Regional News in Education

April 25 - May 8, 2026

EDC Education Highlights 

Learning grows on 23rd annual Farm Day — Mountain Democrat - More than 2,000 El Dorado County third-grade students attended the 23rd annual Farm Day at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds in Placerville on May 6.   

Markham students turn recycled materials into inspiring art - Mountain Democrat - Markham Middle School students in grades 6-8 completed a creative project inspired by the novel “The 7th Most Important Thing” by Shelley Pearsall. 

Stars at School: Andrea Domenici - Mountain Democrat - Andrea Domenici’s commitment toward goal setting and student support as an EDCOE Adult Education teacher has garnered her recognition as a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Northern Section of the California Council for Adult Education. 

Cold Magic, Warm Hearts - Mountain Democrat - Community members came together to celebrate winter spirit and generosity during the annual “Cold Magic, Warm Hearts” event.

Student of the Quarter: Brendon Nelson - Village Life - Brendon Nelson was recognized as Student of the Quarter for his academic achievement, leadership and dedication to his school community.

From the Classroom to the Kitchen: Culinary Students Get a Taste of the Real Thing - South Tahoe Now - Culinary students recently stepped out of the classroom and into a professional kitchen to gain hands-on industry experience.

Local Educators Nominated for National LifeChanger of the Year Award - Village Life - Several local educators have been nominated for the National LifeChanger of the Year Award in recognition of their impact on students and school communities.

Students Compete in Rotary’s Music and Speech Contest - Mountain Democrat - Local students showcased their talents and public speaking skills during Rotary’s annual music and speech contest.

Team Chemistry Drives Nationally Ranked Ponderosa HS Softball Team’s Hot Start - ABC10 - The Ponderosa Softball team joins ABC 10’s Toyota Sports Extra live in studio. 

Heritage Festival: A Trip to Remember - Village Life - Students participated in a memorable heritage festival experience celebrating culture, history and community connections.

STEM Discovery Night Returns to South Lake Tahoe - Tahoe Daily Tribune - STEM Discovery Night returned to South Lake Tahoe with interactive activities designed to engage students and families in science, technology, engineering and math.

South Tahoe High Seniors Given More Than $300K in Scholarships - Tahoe Daily Tribune - South Tahoe High School seniors received more than $300,000 in scholarships thanks to the generosity of local donors, businesses and community organizations. 

Future Leaders of El Dorado County was a success — Georgetown Gazette - The Future Leaders of El Dorado County event brought together students and community leaders for a day focused on leadership, collaboration and career exploration.

Good to know

Local 

Student Cartographers Earn Top Honors - Mountain Democrat - Student cartographers recently earned top honors for their outstanding mapmaking skills and geographic knowledge in a regional competition.

Get a Taste on Main Street - Mountain Democrat - Community members gathered on Main Street to enjoy local food, entertainment, and activities during the annual “Taste on Main Street” event. 

EDH Girl Scout Earns Gold - Village Life - An El Dorado Hills Girl Scout earned the prestigious Gold Award after completing a service project benefiting the community.

Sisters team up to spruce up Golden Sierra — Georgetown Gazette - Two sisters joined forces to help beautify Golden Sierra Junior Senior High School through a campus improvement project.

A Night to Aspire — Mountain Democrat - Students, families and community members gathered to celebrate achievement, opportunity and future aspirations during A Night to Aspire.

April 18 - 24, 2026

Chris Proctor Honored as Outstanding Community Member by El Dorado County School Board – South Tahoe Now - Proctor was named Outstanding Community Member by the El Dorado County School Board Association.

Two new principals named for South Lake Tahoe schools – South Tahoe Now - Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) has announced the appointment of two new principals for South Lake Tahoe schools after the current principals announced their retirements.

Union Mine FFA Teams Earn Top Finishes at Fresno State Field Day – INEDC - El Dorado students notch multiple top 10 placements in one of California’s largest agricultural competitions. 

Unified Basketball Tournament lights up Lake Forest court – Mountain Democrat - The cheers were a little louder and the smiles a little brighter as the Rescue Union School District recently hosted its third annual Elementary Unified Basketball Tournament.

South Lake Tahoe’s youngest students get a first look at the future – South Tahoe Now - That’s the idea behind a community outreach effort by South Tahoe High School, bringing all four South Lake Tahoe elementary schools to the high school for tours of its Career and Technical Education program. 

Confronting a dystopian academia – Mountain Democrat - Students at Union Mine High School are taking audiences into a high-pressure, dystopian world this spring with their production of “Ranked, A Musical” exploring the consequences of tying self-worth to academic success.

A night of gratitude at South Tahoe High School scholarship night – South Tahoe Now - South Tahoe High School celebrated 66 of its seniors on Tuesday, April 21 with the annual scholarship night. 

April 11 - 17, 2026

Middle schoolers explore careers – Mountain Democrat - Edwin Markham Middle School held its fourth annual Career Fair on Friday, March 27, giving students a chance to explore a wide range of career paths and learn what preparation each requires.

Student of the Year - Sophie Hansen – Village Life - The Rotary Club of El Dorado Hills and local educators celebrated Sophie Hansen as Jackson Elementary School Student of the Year.

Association hands out honors – On March 23, EDCSBA held its annual awards dinner at the Placerville Gathering Place. Becky Siren with Black Oak Mine Unified School District received the award for Outstanding Community Member.

Stars at School: Sarah Fike and Miriam Bolster – Mountain Democrat - For nearly half a century, the Festival of Oral Interpretation has served as a cornerstone of student achievement in El Dorado County. 

March 28 - April 10, 2026

EDC Education Highlights

Stars at school: Luz Mora – Mountain Democrat - As a program secretary with El Dorado County Office of Education’s Child Development Programs, she has spent nearly eight years supporting local families.

Unified basketball tournament nets smiles all around – Mountain Democrat - Approximately 80 students played at the Unified Basketball Tournament hosted for the first time by Rolling Hills Middle School earlier this month to thundering hoots and hollers from the crowd.

Beyond the classroom: How South Tahoe’s Sports Medicine students are training for real careers – South Tahoe Now - South Tahoe High School’s Sports Medicine pathway has been one of the most popular Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs at STHS for the past 13 years. 

LTUSD advances student bike safety efforts through community collaboration – Tahoe Daily Tribune – LTUSD continues to prioritize student safety while encouraging healthy, active transportation.

Students roll up their sleeves and analyze Costco document – Mountain Democrat – When the proposed Costco warehouse and gas station project adjacent to Oak Meadow Elementary School caught the attention of a group of middle schoolers, they didn’t just talk about it; they got to work.

California’s next governor to face tough choices for education as state budget tightens – EdSource - Buckeye Union School District Superintendent David Roth’s message, reiterated by others, is that schools should get back to basics, as in base funding — the portion of the state’s funding formula intended to cover general operating expenses.

Bringing home distinguished honors - Mountain Democrat – Buckeye Union School District recently announced that both Camerado Springs Middle School and Rolling Hills Middle School have been named 2026 Distinguished Schools.

Good to Know

Local

Found Poem Project brings surprise poetry to county libraries – Mountain Democrat - This April, in celebration of National Poetry Month, Arts and Culture El Dorado is partnering with El Dorado County Library to launch the Found Poem Project.