Board of Education Celebrates Achievement and Leadership Across Paramount Unified

Students, families, teachers, administrators, community members and friends gathered at the Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Regular Meeting of the Paramount Unified School District Board of Education for an evening of recognition celebrating achievement, opportunity and leadership across Paramount Unified School District. Among those honored were members of Paramount High School’s Speech and Debate team, who made school history this summer with PHS’s first appearance at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Richmond, Virginia. The Board also celebrated 23 PHS Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students who competed at the National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. Eight students representing four FCCLA teams earned Top 10 finishes in the nation, including Ashley Ruiz, Lesly Guevara and Desiree Flores, who earned first place nationally in Entrepreneurship Level 3.

Recognition continued with Paramount High School and Odyssey STEM Academy being celebrated as 2026–27 U.S. News Best High Schools. Odyssey ranked #849 nationally, #132 in California and #63 in the Los Angeles metro area, while Paramount High School ranked #6,938 nationally, #896 in California and #345 in the Los Angeles metro area. The evening also provided an opportunity to welcome new school leadership, as Michelle Cribari was introduced to the Board and District community as Interim Principal of Alondra Middle School, alongside Wendy Crockett as Interim Assistant Principal. Together, these moments reflected the District’s continued investment in strong schools, exemplary leadership and meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for college, careers and life.

While students and schools were placed in a well-deserved spotlight, the evening also reflected the larger community behind their success. Special appreciation is extended to the teachers, advisors, staff and administrators—including Speech and Debate advisors Christine Barboza and Sinatra Yeng and FCCLA advisors Jessica Tereth, Rochelle Van Der Merwe and Hector “Buddy” Rodriguez—who organize and sustain high-quality programs and opportunities for students. Just as importantly, we celebrate the parents and families whose encouragement, time and partnership help students pursue ambitious goals. With students, educators, families and community members gathered together, the evening offered a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community works together to help every student reach their full potential.