The MPUSD Insider is the weekly internal newsletter for MPUSD all staff.
Of Interest to Staff
Attention Classified Staff and Classified Management - Open Enrollment for the 2027 benefit year runs November 2–17, 2026. This is your opportunity to review your health coverage and make changes to your benefit elections. Medical plan changes must be completed by November 17. Visit the 2027 Benefits Open Enrollment website for plan details, rates and enrollment information. Want more information? Refer to the email from Berenice Garcia sent October 27 at 1:01 p.m. Questions? Email Berenice at begarcia@mpusd.k12.ca.us. Note: Certificated staff have already completed their open enrollment through CalPERS.
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.
Improve With Purpose and We're Better Together - A big MPUSD Way shoutout to Elisabeth Rodrigues and Victoria Odige at Olson Elementary School for demonstrating outstanding math instruction and collaboration. During a recent classroom visit, Associate Superintendent Cresta McIntosh was especially impressed by the thoughtful lesson planning, instructional strategies, and opportunities for students to think independently, share their approaches, and deepen their mathematical understanding. From carefully selecting and sequencing student work to creating meaningful opportunities for discussion, these teachers demonstrated what intentional, student-centered instruction looks like in action. Cresta shared that it was “the best I've seen in a very long time."
We're Better Together - A special thank-you to our Saturday Academy leads and team members across MPUSD who helped spread the word, connect with families and encourage participation at Monterey Peninsula College's fourth annual Family STEM Day! Organizers called it their biggest and best year yet, including more than 225 MPUSD students who participated in hands-on STEM activities while earning Saturday Academy attendance credit. Thank you for helping build community partnerships, create opportunities beyond the classroom and demonstrating that we're better together.
Every Person Matters - At Los Arboles Middle School, Ms. Rodriguez exemplifies the MPUSD Way through the meaningful connections she builds with students and colleagues every day. Whether she's taking wellness walks with students during lunch, helping them navigate challenges, or simply lending a listening ear, she makes sure every Falcon feels seen, heard, and valued. Her impact extends beyond the classroom, too. Colleagues appreciate her thoughtful insights, creative problem-solving, and ability to bring fresh perspectives to the table. It's no wonder students regularly stop by her classroom between periods just to connect.
Every Person Matters - Special recognition extends to Maria from Community Partnership for Youth (CPY), one of our valued partners supporting MPUSD's after-school programs, at our Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. campus. During a recent family event at the school, Maria found a significant amount of money and turned it in, ensuring it was returned to its rightful owner. Her kindness reminds us that doing the right thing and looking out for one another help build a caring school community. Thank you, Maria, for leading by example and showing our students what it means to live The MPUSD Way.
Districtwide News
Veterans Day: November 11 | No School - MPUSD and its schools will observe Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11. Schools and our offices will be closed. We return on Thursday, November 12. We thank our veterans, many who are MPUSD team members, for their service to our country.
Central Coast High School Recommended as Model Continuation School - Exciting news for Central Coast High School as the school has been recommended to the California Department of Education for recognition as a Model Continuation High School, placing it among the state's exemplary continuation schools. Following a comprehensive application and validation visit, reviewers highlighted the strong, healthy relationships between CCHS staff and students, built on mutual respect and trust. This recognition reflects the dedication of CCHS teachers, staff and students who work together every day to create a supportive learning environment where students can thrive. Congratulations to the entire CCHS team.
It's Alder Teacher Residency Takeover Week - It's an exciting week for our Alder Teacher Residents! This week, our residents will step into the lead teacher role, putting their learning, training and classroom experience into action. Since the first day of school, these aspiring educators have been working alongside dedicated MPUSD mentor teachers, gaining hands-on experience and building the skills needed to lead their own classrooms. Best of luck to our Alder Teacher Residents across the district as they take the lead this week. And, a special thank-you to our mentor teachers for sharing their expertise, providing guidance and leading by example.
