First-year Denair High School teacher Daytona Jones has a sister named Atlanta and brother named Dylan.

Their parents settled on Jones’ name after a commercial promoting the Daytona 500 NASCAR race appeared on the TV in the labor and delivery room. Her sister was named for their mom’s favorite football team – the Atlanta Falcons – and her brother was named after Dylan McKay, the fictional character played by the late Luke Perry on “Beverly Hills 90210.”

“My parents are fans of sports and pop culture,” said Jones, who will teach mild to moderate special education for grades 9-12.

Jones said she’s excited about the start of the 2026-27 school year, but also a bit anxious.

“I’m incredibly nervous,” said Jones, a 2016 graduate of Turlock High School. “I was lucky enough to be a sub in the class that I ended up taking over, so I know the kids and they’re also so amazing. That relieves my anxiety, but I’m still nervous because I hope to do well and don’t want to disappoint anybody.”

Here are few other things to know about Daytona Jones:

Family members: I have a close-knit family that has always encouraged my love for education.

Educational background: I went to Turlock High School, then received my BA in History at CSU Stanislaus, and am now attending Teacher’s College of San Joaquin to receive my teaching credential.

Previous teaching jobs: This is my first year teaching. However, I did substitute for two years.

Subject/grades taught at Denair: High school mild-moderate Special Education (9-12).

What attracted you to Denair? I had the honor of substituting for multiple classes at DHS and fell in love with the school! The community is so inspiring, and everyone makes you feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself.

What most inspires you about teaching? The students. Seeing students grow in confidence and realizing they are capable of more than they thought possible. I love helping students discover their strengths and celebrating their progress.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? As a first-year teacher, I am excited to continue learning and growing while building a classroom where every student feels supported, challenged and successful.

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? I enjoy using interactive activities, collaborative learning, and graphic organizers to make learning engaging and accessible for all students. 

What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember they are valued and supported in my classroom. I want them to know they are capable of achieving great things.

What can parents do to support you? Communication is key! When families and teachers work together, we can best support students.

What’s something that would surprise people about your job? Special Education teachers wear many hats. We teach, collaborate with parents and staff, adapt lessons, support student goals, and celebrate growth every step of the way.

What do you do for fun? I love to read! You will always catch me with a book in my hands in my free time.

A little-known fact about me is … My love for reading began when I was a child with the Magic Treehouse books. Any chance I get to introduce a student to the series, I take it, and hope it also sparks a love for reading.

Ramina Isaac immigrated to the U.S. from Iran when she was just a teenager.

“It was very difficult,” said Isaac, who was born Tehran, the Iranian capital. “It was definitely a culture shock.”

She settled with her family in Chicago – hardly knowing a single word of English – and moved to the Central Valley just in time to start eighth grade at Somerset Middle School in Modesto.

“Six months later, I was a semifinalist in a speech competition,” said Isaac, who will teach eighth-grade math and Math 1 at DUSD during the 2026-27 school year. 

Isaac believes her immigrant story gives her a unique foundation to assist Denair Unified School District’s diverse student body.

Here are a few other things you might not know about Isaac.

Family members: Husband Lenard Isaac, children Danielle, Andrew, and Matthew, dog Milo and cat Whiskey.

Educational background: A bachelor’s degree in marketing – with a minor in computer information systems – and a master’s degree in secondary education from California State University, Stanislaus.

Previous teaching jobs: Six years at Dos Palos High School, two years at Whitmore Charter Middle School, two years at Salida Middle School, five years at Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory.

What attracted you to Denair? The opportunity to make a difference in student lives. Also,

I live in Turlock, so Denair is close to my home. My brother-in-law was a groundskeeper a long time ago at DUSD. He passed away about 20 years ago; I am honored to walk in his footsteps.

What most inspires you about teaching? The opportunity to make a lasting impact on someone’s life. Helping people understand a difficult concept, build confidence in their abilities, and discover their potential is incredibly rewarding. I enjoy creating an environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and continue learning. Knowing that even a small lesson or moment of encouragement can influence someone’s future is what makes teaching so meaningful to me.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year?  Finding new ways to engage every student and meet them where they are academically and personally. Every class is unique, and I enjoy adapting my teaching strategies to help students stay motivated, build confidence, and reach their full potential. I also look forward to continuing to grow as an educator by learning new instructional techniques and creating a classroom environment where every student feels supported, challenged, and excited to learn. 

