Celebrate and Educate

Black History Month

Happy February to our AVUHSD staff, students, families, and community!

February is a month of many celebrations and essential recognition. We invite you to join us for our District’s National Black History Month through highlighting prominent African-American trailblazers. We are always honored to be able to acknowledge and appreciate the significant contributions of African-Americans to our world history. We wish everyone a meaningful Black History Month that reflects on the devotion, strength, and courage of past and present-day leaders.

Watch Superintendent Greg Nehen’s New Podcast Discussing the Month of February

Antelope Valley NAACP – Black History Month Essay Contest

In the spirit of celebrating and educating, join the Antelope Valley NAACP’s Black History Month Essay Contest! See below for more details!

Career Technical Education (CTE) Month

Career Technical Education also recognizes February as CTE Month, by featuring the achievements and accomplishments of our students and programs! We kick off CTE Month by celebrating students dedicated to serving others, such as the students in Palmdale High School’s Health Careers Academy and Highland High School’s Public Service Academy.

Ella Baker, who dedicated her life to serving others, is an inspiration to our Director of Equity & Title IX Coordinator, Dr. Kathryn Taylor. See her spotlight below!

We commend our students for their selflessness and service, keep on inspiring those you come in contact with along your path of growth and achievement!

Black Her-story Spotlight

Dr. Kathryn Taylor | Director of Equity & Title IX Coordinator

Ella Baker is a shero of the Civil Rights Movement who inspired and cultivated emerging leaders such as Rosa Parks. Her nickname is “Fundi”, a Swahili word meaning a person who teaches a craft to the next generation.

I connect with her story because she was a transformational leader who influenced organizations like the NAACP, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership, and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to stay true to the grassroots movement and the people they served. She helped young people to find their voice and become their own advocates.

Ella Baker dedicated her life to service and believed that “change happens by unlocking the power of every person”. I too, believe that meeting the needs and building on the strengths of every student will produce equitable outcomes for all students.