Everyone can sense it even if they can’t always define what it means. When classes began Wednesday, everyone felt a “positive vibe” across the  Denair Unified School District. Students returned to Denair’s four campuses more eager than ever to learn. Teachers were excited to share their knowledge via creative lesson plans. Administrators and support personnel couldn’t wait to play their parts.

Combine all that energy with the lessening of the big, black cloud that has hung over education the past 2½ years – COVID – and it’s no secret why there were so many smiles this week.

“I went to every campus on Wednesday and the vibe was great,” Superintendent Terry Metzger said after Thursday night’s monthly Board of Trustees meeting. “The kids are happy to be back.”

Principals said that despite new starting time this year – classes now begin 30 minutes later than a year ago – many students arrived early on Wednesday. 

“We had many kids who showed up at 7:30 a.m., even though school doesn’t start until 8:30,” said Gabriela Sarmiento, principal at Denair Middle School. “I think they were just excited to get started. It’s been an amazing vibe.”

Denair’s enrollment has swelled to 1,288 students – 26 more than a year ago – thanks to gains at the elementary, middle school and high school campuses.

“We’ve had a lot of kids move into the district boundaries,” Metzger said. “We’re working to get them enrolled as fast as we can.”

Denair Elementary Charter Academy is maxed out with 600 kindergarten through fifth-graders. 

“We don’t have any more room. It’s a nice problem to have,” Trustee Crystal Sousa said Thursday night.

DECA is one of two Denair campuses with a new principal this year. Marilu Cano, who takes over for Kelly Beard, was so excited that she got to school before 7 a.m. Wednesday. She made it a point to personally meet and greet many children and their parents in front of the school.

“I told the kids, ‘Who’s new here?’ Welcome to the club,” said Cano, who reveled in the reaction of some students. “The little ones hug you. They’re so cute.”

Across Lester Road at the high school, Interim Principal Breanne Aguiar also enjoyed all the excitement that the first day of class brings. In the past six years, she has served as a teacher and then principal at Denair Charter Academy, been the assistant director of special education and worked as the homeless and foster youth liaison. Aguiar replaces Kara Backman who has accepted a job outside the district after six years in Denair.

“It’s been a whirlwind for me, but it’s been a great start to school,” said Aguiar. 

On Wednesday, the high school leadership class organized some fun activities, including donuts for incoming freshman and a water balloon toss at lunch. Each of the campuses planned rallies Friday to continue the welcome-back theme and keep the positive vibe going.

No one is forgetting about academics, though. Teachers will continue to focus on core subjects as well as challenging electives while striving to meet the district’s three overarching goals – to prepare all students to continue their education beyond high school, to help them become authentically literate in all subjects, and to maintain a positive and safe school environment where all students are successful.

“We are looking forward to a positive school year through providing students with opportunity, focusing on our culture, and providing the tools and resources needed to ensure academic growth for all students,” Aguiar said.

In other action Thursday night, trustees:

• Unanimously approved (with Trustee Regina Gomes absent), a 45-day revision to the 2022-23 budget. As explained by Director of Fiscal Services Daisy Swearingen, the district expects to receive an additional $2.3 million in one-time money from the state in the form of a $1.6 million block grant to address ongoing learning challenges related to the pandemic and $753,000 for arts, music and instructional materials. In addition, the state will provide an extra $117,000 on top of the $52,000 it already pledged for transportation services. Together, that will pay for 60% of Denair’s $300,000 cost to bus students. 
• Heard a recap of the district’s summer school programs. There were 101 high school students who took classes online or in person in an effort to make up for credits not earned during the previous school year. At the elementary level, 227 students participated in at least of 16 enrichment camps. Eight special education students also were served.
• Swore in student board members Melanie Connell and Emily Mancilla. Both are seniors at Denair High.

This is one in a series of Q&A’s with employees new to Denair Unified in 2022-23.

Family: Just myself and my chihuahua, Bowie!

