Shannon Trani Fredericks, Ventura Unified School District Trustee

08/30/2026

Thank you Charlynn Daly for your incredible dedication to our students!

🍎 VUSD Staff Spotlight: Charlynn Daly 🍎

For 35 years, Ms. Char Daly has dedicated her career to educating and caring for VUSD students, and her connection to Ventura Unified goes back even further. Born and raised in Ventura, Ms. Daly attended VUSD schools from elementary through high school, where inspiring teachers helped shape her own dream of becoming an educator.

Her VUSD teaching journey has taken her from Loma Vista to Sheridan Way, Montalvo, Junipero Serra, and Citrus Glen, where she currently teaches Transitional Kindergarten (TK).

Ms. Daly is especially proud to have been part of VUSD’s TK program since its inception. With a strong belief in the importance of a child’s first five years of development, she has built her classroom around learning through play, helping our youngest learners explore, grow, and discover the joy of learning.

Inspired by her hero, Mr. Rogers, Ms. Daly embraces his belief that "Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”

And teaching was always the plan! From working as a Parks and Recreation counselor and preschool teacher to becoming an elementary school teacher, every job Ms. Daly has ever had has involved working with children.

“Teaching is my love and my service. I feel so grateful that I have been able to do what I love for so many years!”

Congratulations, Ms. Daly, on 35 incredible years of service to VUSD. Thank you for giving generations of Ventura children such a joyful and caring start to their education! ❤️

08/22/2026

Recommendations will be made, will you participate?
At the most recent School Closures Advisory Committee meeting, elementary school data was synthesized to determine the following schools will not be included in further discussions: Citrus Glen, EP Foster, Lemon Grove K-8, Loma Vista, Montalvo, Portola, Sunset K-8. Further discussions will include Will Rogers, ATLAS K-8, Elmhurst, Juanamaria, J. Serra, Lincoln, Mound, Pierpont, Poinsettia and Sheridan Way. This list may change going forward. Whether or not a school is on the final recommendation list, the ultimate decision will lie with the board. No schools will possibly be closed before the 2027-28 school year.
We need your input! Please do not sleep on this discussion!
The SCAC will meet again on Wednesday, September 17th. The location is not yet set as we are determining where we will be able to accommodate as many public members as would like to attend. I will share this information as it becomes available.
Furthermore, we will also be entertaining written comment for the committee which can be sent to [email protected].

These discussions will likely be intense and emotional. Even one closure will have immense impact on our entire community. I have the utmost respect for our dedicated committee members that have taken on this daunting task. I ask that you keep your discussions and correspondence with them respectful going forward.
Thank you very much for remaining engaged and concerned. I am here for all community members as we move forward.

08/22/2026

Our meeting next week will include discussions regarding surplus properties and School Site Council By-Laws.
I am glad to finally have the discussion regarding Surplus Properties reach open session. While most discussion thus far has been in closed due to the nature of negotiations, I have been transparent throughout that my top priorities with be for the maximum benefit of our community. In that regard, staff housing and affordable housing remain my top priority for these properties. The Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) provides data showing that Ventura consistently produces more market rate housing than is needed, while folks that would benefit from lower cost housing are drastically underserved. While I support some market rate housing in order to finance the creation of affordable staff housing, it is not my end goal. I also feel it is paramount to consider the needs of our neighbors as we make these important decisions. I look forward to a robust discussion on this topic.
With regard to School Site Council By-Laws, I have gone on record multiple times in support of creating School Site Councils that work collaboratively to create a shared vision for their communities. I have served multiple School Site Councils as both a teacher and a parent, so I understand the importance of SSCs. School Site Councils include parents, students, administrators and both certificated and classified staff—all voices are important! We must ensure that our dedicated members of these groups have a legitimate say in how funds are spent to support students. I look forward to learning how our SSCs have changed since the by-laws were updated. I encourage all SSC members to email the board or join us in public comment regarding how your specific site is doing in this regard.
This meeting will be live-streamed on VUSD’s YouTube channel, but I always appreciate your in-person attendance as well.

The next regular meeting of the Ventura Unified Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

The meeting agenda, including information on meeting locations, start times for both closed and regular sessions, and how to provide public comment (which must be made in person), will be posted at least 72 hours before the meeting on the Board Agendas and Minutes webpage, https://buff.ly/dg90sFr

All regular Board meetings are livestreamed and recorded on the Ventura Unified YouTube channel, https://buff.ly/3qzuT4o . Community members who would like to contact Board members directly can find their email addresses on the Board of Education webpage, https://buff.ly/CHaoe3D.

