Denair Unified School District Board of Trustees President Billy Myers summed it rather nicely.

“I’m beginning to think that no one actually had a summer break,” he quipped during the first board meeting of the new school year.

Sandwiched between the usual rest and relaxation of summer were a bevy of activities throughout the district, which were highlighted during Thursday night’s meeting. The most notable, of course, was the Denair Elementary Charter Academy cafeteria project, one of several improvement projects funded by Measure Z – the $34.3 million bond measure approved by voters in 2024 – that will take place across the campuses over the coming months.

The DECA cafeteria was operational on Day 1 of the 2026-27 school term, as was the new playground equipment at the elementary campus.

“We hit the ground running on Day One,” said Food Services Manager Kim Fuentez. “Our upgraded kitchen is fully fired up and serving. Staff loves the new space, and students love what we’re cooking. It says a lot about what’s possible when you have the right equipment.”

Another summer highlight was the Denair FFA program’s successful run at the Stanislaus County Fair.

“We’re growing in numbers, and we had a very successful fair season,” said FFA advisor Roger Christianson. “To think that when I started here, we had five sheep exhibitors and two swine exhibitors. To see our growth in the last seven years has been amazing.”

Other summer endeavors included the Rising Stars Robotics and Lego Building class, in which students learned to wire a working robot car from start to finish and were allowed to race their vehicles at the conclusion of the class. Additionally, a summer Multi-Sports Class fostered teamwork and sportsmanship while teaching students the rules and intricacies of several sports.

Finally, Denair Charter Academy Principal Jamie Pecot pointed out that 95 percent of students re-enrolled at DCA for the 2026-27 school. year and 80 percent of the students completed that process during the summer. DCA first-day enrollment was 97 students.

Pecot also mentioned that summer school enrollment numbers declined in 2026.

“And that’s a good thing,” she said. “Students are getting the necessary work completed during the year and are not having to do it over the summer.”

The board also heard from Chief Business Official Daisy Swearingen on Tuesday, who informed the trustees that nearly $69,000 of additional spending is required to complete the new kitchen and HVAC improvement project at existing Gym Building M at DECA after adjustments to the scope of work were discovered during ongoing construction. The contractor submitted Possible

Change Orders (PCOs), which were reviewed by the district, district’s owner’s representative, Valley Construction Services, the project architect, and the inspector of record.

The $68,799.84 in additional funding will come from contingency fund – of about $217,000 – set aside for such instances.

“Most of the things that have come up have been due to unforeseen circumstances – things we couldn’t’ have known about until actually cutting into the building,” said Swearingen. “It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen under the ground.”

The board unanimously approved the Prime Contract Change Orders.

The next board of trustees meeting is slated for Sept. 10.

In addition to duties as an English Language Development teacher, Rachel Rodriguez will teach seventh-grade English at Denair Middle School during the 2026-27 school year and ninth-grade English at Denair High.

But Rodriguez didn’t have the typical English-class experience when she was in seventh and ninth grades.

“In seventh grade, my teacher went out on maternity leave, and we had a long-term substitute,” said Rodriguez. “Then, during my freshman year at Pitman, my teacher made a career change during the year, and we had a long-term substitute. I didn’t get the full experience during those years.”

She’s looking forward to learning alongside her students.

“I’m excited about reading ‘The Outsiders’ for the first time,” she said. “There’s definitely going to be a lot of learning for my students and myself.

“I know there will some methods that won’t work in my classroom, but that’s going to set me up for future success. I’m humble enough to know that this is not going to be a perfect year, but it’s going to be a good one.”

Here are some other things to know about Rachel Rodriguez.

Family members: Husband Isai Rodriguez, a math teacher at Oakdale High School.

Educational background: I graduated from Pitman High School, spent a year at Sonoma State and then graduated with my bachelor’s in English from Stanislaus State, where I also attended for my teaching credential.

Previous teaching jobs: This is my first real teaching job. I student-taught under Katie Jeans at Pitman, and I spent some time substitute teaching.

Subjects/grades taught at Denair: ELA at Denair Middle School, four sections of seventh-grade English at DMS, and one section of ninth-grade English at DHS.

What attracted you to Denair? It’s good to be somewhere local and close to home. I love the small community vibe.

What most inspires you about teaching? I love the ability to connect, support, challenge, and encourage students. I love getting to know each individual student and see how all their unique personalities bring something valuable to the classroom environment.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? Because this is my first year teaching, everything is a challenge I’m excited to tackle. From building lessons to establishing my teaching style, it’s going to be a wonderful adventure.

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? I love using journal responses and class discussions to get students thinking deeply and connecting content to their own experiences.

What do you want your students to remember? I want them to remember the joy of getting lost in a good story.

What can parents do to support you? Let your students learn to take the initiative when it comes to asking me questions or needing help. I want to keep guardians in the loop as much as possible and I am open to communication. However, your students will be the ones most familiar with classroom expectations, due dates, grading criteria, etc. Support them in navigating how to communicate with teachers interpersonally before swooping in on their behalf.

What’s something that would surprise people about your job? There are so many creative opportunities to make education fun and meaningful.

What do you do for fun? In my free time I play sports recreationally. My main ones are volleyball, pickleball, and softball. I also enjoy traveling, going to concerts, and watching baseball games.

A little-known fact about me is … I’m very good at puzzles: jigsaws, crosswords, escape rooms, word searches, riddles, logic puzzles.

