Lynwood Unified School District students, leaders and community stakeholders gathered to celebrate another year of incredible growth and set their sights on a bright future during the sixth Annual State of the District on Oct. 20. This year’s celebration launched the fourth annual Lynwood Gives Campaign, a collaborative effort with the Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation (LPEF).
Sporting their vibrant school colors, the Firebaugh High School marching band and Lynwood High School’s cheerleading team provided entertainment during the event and showed their school spirit through lively performances. Lynwood High School Culinary Arts students also provided a full-course breakfast to event attendees.
Presenters – including Board President Alfonso Morales, Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, Ph.D., and members of the cabinet – gave a passionate recap of this year’s achievements, emphasizing the growth of programs and new innovative practices that have propelled student and District success.
“The work we’re doing at Lynwood Unified goes beyond educating our students,” Morales said. “It’s about how we are going to help raise our children because they don’t often have what they need at home. We’re doing things that I never thought as a school district we would be doing. Given the right tools, our students can continue to succeed.”
Notable achievements in 2023 include a Golden Bell Award for the Lynwood Job Opportunity for Youth program, which offers at-promise students and unhoused youth the opportunity to complete their studies while gaining work experience. All schools also received Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) awards for the second year in a row, an honor that recognizes each school’s dedication to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment for students.
Administrators also lauded the expansion of innovative educational programs, upgrades in facilities, diverse and inclusive environments for students and staff alike and advancements in technological integration.
Throughout the year, the District secured several grants to support students in achieving their educational aspirations, including a remarkable $24.4 million California Community Schools Partnership Grant and a $225,000 donation from the W. M. Keck Foundation that was used toward Firebaugh High School's new state-of-the-art Biomedical Sciences Lab.
During the event, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo, Ed.D., gave a moving speech that defined Lynwood Unified’s exceptional leadership. Duardo thanked Crosthwaite for his commitment to serving his students and the Lynwood community by announcing his selection as the 2023 County Superintendent of the Year.
“I am honored to be nominated for L.A. County Superintendent of the Year. For us in education, we don’t do this for acknowledgment; we’re here for the impact,” Crosthwaite said. “I have felt so blessed to be able to do the work that we do. I am honored and privileged, and truly enjoy being a servant to the community of Lynwood.”
The event concluded with the launch of the Lynwood Gives Campaign, which ends Oct. 27. Proceeds will support college scholarships, teacher grants, STEM programs and the Lynwood Unified Food Pantry. To donate and learn more about the foundation’s impactful work, visit www.lynwoodedfoundation.org.