08/22/2026

The hardest part of VUSD Gratitude nominations is not nominating every staff member you know! They are all so deserving! Or maybe just carve out some time and nominate them all! I love celebrating our success.

🌟 Help us celebrate the people who make Ventura Unified shine! 🌟

Every day, incredible students, teachers, staff, volunteers, and administrators go above and beyond to make Ventura Unified a special place to learn, grow, and thrive.

Our monthly VUSD Gratitude Awards are a chance to recognize those who make a difference through their dedication, kindness, hard work, and commitment to our school community. 💙

Know someone who deserves to be celebrated? Nominate them today!

👉 Submit your nomination: https://bit.ly/vusdgratitude

08/22/2026

08/18/2026

Thank you Ms. Lewandoski for your amazing dedication to our students!

🌱 VUSD Staff Spotlight: Amy Lewandoski 🌱

Our VUSD Staff Spotlight series continues with another significant service milestone. For 35 years, Amy Lewandoski has dedicated her career to Ventura Unified, and every one of those years has been spent at Ventura High School in the Agriculture Department!

Amy’s passion for agricultural education comes from seeing students discover what they are capable of. She loves watching them get excited about what they grow, what they learn, and the connections they make along the way.

For Amy, agriculture is about so much more than plants and food; it’s the foundation that allows communities and people to thrive.

“Agriculture is at the base from which all other careers can flow. People who are fed with nutritious food are free to grow, develop, and create in the ways they were intended to.”

Amy is also a proud VHS parent; her daughter is a Ventura High School graduate!

Thank you, Amy, for 35 incredible years of service to VUSD and for helping generations of students grow both in the classroom and beyond. 💚🌱

08/14/2026

Huge thanks to Felix for his incredible dedication to our students and 35 years of service in VUSD.

🌟 VUSD STAFF SPOTLIGHT | FELIX CORTEZ 🌟

Our VUSD Staff Spotlight series continues with a significant service milestone.

Today, we recognize Felix Cortez for 35+ years of service with Ventura Unified, all of them at Ventura High School. 🎉

Felix has spent his VUSD career serving the VHS community, first as a Campus Supervisor for 17 years and for the past 18+ years as an Athletic Equipment Attendant/Custodian.

When reflecting on his time with the District, Felix shared words from Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald that resonate with him:

“One, it’s not hard to find people who will tell you what you want to hear. Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with people who will tell you what you need to hear. The hard things. The uncomfortable things. Believe me, the people in that second group care about you far more than those in the first.

Two, life is short. Time is precious. And not one of us knows how much we have. Make your time count. Fill every 24 hours with the passions and pursuits that mean the most to you.

And lastly, there’s not much traffic on the extra mile in life, so be sure to bring others along with you. Don’t just pursue excellence for yourself. Help other people pursue it, too. That’s the part of this story that matters the most. Not the likes. Not the fame. But the people you travel with. The values you uphold. In the end, it’s not just about the excellence. It’s about the people who help get you there.”

Congratulations, Felix, on reaching this 35-year milestone, and thank you for your many years of service to Ventura Unified.

Felix is one of five VUSD employees celebrating 35 years of service. We’ll be recognizing the other four in the coming weeks as part of our VUSD Staff Spotlight series.

08/14/2026

Congratulations to Mr. Dinkler for earning one of the most meaningful honors VUSD offers!

08/14/2026

I was so sad to miss visiting sites on the first day, but my job as a mom took priority. I hope you are all off to a fabulous start and I wish everyone an amazing year!

08/14/2026

📣 Get Involved! VUSD is Looking for Parent Advisory Committee Representatives

Want to help strengthen communication between your school community and VUSD? We’re looking for one parent representative from each school to participate in the Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Committee (PAC).

Facilitated by the Superintendent, PAC gives parents an opportunity to:
💬 Share input and perspectives
📚 Discuss current educational topics
🤝 Serve as a bridge between their school community and the district office

📅 Meetings: Typically the first Friday of each month, September–May
⏰ Time: 9–11 am
📍 Location: VUSD District Office

Interested in representing your school or just want to learn more? Contact your school principal for details. All representatives must be appointed by the school's principal.

Your voice can help strengthen the connection between our schools, families, and district. 💙