High School Student Transfer Window Now Open - Planning ahead for the 2027 - 2028 school year MPUSD's High School Student Transfer Window is open through December 11, 2026. This is the only opportunity for families of current 8th - 11th grade students to request a transfer from one MPUSD high school to another for the upcoming 2027 - 2028 school year. High school families (including incoming 9th graders) must submit their requests online during this window. Transfers are subject to space availability at each school. Need assistance? Visit your school's front office or contact the MPUSD Transfer Office at 831-392-3983, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (closed 11 a.m. - noon). NOTE: The elementary, TK - 8, and middle school transfer window will open in January 2027.
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
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.
8th Grade Families | Early College High School- Current 8th grade students and families are invited to learn how students can earn up to two years of college credit before graduating high school - tuition-free! Explore MPUSD's three Early College pathways at Marina High, Monterey High, and Seaside High, and join us for an upcoming Parent Information Night, offered in English and Spanish. Applications open December 1, 2026. Learn more about the programs, information nights and how to apply!
Elementary, TK-8 and Middle School Parent/Teacher Conferences - MPUSD elementary, middle and TK - 8 schools will hold Parent/Teacher Conferences November 16 - 20, 2026. Early release schedules will be in effect all week (November 16 - 20).
Attendance Options and Resources for Families - Did you know MPUSD offers several options to help students stay on track with attendance and learning when they need to miss school? From Short-Term Independent Study to Saturday Academy and Attendance Recovery, there are opportunities to help students make up missed learning time and stay connected to school. Learn more about the available options on our website at Attendance Options & Resources.
Big Beginnings for Our Earliest Learners - A strong start makes a big difference and the Monterey Child Development Center is now enrolling children ages 2 and up, offering engaging early learning experiences that help prepare our youngest learners for success in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and beyond. From building social and emotional skills to developing language, creativity, and school readiness, our programs provide opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive. Both state-funded programs, based on family income eligibility, and tuition-based options are available. Help us spread the word! Learn more at www.preschool.mpusd.net or call 831-649-1951.
Board of Education
Board of Education- The Board of Education meets this evening - Tuesday, November 10, 2026 - at the District Services Center located at 540 Canyon Del Rey in Del Rey Oaks. The agenda may be found here. And, you can attend in person, via Zoom, or watch live from AMP-TV. If you missed the meeting, you may read Board Highlights or watch Spotlight on Board Highlights later in the week. NOTE: Zoom Meeting ID: 938 1994 4823 and Passcode: 0aHs0?%E are available here and on our website.
Hot Off the Reel
Why I Teach Where I Teach | Javier Espinal-Perez @ Dual Language Academy - Check our MPUSD's latest Why MPUSDseries highlighting Javier Espinal-Perez from the Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula. Javier attended MPUSD schools and is now a resident teacher at MPUSD. What is unique is that our resident coordinator was his former teacher, administrator, and now mentor at Alder. Read more about Javier and watch his video below.
Parent-Teacher Conference Night @ Marina High - When parents visit Marina High School, there's always more to see than just the paperwork and classrooms. Recently, students presented music, art, and culinary treats to welcome guests during parent-teacher conference night.
A Day in the Life: Monterey High School's Bronson Gulley- Ever wonder what a school day looks like for an MPUSD student? Our A Day in the Life series gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the people who make MPUSD special, from teachers and classified staff to our students. This time, we're following Monterey High School senior Bronson Gulley from the moment he leaves home to the classroom and beyond, including his after-school activities. Get a glimpse into his busy day and what life is like as a Monterey High Toreador.
Reminders: Info in Previous Editions Worthy of Repeat
ICYMI: Teacher and Staff Rosters on School Websites - In case you missed it, we've added teacher and staff rosters to each MPUSD school website! (Los Arboles Middle School is the exception as we work to obtain an updated roster.) The rosters are connected to ParentSquare and automatically pull information from our district systems, including Escape, Synergy and LDAP. Want to update how your information appears?You can make updates directly through your ParentSquare account, including:
Add or update your photo
Customize your job title to make it more specific. For example, instead of "TEACHER," "Teacher Elementary" or "Teacher RSP," you can change it to "4th Grade Teacher" or another title that better reflects your role.
Changes will not appear immediately. Allow overnight for the information to sync and appear on your school website. How to make changes:Follow these ParentSquare instructions to update your profile.
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 | November Art Available - Much of the art for the month of November 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.