School: Denair Middle School

Subject taught: Seventh- and eighth-grade history and yearbook

Experience and education: This is my second year teaching history. Previously, I taught eighth-grade history at a middle school in Fresno. Before teaching, I earned my bachelor’s degree in recreation administration from Fresno State. I worked in corporate event coordination prior to starting my career in education. I earned my teaching credential in social science and my master’s in education from National University. 

What attracted you to Denair? I had heard nothing but wonderful things about the community and school district, which is what attracted me to the district. 

What most inspires you about teaching? The students! I think I have learned more from the students I’ve taught/coached than they have learned from me. So many of my previous students have faced challenges I could not imagine going through, yet they came to my class every day with a smile and a positive mindset. It’s inspiring to me and encourages me to do my best to provide them a space where they can feel comfortable and safe. 

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? I previously taught only eighth-grade history, so adding seventh-grade history and yearbook to my plate is an exciting challenge I look forward to. 

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? I use Blooket as a review game prior to chapter tests and students love it. It gives them a chance to be competitive and engage with other students, while preparing for upcoming assessments. 

What do you want your students to remember?  I want them to remember the positive and inclusive culture we created in my classroom. I want them to leave knowing that they are capable of anything they set their mind to and that I will always believe in them! Hopefully, they remember a little bit of the material I taught them, too! 

How can parents support what you do? Parents can support what I do by encouraging their students to follow class and school rules, show respect to other students and staff members, complete their assignments on time and encourage them to always do their best. Establishing a line of communication between parent/teacher is also very beneficial to all. 

This is one in a series of Q&A’s with employees new to Denair Unified in 2022-23.

Family: I have a wife, two brothers and one sister, and a cat named Rudy 

School: Denair High School

Subject taught: Art

Experience and education: Bachelor’s degree in studio art and a single subject teaching credential in art, both from Stanislaus State. 

What attracted you to Denair? The small-town school atmosphere; the great relationships between students, teachers, and administration; and the genuine desire to see students grow and learn. 

What most inspires you about teaching? What most inspires me about teaching is seeing that spark when a student really clicks with a subject. That moment when a concept isn’t only comprehended but also truly enjoyed. That moment when a piece of information becomes an interest and a personal challenge. 

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? I am coming into a job that was held by an amazing teacher of 35 years … so I have some seriously big shoes to fill. I hope to engage and teach the students as effectively as Mr. Stav did, while making the classroom my own. Also, everyone keeps telling me that 50% of teachers quit in their first year. So, I would love it if that did not happen to me. 

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? My favorite teaching tool is learning with students. If something doesn’t stick with the kids, it’s time to change it up. I try to reach varied learners using every tool at my disposal including writing, small group chats, pair work, hands on work, critiques, videos, lectures, and sometimes just some good old artsy fun. 

What do you want your students to remember? I want students to remember that their creative voice is important. The arts teach us to develop our own ideas and to creatively present them to our society and our world. Art is a heck of a lot more that glitter glue and construction paper. It is culture, revolution, remembrance, power, emotion, creation and innovation.  Want my students to know that what we are doing is actually important, and that they will have a blast in this class if they’re willing to engage and put forth the effort it takes to be an artist.

How can parents support what you do? Parents can give me feedback! I like to hope that parents are involved and asking questions about their student’s classes. I also hope that my students will be showing their parents their work. I would love to hear what parents think! I also plan on keeping in touch with parents throughout the semester to give them updates regarding their children’s performances in class, so that’s another way parents can be involved and support art class. 

What would surprise people about your job? People would probably be surprised to know that my Job involves a lot more than just letting students slap paint on paper. Often times, teaching students art is like teaching students both a new language and a new set of trades. So many people are so scared of the very concept of creativity that they enter into classes like mine thinking they will never make any good art, or they will get A’s for just making whatever “abstract” nonsense they want. Both are totally incorrect! Art is crazy fun, but it is also very involved and comes from a rich and diverse tradition. Certain skills must be mastered to succeed and art theory must be comprehended. It sounds scary, but it’s seriously awesome. 

