network.

Glen Paul School celebrated its new school garden with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A recipient of the Whole Kids Foundati...
05/27/2026

Glen Paul School celebrated its new school garden with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A recipient of the Whole Kids Foundation School Garden Grant program, this new garden will allow students to learn the science of gardening and nutrition, and eat the fruits of their labor.

Rachel Lyon, Literacy Coach, was thrilled that this project reached fruition and is accessible to all, saying:
“The garden features an ADA-compliant, adjustable raised bed that allows younger students using wheelchairs or standers to participate comfortably, as well as taller wheelchair-accessible beds designed for older students and others with mobility needs. Students also benefit from sensory bins, work benches at varying heights, and raised beds paired with flexible seating options — including kneelers, pop-up stools, and benches — to support a broad range of learning styles and abilities. Each classroom has its own designated garden space to explore, cultivate, and enjoy together.”

Glen Paul School would like to thank the multiple community members who contributed time, energy and materials: O&M Industries, Hooven & Co., Inc., Grandfield Construction, School Garden Coordinators Jesse Alm and Argie Muñoz, UC Master Gardeners of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, Royal Gold Potting Soil, Tea-LAB (Luke Besmer), Melina Volz from HCOE's Workability Program, CCS Medical Therapy Unit, Wally's Westside Repair, Jada Brotman with Humboldt Builders' Exchange, Inc., and District 1 County Supervisor Rex Bohn.

We're closing out our California Classified School Employees of the Year honoree series with someone who wears more hats...
05/24/2026

We're closing out our California Classified School Employees of the Year honoree series with someone who wears more hats than we can count. Today we're celebrating Perrin Turney!

Nominated by Greta Turney, Perrin has served Kneeland School District for seven years, taking on a wide range of roles including Transportation Services, among many others! Each day he drives students from as far as 25 miles away to and from school, transporting nearly the entire student body. Beyond the bus route, Perrin also serves as a math specialist, water specialist, IT person, and instructional aide.

Perrin brings that same energy to the broader school community. He decorates the bus with holiday lights and drives it in Eureka's Trucker Parade, runs sound for the school's annual student play at Ferndale Repertory Theater, and helps design and operate the school's community Haunted House. He even built a Maker's Space for students to explore 3D printing, laser engraving, and computer programming.

Congratulations, Perrin, thank you for your boundless dedication to the students and community of Kneeland School!

We're nearing the end of our honoree series, and today we're celebrating Rene Ramirez!Nominated by Luke Biesecker, Rene ...
05/23/2026

We're nearing the end of our honoree series, and today we're celebrating Rene Ramirez!

Nominated by Luke Biesecker, Rene serves as a Paraprofessional and After School Program Site Lead at Sunny Brae Middle School. Over six years, she has brought positive energy, care, and compassion to the after school program, reflected in growing enrollment numbers and the obvious love students show whenever they see her.

Rene supports the school community regularly, showing up at dances, sports contests, and community events, taking students under her wing for tutoring and goal setting, and leveraging her deep community connections to support students and staff alike. She recently earned her teaching credential while working full time, a testament to her commitment to students and public education.

Congratulations, Rene, thank you for being such a steady, caring presence for students and the entire SBMS community!

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Arcata School District

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Eureka, CA
95501

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Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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