Provident-Salierno Family Foundation provides greater support for Kids of Character
Last night, TCOE’s CHARACTER COUNTS! (CC!) program held its annual Kids of Character Provident/Salierno Family Foundation Awards. The event honored 42 of the top students featured during the 30th Annual Tulare County CC! Week (October 19-25).
Each honoree received a certificate, a t-shirt, and a CHARACTER COUNTS! yard sign. Thanks to increased support from the Provident/Salierno Family Foundation, the CHARACTER COUNTS! program was able to increase the number of scholarship awards it provided this year.
The first Provident/Salierno Family Foundation Awards was held in 2012. “We are so grateful to the Salierno Family for their continued support,” said Tim Hire, Tulare County Superintendent of Schools. “These awards are possible because of their commitment to our character education efforts.”
The honorees and finalists were chosen from over 5,300 Kids of Character nominations received from 173 schools during CC! Week. The nominations were provided by over 1,000 teachers, parents, and community members. Hire shared that in the 30 years that the program had held the CC! Week celebration in partnership with the Visalia Times-Delta / Tulare Advance-Register, nearly 150,000 students have been recognized.
PILLAR OF TRUSTWORTHINESS
Top Honoree
Mackenzie Boehme, Westfield Elementary School (Porterville)
Finalists
Jeremy Christenson, Denton Elementary School (Visalia)
Andy Lopez, Sierra Vista High School (Dinuba)
Abel Monk, Springville Union School
David Pantoja, Waukena Joint Union School (Tulare)
Dominic Sousa, Lincoln Elementary School (Tulare)
Teagan Withnell, Heritage Elementary School (Tulare)
PILLAR OF RESPECT
Top Honoree
Francisco Garcia, Butterfield Charter School (Porterville)
Finalists
Brycen DeAzevedo, Liberty School (Tulare)
Elisa De Leon, Roosevelt Elementary School (Lindsay)
Denise Medina, Frank Kohn Elementary School (Tulare)
Karen Meza Lopez, Houston Elementary School (Visalia)
Ivan Orozco, Washington Elementary School (Lindsay)
Cage Young, Tulare Western High School
PILLAR OF RESPONSIBILITY
Top Honoree
Maya Caserza, Sundale Union School (Tulare)
Finalist
Guillermina Avalos, Sunnyside Union School (Strathmore)
Everleigh Beals, Valley Life Charter School (Visalia)
Mia Domingo, Pleasant View School (Porterville)
Jacob T. Follett, Sierra View Junior Academy (Exeter)
Mykael Luna, Exeter Union High School
Nicolas Wilkinson, Harmony Magnet Academy (Strathmore)
PILLAR OF FAIRNESS
Top Honoree
Viviana Sanchez, Pixley Elementary School
Finalists
Claire Benas, Springville Union School
Tylen Byrd, Alpine Vista School (Tulare)
Jacob X. Frausto, Jefferson Elementary School (Dinuba)
Matthew J. Montejano, Monson-Sultana Joint Union School (Sultana)
Madalyn Renteria, Monache High School (Porterville)
Ernesto S. Torres Medrano, Summit Charter Academy (Porterville)
PILLAR OF CARING
Top Honoree
Jaden Gerardo Ibarra, Washington Elementary School (Lindsay)
Finalists
Klarissa Arredondo, Earlimart Middle School
Grace Herrera, Porterville High School
Hadley Reid, Blue Oak Academy (Visalia)
Juan Salazar Flores, AcCEL Learning Center (Orosi)
Violet Valenzuela, Garden Elementary School (Tulare)
Isaac Venegas, Cutler Elementary School
PILLAR OF CITIZENSHIP
Top Honoree
Easton Powell, Tulare Western High School
Finalists
Camille Amundson, Hurley Elementary School (Visalia)
Ryan Breer, Conyer Elementary School (Visalia)
Cesilia Campos Millan, Alta Vista School (Poplar)
Onika Hall, Ducor Union School
Natalie Oneto, Exeter Union High School
Jason Rosiles, Lovell High School (Cutler)
Students invited to create artwork for annual Tulare County Farm Bureau Student Art Calendar
The Tulare County Farm Bureau has announced “Tulare County Agriculture…Strong Roots, Bright Future” as the theme of its annual Student Calendar Art Contest. The Farm Bureau’s Education Committee will select 14 winning entries and numerous honorable-mention works to be featured in the full-color, 12-month calendar. The calendar will be printed and distributed to Tulare County teachers in March during National Agriculture Month.
Student artwork must be received by mail or hand delivered to the Farm Bureau at 737 North Ben Maddox Way in Visalia no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 17. The Tulare County Farm Bureau and the Tulare County Office of Education annually sponsor the contest.
For more information, see the flyer at https://tulcofb.org/education-committee or contact the Tulare County Farm Bureau at (559) 732-8301.
Photo above:
~ The artwork featured on the cover of the 2025-26 Student Art Calendar was created by Sara Satko, a 10th-grade student at Doulos Academy in Porterville. Last year's theme was “Celebrating Tulare County…The Beauty of Agriculture!"
Registration now open for annual English learners conference
Educational Resource Services has announced its plans for the annual Best Results for English Learners conference, scheduled for February 28.
Administrators, ELD coaches, and teachers are encouraged to register by December 18 to get the early bird rate and enjoy a full-day training featuring Dr. Elsa Billings and Dr. Mary Schmida of WestEd's Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL) initiative.
The conference will also feature breakout sessions designed specifically for elementary and secondary educators.
Best Results for English Learners will provide attendees with concrete strategies, fresh perspectives, and renewed energy to design high-quality learning experiences for multilingual learners.
Register today at http://tulare.k12oms.org/147-272828.
Editor: Robert Herman, Communications Director
Contributors: Nayirah Dosu, Jennifer Fisher, Jaime Burnitzki, Zoty Briceño, Kathleen Green-Martins, Gerald Arellano
To receive the News Gallery Week, sign up here, or contact Jennifer Fisher at jenniferf@tcoe.org or (559) 733-6172.