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Take 5 - March 2026

  • Mar 31
  • 4 min read

Take 5! is a monthly spotlight of promising practices happening at county offices of education throughout the state, rotating the five that are featured and the focus areas covered. The map coordinates with the location of the stories featured this month from across our state.


You can view past bright spots by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. 

Humboldt Youth Arts Festival to Celebrate Arts Education Month

The Humboldt County Youth Arts Festival (YAF) is an annual celebration of student creativity, presented in partnership with the Humboldt County Office of Education and the Humboldt Arts Council. Held in the month of March during Art Education Month, the festival showcases the work of over 300 students from across the county at the Morris Graves Museum of Art.

 

This professional gallery setting offers many young artists their first opportunity to publicly display their work, fostering pride and inspiration. YAF also highlights the dedication of teachers and the strength of Humboldt County’s art programs, while bringing the community together to celebrate youth creativity. By sharing their art in a public space, students gain confidence and connect with the wider community, reflecting the county’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists.


The Wellness Shift: Transforming Student Support in Glenn County

The Wellness Shift: Transforming Student Support in Glenn County

Nearly 40% of students struggle with mental health challenges and those needs are showing up earlier and more often in classrooms. At Glenn County Office of Education (GCOE), the response has been a communitywide wellness initiative bringing mental health support directly onto school campuses through dedicated wellness coaches and intentionally designed wellness spaces. Funded through targeted grants, the program expands student support without impacting the general education fund for educators, that means supporting students who are carrying far more than backpacks into the classroom.


We know from research that a child can't learn if they're not in the right mind space and if their basic needs aren't being met. Ultimately, this is how GCOE can make sure they educate the whole child so that all students can achieve academic success.


A Contra Costa Special Education Teacher Marks 50 Years of Teaching

Elizabeth “Betty” McPeek was honored as an Education Champion by the Contra Costa County Board of Education on March 18, 2026, for 50 years of dedicated teaching service with the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE). 

 

McPeek’s career in special education began shortly after the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975, the federal law that guarantees students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education. As IDEA marks its 50th anniversary, McPeek’s professional journey reflects the law’s core principles of access, individualized support, and inclusion for students with complex needs. 

 

McPeek (pictured below with a student) began her career with CCCOE in 1976 as a substitute teacher at Miller (George Jr.) West in Richmond, then a county-run school serving students with significant medical and physical needs. Over five decades, she has worked with medically fragile students, students on the autism spectrum, and those with rare genetic conditions affecting physical and cognitive development.


New Mobile Welding Trailer in Merced County Brings Hands-on Training Directly to Students

The Merced County Office of Education Regional Occupational Program celebrated the launch of the new mobile welding trailer, which will bring hands-on training and instruction directly to students at the Juvenile Hall Court School, Merced Valley Community School and Comeback Charter School at Yosemite Education.

 

Instead of requiring students to travel to a fixed campus or shop, this mobile unit eliminates the barriers of access and transportation that so often stand between young people and valuable trade skills. It's education that meets students where they are, literally pulling up to school sites ready to spark opportunity.

 

What makes this trailer truly remarkable is the message it sends: that world-class welding instruction doesn't have to live behind the walls of a traditional classroom. In an era where the demand for qualified welders has never been higher, this kind of innovative outreach isn't just impressive — it's game-changing.


San Bernardino's Going Above and Beyond for Every Child

For the 2025–2026 school year, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools has launched one of the most comprehensive, compassionate, and forward-thinking event series in the state. Under the mission to transform lives through education, the Innovation and Engagement Branch is mobilizing educators, families, healthcare providers, law enforcement, faith communities, and businesses around a single goal: making sure every child — from cradle to career — has a real shot at success.

 

Here's a look at what they're doing for the series by focus categories:

·    Showing Up for the Most Vulnerable Kids

·    Taking Mental Health Seriously

·    Fighting the Substance Use Crisis Head-On

·    Transforming Schools into Community Hubs

·    Building Systems That Work for All Students

·    Preparing Students for Real Careers

 

This is what it looks like when a county office of education truly goes beyond to become a champion for its communities. SBCSS isn't just supporting schools, it's building the infrastructure for generations of students to thrive



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