EMUHSD Superintendent's Update – May 2026
Posted Date: 06/03/26 (05:00 PM)
Dear El Monte Union Community,
Commencement season is here, a special time when we come together to honor one of the most meaningful milestones in our students’ lives – graduation day. Across El Monte Union, we proudly honor the Class of 2026 and the many administrators, teachers, staff members, families, and community supporters who helped guide our scholars toward this achievement.
This year’s graduating class will carry their talents and ambitions across the country to prestigious institutions including MIT, Princeton University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, UC San Diego, and Claremont McKenna University. We celebrate all they have accomplished and are incredibly excited to see the impact they will make in the world.
The 2025-26 school year was filled with inspiring moments of student leadership, resilience, and achievement. From senior Student Board Member Ashley Yu amplifying student voices and cultural awareness to countless students making meaningful contributions on their campuses and in their communities, El Monte Union scholars continued to shine in and out of the classroom.
May also gave us opportunities to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Across our campuses, students and staff came together to support wellness, embrace culture, and create spaces where every student feels seen, valued, and connected.
As another successful school year comes to a close, it remains a privilege to serve the El Monte Union community. Congratulations to the Class of 2026, and best wishes for a safe and wonderful summer!
Stay up to date by following our District Facebook page and downloading our ParentSquare app.
Sincerely,
Edward Zuniga, Ed.D.,
Superintendent
Class of 2026 Graduates Inspire Hope for the Future
From left to right: Rosemead High School senior Kylie Chau; South El Monte High School senior Thu Nguyen; Fernando R. Ledesma High School senior Symantha Eden Gonzalez; Arroyo High School senior Hayden Luong; El Monte High School senior Jorge Maldonado; and Mountain View High School senior Briana Sanchez.
Whether pioneering student-led aerospace research or conducting scientific lab work as first-generation scholars, six El Monte Union standout seniors are charting bold futures as they prepare for graduation.
Through Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment opportunities, career technical education pathways, and leadership programs, EMUHSD students have the opportunity to participate in academic and career-focused experiences in fields including public health, business, engineering, and public service.
Read the full story here on El Monte Union’s six standout seniors.
Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council Celebrates Leaders, Elects New Members
El Monte Union’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council celebrate their final meeting of the 2025-26 school year on May 18.
El Monte Union’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SAC) concluded the 2025-26 school year with a celebratory final meeting on May 18, featuring a special breakfast, student honors, and the selection of new council officers. Graduating SAC seniors were recognized for their leadership and service with custom stoles and cords to wear during commencement, while underclassmen received certificates acknowledging their year-long contributions.
El Monte High School senior Hayden Nguyen receives a certificate of recognition and a graduation cord to wear during her commencement at the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council’s final meeting on May 18.
South El Monte High School rising senior Tessa Ocegueda was elected as El Monte Union’s 2026-27 senior Student Board Member and president of SAC, while rising junior Mia Arteaga was appointed junior Student Board Member and council vice president. Members also recognized outgoing Student Board Member Ashley Yu for her leadership, dedication, and service to the El Monte Union community.
Both Yu and Ocegueda were recognized during a Board of Trustees meeting on May 20, where they were praised for their hard work and presented with certificates of recognition. Yu was additionally surprised with an award and UC Davis college gear, where she plans to study international relations.
South El Monte High School senior and outgoing Student Board Member Ashley Yu (left) passes the gavel to rising senior Tessa Ocegueda (center) and rising junior Mia Arteaga (right) during the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council’s May 18 meeting.
EKG Foundation, CBM Towing Inc. Honor Top Students During Annual Scholarship Banquet
Twenty-nine El Monte Union seniors celebrate receiving scholarships to support their post-secondary goals during the EKG Foundation and CBM Towing Inc. 2026 Scholarship Banquet on May 13.
EKG Foundation and CBM Towing Inc. continued their annual tradition of supporting the academic achievements of El Monte Union students during their 2026 Scholarship Banquet on May 13, awarding scholarships to 29 students to support their post-secondary goals. Students received a certificate of achievement, a $400 cashier’s check, and a T-shirt with a “Dream” logo on it. Established to provide financial assistance and mentorship to local youth, the EKG Foundation was created in memory of El Monte Union alumnus and former CBM Towing Inc. employee Edward-Kenneth Guerrero, whose legacy of resilience and generosity continues to inspire the organization’s mission.
2025-26 Classified Employee of the Year Honored for Legacy of Service
Rosemead High Principal Secretary Christine Inocencio is showered with flowers and honored with the addition of her name and photo to the honoree plaque after being named El Monte Union’s 2025-26 Classified Employee of the Year.
After 35 years of dedicated service, Rosemead High School Principal Secretary Christine Inocencio has been named El Monte Union High School District’s 2025-26 Classified Employee of the Year. Inocencio was honored during the May 6 Board of Trustees meeting for her longstanding commitment to students, staff, and families.
“I’m incredibly honored and humbled to receive this award. I’m also very grateful to my Rosemead colleagues for nominating me and to my family for their constant support,” Inocencio said. “It means so much to reach this milestone after 35 years with the District and to know my dedication has made a difference. As a mom, I’ve always encouraged my daughters to work hard and do their best, so it’s especially meaningful for me to have them see me live those words.”
Read the full story here on El Monte Union’s 2025-26 Classified Employee of the Year.
Rosemead High School Principal Secretary Christine was celebrated alongside members of the Rosemead and Fernando R. Ledesma communities, as well as her family, during a May 6 Board meeting.
Seniors Celebrate Decision Days, Commitment Events Across Campuses
Decision Days, commitment luncheons, and awards nights have been taking place across El Monte Union campuses, celebrating seniors as they prepare for life after graduation.
Seniors at Rosemead High School celebrate Decision Day on April 29, showcasing their college choices alongside classmates.
Rosemead High School hosted its Decision Day on April 29, where students received college-themed tote bags and shirts, enjoyed lunch, and marked their future schools with flag photo opportunities. South El Monte High School seniors were honored during a commitment luncheon on May 2, featuring a complimentary lunch, family and friend photo opportunities, and a raffle.
South El Monte High School seniors smile alongside family members and loved ones while celebrating their postsecondary plans during a Commitment Luncheon on May 2.
South El Monte High School also hosted its Early College Academy Gala Awards Night on May 14, recognizing students in the District’s dual enrollment program in partnership with Río Hondo College. The program gives students access to college-level coursework while in high school, allowing them to earn college credit—and in some cases an associate degree—before graduation. Students were celebrated with dinner alongside family and friends and received custom stoles and certificates of participation.
South El Monte High seniors and Early College Academy participants receive custom stoles and certificates of recognition during an awards Gala hosted on May 14.
Mountain View High Seniors Host Leadership Forum with U.S. Bank Administrators
Mountain View High School U.S. Bank student interns celebrate after hosting a leadership panel discussion with U.S. Bank administrators on April 30.
Culminating a year in which they learned about financial literacy and professional career paths, 12 Mountain View High School seniors serving as interns in the school’s U.S. Bank Student Intern Branch Program hosted a leadership forum which included a Q&A with U.S. Bank senior administrators on April 30.
Mountain View seniors Jennifer Rivera Rivas and Natalie Nguyen moderated the forum, titled “Guided by Greatness: The Power of Leadership and Mentorship,” asking the panel their advice on how to further develop the skills they have learned in class and apply them in their pursuit of college and career success.
Read the full story here on Mountain View High School’s U.S. Bank Leadership Forum.