Education

From left: Robert L. Stewart Jr. Of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges; Thea Sweo Alvarado, College of the Canyons interim assistant superintendent/vice president of instruction; Chancellor Sonya Christian; COC Rising Scholars Faculty Coordinator Garrett Rieck; COC Dean of Academic Innovation and Continuing Education Dianne Avery; Hildegarde B. Aguinaldo, president of the California Community Colleges board of governors; Bill Rawlings, vice president of the CCC board of governors; ASCCC President LaTonya Parker-Parnell; CCC Deputy Chancellor Rowena M. Tomaneng. Photo by Melissa Villarin.

COC Rising Scholars program wins statewide honor  

News release  The College of the Canyons Rising Scholars program has been named the 2025-26 Exemplary Program Award winner by the California Community Colleges board of governors.  The award was presented

Press release

iLEAD Charter Schools holding enrollment lottery 

News release  The opportunity to secure a spot for the 2026-27 school year at SCVi Charter School and iLEAD Agua Dulce is now officially open.   The tuition-free charter schools have launched their enrollment lotteries, and the deadlines to

College briefs

College Briefs for Jan. 22

Andrew Kim elected to membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi  Andrew Kim, of Stevenson Ranch, was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest

Saugus to discuss superintendent search in special meeting 

The Saugus Union School District’s governing board is set to have a special board meeting in regard to its superintendent search on Wednesday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the district’s Education Center.   Presentations will be given by three separate search firms

Newhall School District Office

Lawsuit alleges Newhall district employees campaigned during 2024 election 

A former candidate who ran to represent trustee area No. 5 for the Newhall School District’s governing board in the 2024 general election, is now alleging that employees were allowed to participate in political campaigning during work hours on campus and it was the cause of her defeat, according to the lawsuit.   The

College briefs

College Briefs for Jan. 15

Local students named to SNHU dean’s list  Southern New Hampshire University announced that three local students were named to the fall 2025 dean’s list.   Local students earning dean’s list honors

COC trustees elect Sharlene Johnson board president 

The College of the Canyons’ governing board unanimously elected current president Sharlene Johnson to serve as the board’s president for another year.   Two other leadership positions elected Friday were also decided unanimously: trustee Fred Arnold

Newhall School District Office

Newhall School District board to review 2025 School Accountability Report Cards  

The Newhall School District’s governing board is set to receive a presentation on the School Accountability Report Cards of 2025 during its first public meeting of the year on Tuesday evening, according to the agenda.   Kate Peattie, the district’s assistant superintendent of instructional services, is set

College briefs

College Brief for Jan. 8

Local student graduates from University of Central Oklahoma  Santa Clarita resident Madison Martinez earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing, graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma as a part of

Valencia High School’s Two ’N Four Vocal Jazz Ensemble perform a free preview concert on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 before they are set to go to New Orleans for the Jazz Education Conference. Katherine Quezada/The Signal

Valencia choir’s jazz ensemble heads to the Big Easy 

Group set to perform at national jazz showcase in New Orleans  Valencia High School’s Two ‘N Four Vocal Jazz Ensemble performed a preview showcase of the group’s numbers at The Auditorium on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for a performance in a national

The Arts Filler

L.A. County looking for orgs to help host summer arts internship

L.A. County’s Department of Arts and Culture is accepting applications from organizations to join a resource pool able to help support an upcoming county-led internship program.  The arts internship, which will last for eight weeks during the summer months and support a cohort of

COC Valencia campus

COC’s board leadership votes slated for Friday 

The College of the Canyons’ governing board is scheduled to vote in a new board president, vice president and clerk during a special meeting and board retreat on Friday morning.  Friday’s organizational meeting follows the customary annual organizational meeting in

La Mesa Junior High School recently hosted its 13th annual swing dance competition, which brought 14 student pairs to the floor to compete for the championship trophy. Photo courtesy of the William S. Hart Union High School District.

Swingin’ dance moves at La Mesa 

La Mesa Junior High School recently hosted its 13th annual swing dance competition. This long-standing tradition, led by Alex Suarez and Alex Dunwoody, is the grand finale of the eighth-grade physical education dance module. It brought 14 student pairs to

Applications open for Jerry Gladbach scholarship 

News release  Students pursuing an undergraduate degree in water resource-related fields are invited to apply for the 2026-27 Association of California Water Agencies Edward G. “Jerry” Gladbach Scholarship, offered by ACWA in partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency. Applications are now being accepted through March 1.  The annual scholarship was established in honor