The MPUSD Insider is the weekly internal newsletter for MPUSD all staff.
Of Interest to Staff
Trivia Time Winner - A big thank you to SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union for sponsoring and providing this month's MPUSD Insider trivia. There were over 100 submissions this month and Deisi Teran in our Enrollment Office was randomly selected in a random picker generator. The answer to this month's question, What is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on SchoolsFirst FCU Classroom Supplies and Uniform Loans?, was 0%. Be sure to visit SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union for your financial and investment needs. Look for the next contest in November.
They're Here | School Stickers Have Arrived - Our school site logo stickers are back! The MPUSD Communications team produced and mailed stickers to all school sites last week. Want to show off your school pride? Check with your school administrator or office secretary to get yours while supplies last. If you're at the District Office or District Services Center and want a specific school site sticker, reach out to the Comms team as we have a small supply of each school site.
MPUSD Way
Know Someone Living the MPUSD Way? Don't keep it a secret! - See a student, colleague, team, or volunteer making a difference? Let us know! Share a few sentences or bullet points and we’ll do the rest. Submit an MPUSD Way recognition. New this year: Superintendent Diffenbaugh has been visiting staff highlighted in the MPUSD Way and giving them a certificate and personally thanking them for all they do. Take the opportunity to recognize your peers.
Every Person Matters - When it comes to living the MPUSD Way, Jerald Sledge at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School leads by example. Whether lending a helping hand, supporting students or stepping up for his colleagues, he brings a positive attitude, strong work ethic and a can-do spirit to everything he does. His kindness, flexibility and dedication make a difference every day at MLK.
Each Day Counts- Janeth Vega-Sanchez, Olson Elementary School's new Attendance Intervention Specialist, is already making a positive impact. Through her dedication, outreach and commitment to helping students show up and succeed, Olson is seeing improvements in student attendance. Thank you, Janeth, for going above and beyond to support our students and families and showing us what Each Day Counts truly means.
Improve With Purpose - A calm presence, a caring heart and a champion for student success. Michelle Garcia, school psychologist at Del Rey Woods Elementary School, makes a difference every day through the meaningful connections she builds with students and staff. As an integral member of the Special Education team, she brings innovative strategies, thoughtful guidance and unwavering support to help every student thrive. Thank you, Michelle, for showing us what Every Person Matters and Improve with Purpose look like in action.
We're Better Together - Resilience, heart and an unwavering commitment to students is what Maestra Angela Espínola at the Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula continues to shine through challenges with patience, positivity and dedication. A passionate advocate for her students, she goes above and beyond to ensure they have the support and resources they need to succeed. Through it all, she brings a warm smile and a caring spirit to her classroom and colleagues. Thank you, Maestra Espínola, for showing us the MPUSD Way in action.
Districtwide News
LAST CALL | It's Important to Us - Please carve out just 10 - 15 minutes this week to complete the YouthTruth Survey. As staff, you know how important this data is as we use this feedback throughout the year to guide our day-to-day work. We especially need our families to participate! A few of our schools are at risk of not receiving a school-specific family feedback report if we don't receive enough responses. MPUSD staff who are parents/guardians: If you have a child attending an MPUSD school, please complete the family survey in addition to your staff survey. Your perspective in both roles is incredibly valuable. The survey closes Friday, October 30. Thank you for helping us make MPUSD better for our students, families and staff.
High School Parent/Teacher Conferences | Early Release Days - High School Parent/Teacher Conferences are this week. Just a friendly reminder that high school students will be released early at 2:20 p.m. October 27 - 29, 2026.
Information Regarding Educational Testing Information and Data Breach- Just an FYI, we shared this with families in the MPUSD Community Updates. MPUSD is sharing important information about a statewide student data breach involving Educational Testing Service (ETS), a contractor for the California Department of Education. This incident did not involve MPUSD's systems, but we want to make you aware of the incident. Families are encouraged to review the full notice to learn more about the incident and available identity-protection resources. Learn more on MPUSD's website. MPUSD Community Updates - Each week on Saturdays at 10 am, the district sends out a weekly MPUSD Community Updates. If information is pertinent to all staff we pull it into The MPUSD Insider, but in case you would like to see the actual community/family publication we shared over the weekend, you may check it out here. Did you know, we also publicize it exclusively in Spanish and send to our designated Spanish language families (noted in ParentVue/Synergy) in case families are not able to access the Spanish translated version from the English version.
