Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, Events, familia, Family, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Youth

Ventura County Office of Education — Science Fair & Mock Trial Results, Why Equity Matters, DC Advocacy, and more

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2026 • Comments Off

Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools

April 2026

Focus on Education provides news about Ventura County public schools for families and educators. It is published by the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE).

Why Equity Matters in Our Schools

Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools

Despite what you may have heard, equity in education is a straightforward, commonsense idea. It’s simply acknowledging that some students face more challenges than others. These can range from poverty and disabilities to language barriers or trauma at home.

Whatever their struggles, all students deserve the chance to succeed in school – and that’s what equity is all about. As you can see in this graphic, equity and equality are not the same thing.

In an effort to give all students the support they need to thrive in school, I launched the VCOE Equity Conference six years ago. This year’s conference was held on March 24 and continues to set records, with more than 800 people signing up to attend.

It was truly inspiring to see educators and families from all walks of life come together with the common purpose of opening doors and removing barriers for students.

I’d like to thank Cal Lutheran First Lady Monique Nunes for her inspiring keynote address, and to the many presenters who shared their insights during the conference breakout sessions.

I invite you to watch the video of my opening remarks and Ms. Nunes’s keynote, and to be part of our effort to ensure that schools are ready to serve every student who enters our doors.

Dr. César Morales

Ventura County Superintendent of Schools

Making School Safety Priority One

The Ventura County Probation Agency and District Attorney’s Office, along with the US Secret Service, presented at the most recent session in an ongoing school safety seminar series. Districts from across the county came to VCOE to learn strategies for student intervention and threat assessment to prevent violence on their campuses.

The Safety Series has helped Ventura County become a national leader in coordination between schools and law enforcement to keep staff and students safe. It’s presented by the Ventura County Office of Education and the Ventura County Schools Self-Funding Authority.

Advocating for Our Schools in D.C.

Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, meets with Congresswoman Julia Brownley and Congressman Salud Carbajal in Washington, D.C.

Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, joined a group of California education leaders in the nation’s capital in March to advocate for students and schools.

The trip included meetings with members of Congress and agency representatives about the importance of federal funding for public school programs. Of particular concern are proposed cuts to Medicaid, funding for special education, and the impact of technology on students.

The visit was coordinated by the California County Superintendentsorganization, where Dr. Morales serves as Chair of the State and Federal Legislative Committee.

Ventura County Science Fair Awards

Five hundred students submitted more than 300 projects to this year’s Ventura County Science Fair, which was presented in March by the Ventura County Office of Education. The students pictured above had the highest-scoring projects and will be advancing to the California Science & Engineering Fair.

Olivia Johnson from Thousand Oaks High School is receiving an even greater honor: she was selected to represent Ventura County at the prestigious International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix in May. You can check out the full list of winners of the 2026 Ventura County Science Fair and see photos and videos from the event.

Congratulations Mock Trial Winners!

For the fourth year in a row, Trinity Pacific Christian School won first place in the high school division of the Ventura County Mock Trial, with Oak Park High School taking second place. Trinity Pacific advanced to the state competition, where they had finished first for the past two years. This year’s state winner was Lynbrook High School in San Jose.

In the middle school division of the Ventura County Mock Trial, Mesa Union School took the top spot and will go on to represent Ventura County in the first-ever statewide middle school Mock Trial competition. It will take place on April 18 at the UCLA School of Law.

Migrant Speech & Debate Tournament

The VCOE Migrant Education Program’s annual Speech and Debate Tournament was held in March at Oxnard College, with 78 talented students from throughout the county participating. They did an incredible job presenting their speeches and debating in both English and Spanish, sharpening their critical thinking skills and building confidence.

Congratulations to the top scorers, who will go on to the state competition in Monterey in May. Huge thanks to the volunteer coaches, judges, and the Migrant Education team for giving our students this opportunity to shine!

Civic Engagement Project Expo

The third annual VCOE Student Civic Engagement Project Expo was bigger and better than ever. The event has grown so much that it was held over two days, one for middle school students and one for high school students.

The expo prompts students to create plans for addressing issues they’re passionate about and then present them to the audience. The topics included English as a Second Language classes, farm worker safety, and protecting victims of assault. Students then cast ballots to choose their favorites.

Building STEM Brilliance for Students

VCOE was proud to host Building Brilliance, a celebration of students from Santa Paula participating in the SeaPerch robotics and pre-engineering programs. These special programs, which help students get on the path to rewarding STEM careers, are the result of a partnership between the Navy, VCOE, the Santa Paula Unified School District, CSUCI, Ventura College, and Moorpark College.

Dr. Ramon Flores, a Navy engineer and member of the Ventura County Board of Education, is one of the driving forces behind bringing these opportunities to local students.

California State Academic Decathlon

Royal High School in the Simi Valley Unified School District and Westlake High School in the Conejo Valley Unified School District were among the highest-scoring teams in their divisions in the California Academic Decathlon. The state championships were held in March in Santa Clara. Click here to see all the Ventura County teams and individual results.

Week of the Young Child: April 11-17

The importance of early childhood care and education was in the spotlight at last week’s Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting. The Local Planning Council of Ventura County (coordinated by staff in VCOE’s Early Childhood Programs department) gave a presentation to share its Child Care Needs Assessment and proclaim April 11 – 17 as the Week of the Young Child.

First 5 Ventura County was also on hand to share their Strategic Plan and to celebrate Take 5 and Read to Kids Day, which is coming up on May 1.

Volunteer for Battle of the Books and Batalla de los Libros

VCOE’s Battle of the Books and Batalla de los Libros are coming up in May and need volunteer moderators to make it an amazing event for students. Volunteer training will be provided, and breakfast and lunch will be served. If you’d like to be part of this fast-paced book trivia competition, click here for more information on volunteering for Battle of the Books and here for Batalla de los Libros.

Supporting Counselors Who Support Kids

School counselors from across Ventura County were at VCOE for a summit that provided resources, networking, and more. The TK-12 School Counselor Summit included sessions on using AI, connecting students to higher education, and even a relaxing sound bath. Keynote speaker Jordan Blevins-Williams gave an inspiring presentation about the vital role of counselors in student success.

Alternative Education Student Summit

Students from across Ventura County recently attended the Alternative Education Summit at VCOE. They had the chance to hear a motivational keynote from “Coach Al” and then speak with representatives from Ventura College, Moorpark College, Oxnard College, and UC Santa Barbara. The event gave students valuable resources to help them prepare for life after high school graduation.

State Recognition for Attendance Work

VCOE’s Director of Student Services, Mike Winters, is being recognized by the state for leading a model School Attendance Review Board (SARB). The Ventura County SARB makes a positive impact by helping students attend school every day, sharing best practices, and assisting local school districts. Mike’s impact will extend statewide as he prepares to serve another year on the California SARB.

Upcoming Events and Workshops

The Ventura County Office of Education and its partners present a wide variety of workshops and events for educators, families, and community members. Some upcoming offerings are below, and you can browse our full calendar of events at vcoe.k12oms.org.