Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

04/30/2026

Rebecca Bonet is a 2026 Teacher of the Year! Rebecca serves as a teacher at Valencia High School in Placentia. This video recaps the moment PYLUSD executive leadership members and her colleagues surprised her with the news.

“Becca is an amazing collaborator, whether as a lead or a support person,” shared colleague Dwight Osborne. “She demonstrates integrity in everything she does and actively fosters that same sense of integrity in her students. She is also highly innovative, developing programs from the ground up where students can and do thrive.”

This video was created by the El Dorado High School Digital Media Arts Academy - DMAA under the direction of teacher Mark Switzer.

04/14/2026

You’re invited! Join Superintendent Dr. Kym LeBlanc-Esparza and the Board of Education for a Strategic Visioning & Planning Input Session and help shape the future of PYLUSD. Your voice matters as we identify priorities to support student success.

Five community sessions are open to all, with interpretation services, free dinner, and childcare (TK–6) available.

RSVP: https://pylusd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YGxmSCBEeEcVsa

03/30/2026

Maria Montalvo is a 2026 Manager of the Year! Maria serves as a Psychologist at Valencia High School in Placentia. This video recaps the day PYLUSD executive leadership members and her colleagues surprised her with the news.

“She exemplifies excellence through her deep expertise in student assessment and her genuine ability to connect with families during challenging times,” shared Assistant Principal Cheralynn Johnson. “Her collaboration is evident in how she partners with case carriers, aides, and administrators, serving as a trusted advisor whom staff regularly seek out for guidance. She demonstrates integrity by advocating fiercely for student well-being and ensuring every child receives the support they deserve, never taking shortcuts in her work. Her innovation shows in how she approaches each student’s unique needs with a fresh perspective, finding creative solutions to help struggling students succeed while strengthening our school culture.”

This video was created by the El Dorado High School Digital Media Arts Academy - DMAA under the direction of teacher, Mark Switzer.

03/25/2026

Jeanette Besheer-Hogan is a 2026 Classified Employee of the Year! Jennifer serves as a Library/Media Technician at Middle School in Placentia. This video recaps the day PYLUSD executive leadership members and her colleagues surprised her with the news.

“Mrs. Hogan demonstrates all 4 of the district’s core values. She collaborates with teachers from many different content areas to provide books that the students are interested in,” shared Teacher Karla Jones. “She also provides training to every student in the school during their language arts class, so they learn everything the library has to offer. She is innovative by providing a variety of seating options for the activities students are doing. Mrs. Hogan demonstrates integrity by learning all of our students’ names so she can interact with them by name. The students are consistently surprised when she knows their names. Mrs. Hogan demonstrates excellence by serving as the coach for our Cyber Patriots team. She gives up many afternoons and weekends to supervise our students in competitions that they regularly place in the top tier. Additionally, she serves on the School Site Committee.”

This video was created by the El Dorado High School Digital Media Arts Academy - DMAA under the direction of teacher, Mark Switzer.

03/24/2026

Nearly 300 educators, students, and community partners gathered at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts to celebrate excellence in arts education at the 2026 OC Music & Arts Administrators Awards. 🎭✨

Hosted by the Orange County Department of Education , the annual event celebrates arts educators, classified staff, administrators and advocates who help students grow through music, dance, theater, visual arts and media arts.

was proud to have ten nominees recognized for their contributions to arts education, with special congratulations to:
🌟 Audra Ross from El Dorado High School — Digital & Media Arts, Secondary
🌟 Megan Arthurton from Valencia High School — Distinguished Career Service Award & Irene Schoepfle Lifetime Achievement Award

We are incredibly proud of our talented educators whose creativity and leadership continue to inspire our students and school communities! 🎶🎨

Full story at https://goodnews.pylusd.org/?p=36728

03/23/2026

Jennifer Rasic is a 2026 Teacher of the Year! Jennifer serves as a 4th Grade Teacher at Golden Elementary in Placentia. This video recaps the day PYLUSD executive leadership members and her colleagues surprised her with the news.

“Jenner Rasic lives out our district’s core values every single day,” shared Principal Kristin McDonald. “She embodies excellence through strong instruction, purposeful use of data, impressive student outcomes, and by making learning genuinely fun for her students. She models collaboration by serving on countless school and district leadership teams and is always willing to step in and contribute to any solution. Her integrity shines through her consistency, compassion, and unwavering commitment to doing what is best for ALL kids. Even when her plate is overflowing, she continues to show up fully for her students and for this profession. Her innovation is unmatched; she models lifelong learning, and she is one of the most exceptional teachers and human beings I have ever known.”

This video was created by the El Dorado High School Digital Media Arts Academy - DMAA under the direction of teacher, Mark Switzer.

03/21/2026

Sarah Barton is a 2026 Manager of the Year! Sarah serves as Principal of Tuffree Middle School in Placentia. This video recaps the day PYLUSD executive leadership members and her colleagues surprised her with the news.

“Sarah demonstrates excellence through high standards and consistent follow-through. She embraced the addition of the DLA program with enthusiasm, taking the time to understand its goals and ensure teachers felt supported throughout the transition,” shared Tuffree Counselor Abbey Eastman. “She fostered strong communication with parents, secured the necessary materials for teachers, and encouraged creative approaches that made the program engaging for students. Through her leadership and collaboration, our Tuffree DLA program has quickly become a successful and valued part of our school.”

This video was created by the El Dorado High School Digital Media Arts Academy - DMAA under the direction of teacher, Mark Switzer.

03/07/2026

Jennifer Gathright is a 2026 Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Classified Employee of the Year! Jennifer serves as a clerk at Fairmont Elementary School in Yorba Linda. This video recaps the day executive leadership members and her colleagues surprised her with the news.

“Jennifer consistently demonstrates the district’s core values. Her excellence is evident in the meticulous way she manages the office, keeps records accurate, and ensures all intervention assistant positions are filled,” shared Principal Anne San Roman. “She exemplifies collaboration through her close work with teachers, staff, and the PTA, supporting communication and teamwork. Her integrity shines in the trust she builds with families, handling sensitive information with care and professionalism. Jennifer shows innovation by finding creative solutions to last-minute scheduling challenges, improving office systems, and streamlining communication. Through her dedication, resourcefulness, and positive influence, she embodies these values and strengthens the entire school community.”

This video was created by the El Dorado High School Digital Media Arts Academy - DMAA under the direction of teacher Mark Switzer.

02/24/2026

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District is seeking community feedback to help guide the next three-year school calendar cycle.

This brief survey takes approximately 2-3 minutes to complete and is anonymous. At the conclusion of the survey, participants will be able to view real-time results and see a snapshot of community feedback.

Learn more at: https://www.pylusd.org/apps/news/article/2170205

10/10/2025

Join us in welcoming Dr. Kym LeBlanc-Esparza, the new Superintendent of ! Hear her heartfelt message to students, families, and staff as we continue our mission of excellence in education. 📚✨

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Meet Dr. Kym LeBlanc-Esparza, Superintendent of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD).With over 30 years of experience in education, Dr....