What do you do for fun? For fun, I love to spend time with my wife because she is literally the best. I also love to read comics, watch movies, hike, draw and paint.

This is one in a series of Q&A’s with employees new to Denair Unified in 2022-23.

Family: My husband Johnny and our three children, Johnny, Joshua and Arianna

School: Denair Elementary Charter Academy

Subject taught: Transitional kindergarten

Experience and education: This past school year, I was a substitute teacher. I received my bachelor’s degree in history from Stan State. I am currently enrolled at Humphreys University working on my credentials as well as my master’s in teaching. 

What attracted you to Denair? The family feel at Denair is great; that is what I love best about this district. I spent most of last school year subbing at DECA and felt almost an instant connection to the staff and the students there. I am grateful that I can work at the same school my kids attend.

What most inspires you about teaching? As a kid, I struggled with certain parts of academics. Luckily, I had supportive parents who were there to help me. I want to be an encouragement to my students; we all need someone in our corner to cheer us on. 

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? This being my first year teaching my own classroom, I am looking forward to the challenge of the administration side of teaching — the meetings, paperwork and grading process. Being a substitute teacher, I haven’t had much experience with this part of teaching. 

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? Last school year, I really enjoyed Coyote Chit Chat, this is a time when students can share about their day, usually followed by a question to get to know students better such as “would you rather never watch TV again or only eat vegetables.” It’s a great way to get to know your students better.

What do you want your students to remember? I would hope my students remember that I want learning to be fun. To better engage students, I think they should enjoy school. Not that it’s all fun and games, but there should be a good amount of fun throughout the school day. 

How can parents support what you do? We all have busy lives, but taking time to listen to your child share about their day at school is a great way to learn so much about their day. Another helpful tip — which I don’t always follow — but try and read to your child or have your student read to you daily. Reading is so critical to a child’s academic success. 

What would surprise people about your job? There is a lot of prep that goes into a teacher’s day. It’s not just “here are some worksheets.” I want my students to be engaged in learning and make the school day enjoyable. 

What do you do for fun? My family and I enjoy camping. We try and take a couple of trips a year.

This is one in a series of Q&A’s with employees new to Denair Unified in 2022-23.

Family: My children live in Modesto with their dad. They are Ani (13), Sezria (15) and Titus (17).  Ani (pronounced Oni) is an eighth-grader at Roosevelt Junior High, Sez-ria is a sophomore at Enochs High and Titus is a senior at Enochs. 

School: Denair Elementary Charter Academy

Subject taught: Special education

Experience and education: I have been a moderate/severe education specialist, K-8, over the past four years at UMASS Global University while simultaneously maintaining a classroom of my own. I decided to switch to mild/moderate special education because I would like to incorporate more of a curriculum-based challenge into my scope of teaching.  

What attracted you to Denair? I like the small-town aspects of teaching in Denair as I hope to make genuine connections with elevating our students to a higher level of learning. 

What most inspires you about teaching? I am most inspired by student-centered teaching because I enjoy providing a lesson and exploring the directions that the students are able to take it.  

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? I would like for our students to demonstrate positive growth and creativity based on the themes and lessons that I provide for them.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? Google classroom is an awesome resource because it allows me to share a collaboration of all of the tools and resources that I am utilizing in the classroom.

What do you want your students to remember? I meet my students where they are in the learning process and I relate to them in ways that are relevant to who they are as individuals. 

How can parents support what you do? I value parental involvement and input. I appreciate when they ask questions and inquire about the activities that I share in my Google classroom. 

What would surprise people about your job? Although I have been well-trained in educating students, it is the day in and day out interactions with my students that educate me the most. I grow every day!What do you do for fun? Outdoor activities always charge me up! I enjoy water activities like rafting and swimming.