Lilibeth Bravo knew she wanted to be a teacher when she was in the sixth grade.

“I was inspired by my sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. Carrie Jones,” said Bravo, who will teach Dual Language History, as well as Spanish, for grades 6-8 this year at Denair Middle School. “She helped all of the students; she included everyone and cared for everyone. Most of all, she always motivated us, and she made us feel like we could accomplish things. She really inspired me. I knew that I wanted to be an example for others.

Bravo, like so many first-time teachers, is excited and nervous about the first day of school.

“I can’t wait to meet students and families,” said Bravo, who was born and raised in Modesto and now resides in Turlock. “I’m excited not just to teach them, but to learn from them, too. I think it’s important to learn from students and families. We can’t teach them if we don’t know what they value or what their culture is.”

Here are some other things to know about Lilibeth Bravo.

Family members: I have a 6-year-old son and my life partner who always fill me with love and support.

Educational background: I went to Thomas Downey High School, and I graduated from Modesto Junior College and Stanislaus State with a degree in liberal studies. I am currently enrolled at San Jose State University, pursuing a master’s in instructional technology.

Subject/grades taught at Denair: I will be teaching Dual Language History and Spanish.

What attracted you to Denair? What attracted me to Denair was its community-focused environment and its support for bilingual education. I like that it is a district where teachers can build meaningful relationships with both students and their families.

What most inspires you about teaching? Helping students learn and grow. I want students to feel safe and supported. My goal is to help students see that they are capable of learning by helping them build their confidence and valuing their strengths.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? I look forward to tackling challenges that come with being a new teacher. I am looking forward to learning, growing, and becoming the best educator I can be for my students.

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? A favorite teaching activity of mine is hands-on learning. Hands-on activities give students the opportunity to explore the lesson while staying actively engaged.

What do you want your students to remember? I want students to remember they are important and able to achieve anything they set their minds to. I want them to remember that they will always have my support; and they will always have a classroom where they feel safe, valued, and loved – a place where both their strengths and weaknesses matter.

What can parents do to support you? Parents can support me by reaching out at any time to share any concerns or ideas they may have. They can also encourage their child to do their best and support classroom expectations. I believe working together can help the students be successful.

What’s something that would surprise people about your job? I think people would be surprised that even though lessons are planned, teachers often have to make quick adjustments in the moment to meet their students’ needs.

What do you do for fun? I love spending time with my family. I enjoy having ice cream and playing board games. I also enjoy exercising, running, shopping, and buying plants.

One interesting, little-known fact about me is … I collect Mini Brands Plants.

Brooke Davis is returning to where it all began for her.

Davis attended Denair schools from kindergarten through 12^th grade, graduating in 2014. Now, she’ll be a Special Education Inclusion teacher at Denair Elementary Charter Academy.

“I never really thought too much about my time in Denair while I was there,” said Davis. “All I could think about was moving on in life. But the older you get, you start to think, ‘You know what? That was a special part of my life.’ You begin to understand how big a role teachers play in your life. To be able to return to the community that gave so much to me is very special.”

After graduating from DHS, Davis attended Stanislaus State, shifting her major multiple times.

“I really don’t know how I became a teacher,” she joked. “I had always been a babysitter, and from babysitting I started working in an after-school program. Then I started working as a paraeducator, then I started substitute teaching. I ended up falling in love working with autistic children.”

Here are some other things to know about Brooke Davis.

Family members: Husband Austin Davis (husband), 3-year-old daughter Laramie, and son Cohen, who will soon celebrate his first birthday. 

Educational background: Denair High School, CSU Stanislaus (where I received my BA in Psychology), and Teachers College of San Joaquin (where I received my mild/moderate and extensive-support needs credentials).

Previous teaching jobs: Paraprofessional at Turlock Unified School District for two years in a pre-formal autism classroom. Being a paraprofessional inspired me to become a teacher, and that is what I did next. For the last five years I was a Special Day Classroom autism teacher at TUSD.

Subject/grades taught at Denair: I will be the newest hourly Special Education Inclusion teacher.

What attracted you to Denair? Since I started teaching, I have always talked about coming back to Denair, where I grew up. Ultimately, my goal was to come back and give my all to the community that gave me the foundation that has made me the educator I am today.

What most inspires you about teaching? Helping young minds grow, build confidence, and being all that they can be … and more.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? I am super excited to help all the students feel welcomed, supported, confident, and to reach for the stars.

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? I like starting the year with “All About Me” collages for my students. It is always a great time to learn about each student and what they love. As for a teaching tool, Classroomscreen is one I have come to love. It helps keep every activity organized throughout the day, as well as keep the students prepared for expectations in the activity. It’s like my own assistant, and students love all the visuals and activities. It helps make everyone in the room feel confident in what they are currently learning.

What do you want your students to remember? That I was someone who gave them the confidence to be able accomplish their goals.

What can parents do to support you? Collaborate and communicate with their child’s teacher/team.

What is something that would surprise people about your job? Being an inclusion

specialist is a job that blends many different skills: teaching, collaboration, problem solving, advocacy, and relationship building.

What do you do for fun? Bake! I enjoy baking sourdough, cookies, and having homemade pizza nights with my husband and kids. It has been extremely fun to share my love of baking with my kids. They truly are enjoying the messes and yummy treats.

A little-known fact about me is … I have swum with dolphins two times.

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.