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? Student-to-student collaboration. It takes the weight off of me by having the students work on the math problems at hand through collaboration.

What do you want your students to remember? More than any single lesson, I want my students to remember how they felt in my classroom. I want them to remember that they were respected, encouraged, and capable of achieving more than they thought possible. I hope they leave with confidence in themselves, a curiosity to keep learning, and the understanding that mistakes are a natural part of growth. If my students remember that they had a teacher who believed in them and inspired them to do their best, I will consider that a success.

What can parents do to support you? Maintain open communication and partner with me in their child’s education. Encouraging consistent attendance, reinforcing the importance of completing assignments, and showing interest in what their child is learning can make a significant difference. I also appreciate when parents share any concerns or important information early so we can work together to help their child succeed. When teachers and families collaborate, students are more confident, engaged, and successful.

What’s something that would surprise people about your job? I think many people would be surprised by how much happens outside the classroom. Teaching involves much more than delivering lessons; it includes planning engaging activities, grading assignments, communicating with families, analyzing student progress, and continually adapting instruction to meet the needs of every learner. It’s a job that requires creativity, patience, flexibility, and a genuine commitment to helping students succeed both academically and personally.

What do you do for fun? Latin and country line dancing. I teach adults how to dance, as well.

A little-known fact about me is … I am fluent in three languages, one of which is a 6,700-year-old language known as Aramaic.

With the 2025-26 school year having just come to a close, the Denair Unified School District Board of Trustees on Thursday heard from district principals about improvements in math and reading test scores from the fall semester to the spring semester.

Principals Crystal Sousa, Ed.D. (Denair Elementary Charter Academy), Jamie Pecot (Denair Charter Academy), Gabriela Sarmiento (Denair Middle School), and Breanne Aguiar (Denair High School) took turns presenting the board with data gleaned from the iReady assessment tests.

iReady is an online assessment and skills practice platform used districtwide. Students take a diagnostic test three times per year, and teachers use the information to determine what interventions will help students improve their progress toward grade level standard (or extend their learning if they are already at/above standard). This cycle of assessment and practice provides targeted support and allows teachers to regularly monitor student progress.

DECA test results showed that students who were two or more grade levels behind in reading decreased from 45 to 26 percent, while the number of students scoring at or above proficient in reading increased from 16 to 33 percent. On the math side, the number of students two or more grade levels behind in math decreased from 48 to 23 percent, with the number of students scoring at or above proficient increased from 5 to 21 percent.

According to Sousa, a large group of students – 55 percent in math and 42 percent in reading – are just below grade level and within reach of proficiency, which could result in a significant shifting of the numbers moving forward.

Data showed a similar picture at DCA, where the number of students who scored two or more grade levels behind in reading went from 52 to 40 percent by the end of the school year, while students who scored mid or above grade level in math went from 7 to 18 percent.

Figures for DMS students show the percentage of students that scored at or above grade level in reading increased considerably from 20 to 34 percent, while the percentage 

that scored at or above grade level in math increased significantly from 11 to 24 percent.

At Denair High, among freshmen and sophomores, there was a 12 percent reduction in students scoring three or more grade levels below in math, and a 12 percent improvement in students meeting early on or above/at grade level progress. That demonstrates the most substantial improvement for DHS over the past three years of implementation, according to Aguiar. On the reading side, 6 percent of students met progress goals (early on or above/at grade level) – a reduction in the number of students scoring one or more grade levels below.

Overall, every group of students made progress at all schools. Principals attributed the growth to a better understanding about how to use the platform and the results of the diagnostic, and staff creativity in rewarding students’ effort and growth.  

The trustees also heard details on the proposed 2026-27 DUSD budget, as well as the Local Control and Accountability Plan. The district and charter LCAPs provide a roadmap for goals, actions for improving student outcomes, and spending related to those actions. The LCAPs and budget will be back before the board for approval at the special June 11 meeting.

The Board heard an annual report on mental health services in the district. Clinician Lina Maria Mateus shared that the mental health team, which includes school counselors, a student assistance specialist, and Mateus, served 813 students this school year. About 270 of those students were referred because they were disengaged from school or for academic concerns. Another 200 were referred due to family/home issues. Students who experience suicidal ideation and self-harm remain a concern, and the team is required to respond collaboratively with parents and administrators. Two highlighted successes were the annual Reasons for Living ice cream social, where 462 students placed their reasons for living on a tree mural, and recognition of the 14 field trips that provided students with wellness leadership, educational, and enrichment opportunities.