Information to Share with Families
Earn Saturday Academy Credit @ Monterey Peninsula College Family STEM Day - Join the Monterey Peninsula College annual Family STEM Day on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 10 am - 2 pm. Be sure to check in at the MPUSD table to earn Saturday Academy credit for your child(ren).
Expanding Your Horizons | STEM Conference and Career Fair - Our community partner, The Lyceum of Monterey County, is offering an exciting opportunity for girls in grades 5 - 10 to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Expanding Your Horizons Conference & Career Fair takes place Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Hartnell College in Salinas. Participants will enjoy hands-on STEM workshops led by women in STEM, connect with local professionals and discover exciting career possibilities. Registration is FREE and opens October 27. Space is limited to the first 300 participants. Learn more and register.
Spanish Facebook - We're growing! Our Comunidad de Familias MPUSD Facebook group now has 189 members, and we'd love to welcome even more! This group is a dedicated space for our Spanish-speaking families to stay informed, connected and engaged with what's happening across MPUSD. Help us spread the word! If you know an MPUSD family who would benefit from receiving school and district updates in Spanish, encourage them to join and invite others. Join our growing community HERE.
Board of Education
Board of Education - The Board of Education meets this upcoming Tuesday, October 27, at 6:30 p.m. in open session at the District Services Center, located at 540 Canyon Del Rey in Del Rey Oaks. You are invited to attend in person, via Zoom, or watch it via AMP-TV. If you miss the meeting and want to know what actions the Board takes, you may read Board Highlights or watch Spotlight on Board Highlights later in the week. The agenda may be found here.
Hot Off the Reel
Why MPUSD? | Monte Vista TK-8 Katy Weller - Our latest Why MPUSD video is here. At Monte Vista TK-8 School, creating a welcoming environment where students feel supported, respected and ready to learn is part of the everyday experience. For fourth-grade teacher Katy Weller, that means building classroom community, celebrating positive choices and helping students develop the skills they need to succeed.Weller has been part of the Monte Vista community for 10 school years. Take a moment to learn more about Katie and the work being done at MPUSD and Monte Vista.
City of Marina Mayoral Debate at Marina High - Three candidates for mayor came to Marina High and participated in a debate so that senior students could learn about them and make informed decisions at the polls.
Reminders: Info in Previous Editions Worthy of Repeat
Once a Student. Always MPUSD. - Some of the individuals shaping the future of MPUSD once sat in our classrooms themselves. Through our MPUSD Legacy Employee Program, we’re celebrating employees who attended MPUSD schools as students and later returned to serve our students and community as educators, leaders and support staff. Legacy employees will receive a special gold MPUSD Legacy Pin recognizing their full-circle journey and lifelong connection to our district. If you attended an MPUSD school and now work for the district, complete our Legacy Employee form so we can recognize and celebrate you. More on our website.
MPUSD Branded Art for Use | October Art Available - Much of the art for the month of October is now available in the Communications share drive. As a reminder, the main folder of all art is HERE. Please feel free to use for your communications.
MPUSD District and School Logos - We often get asked for images of the district or school logos. They are in this folder in case you need them. If you don't see what you need, reach out to the Communications department.
Help Us Spotlight Your School or Classroom - If you don’t tell us, we don’t know! Help us showcase the great things happening across MPUSD from classroom activities and student celebrations to staff highlights, special events and community partnerships. Have something coming up? Submit each event individually using our School Event Form so our Communications team can track opportunities and, when possible, stop by to capture the moment. Can’t have us there? No problem, we always welcome your photos and videos so we can help share your story.
