Back-to-school season is buzzing across the Coachella Valley, as students trade summer break for fresh notebooks, bouquets of newly sharpened pencils, Labubus on backpacks and lunch boxes, and, of course, the excitement of a new year. Coachella Valley Unified and Desert Sands Unified school districts joined Palm Springs Unified School District in welcoming thousands of students back to the classroom for the start of the 2025-26 school year.
From the debut of a brand-new elementary school in North Shore to a father and son returning to the sidelines together at Indio High School, this school year is already shaping up with stories of growth and tradition.
And the momentum doesn’t stop with the K-12 schools. Higher education is gearing up, too, with CSUSB Palm Desert Campus set to kick off classes on Monday, Aug. 25, followed by College of the Desert, which will welcome its students back on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Also in this week’s education roundup: Earn a teaching credential and master’s degree in just one year through Palm Springs Unified School District and the Alder Graduate School of Education; Coachella Valley Unified brings on a new assistant superintendent of business services; and Riverside County Office of Education’s Indio Conference Center stays on schedule for its summer 2026 opening.
Did we miss a noteworthy education story? Raise your hand and send it my way: jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
Earn a teaching credential and master’s degree in just one year at Palm Springs Unified School District
PSUSD is recruiting its next cohort of teacher residents for the Palm Springs Unified Teacher Residency, an accelerated pathway to a teaching career.
In partnership with Alder Graduate School of Education, participants can earn a master’s degree and teaching credential in just one year while receiving hands-on classroom training, mentorship and a $40,000 residency stipend. Scholarships and grants are also available.
The program emphasizes social justice, equity and immersive practice in local K-12 schools, particularly in historically underserved communities. Residents apprentice four days a week with mentor teachers, participate in seminars and online coursework and learn alongside a peer cohort.
Graduates receive priority hiring at PSUSD, with 97% of alumni securing full-time teaching positions.
Applications open Monday, Sept. 1. Interested candidates are encouraged to attend a virtual informational session from 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27. The priority deadline to apply is Monday, Oct. 13, with the final deadline set for Monday, Nov. 3.
For more information: Visit psusd.us or contact Alexis Acker at aacker@psusd.us or Eduardo Rodriguez at erodriguez@aldergse.edu.
How transfer students across the Coachella Valley can secure instant admission to CSUSB in the spring
College students across the Coachella Valley will soon have a unique opportunity to fast-track their transfer to Cal State San Bernardino.
As part of CSUSB’s Instant Admit Days, admissions counselors and evaluators are set to visit College of the Desert in Palm Desert from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Aug. 26 to provide on-the-spot reviews of student transcripts and determine eligibility for spring 2026 admission. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins will also be welcomed.
CSUSB’s Instant Admit Days are designed to simplify the transfer process for community college students across the region. By attending, students seeking to transfer can apply with confidence and reserve their spot at CSUSB, which offers more than 70 degree programs across five academic colleges and its Palm Desert Campus.
The application window for the spring 2026 term runs now through Monday, Sept. 15, with classes starting in January.
For more information: Visit csusb.edu.
Coachella Valley Unified School District names permanent assistant superintendent of business services
CVUSD recently (unanimously) appointed Julie Vigil as its assistant superintendent of business services on a three-year contract. The board announced the hire at its meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14. Vigil will begin the role on Tuesday, Sept. 2, with a base salary of $230,000.
In her new position, Vigil will oversee the district’s fiscal operations as it works to address an ongoing budget deficit.
She succeeds Daniela Tabarez, who had served in the interim role and will remain as a consultant to support the transition. Tabarez stepped in following the departure of Mayela Salcedo, who left the position without public explanation, and Joe Dominguez, who also exited under unclear circumstances.
Vigil’s appointment comes as CVUSD continues to restructure its leadership team. Earlier this summer, the board named Socorro Sanchez as the assistant superintendent of educational services.
Riverside County Office of Education’s Indio Conference Center on track for summer 2026 opening
Riverside County Office of Education marked a major milestone in the construction of its new 33,000-square-foot Indio Conference Center with a topping-out ceremony on Friday, Aug. 15. The event featured the signing of the final beam, just nine months after the project broke ground in late 2024.
Scheduled to open in the summer of 2026, the facility will host trainings, conferences, competitions and community events, providing a closer option for educators and students in the Coachella Valley who often travel long distances for similar opportunities.
Located on Calhoun Street next to an existing RCOE administrative center, the new site will include 6,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, a large conference hall for up to 375 people, 22 offices, nearly 300 parking spaces, including solar-covered stalls, as well as a walking trail connecting to the adjacent facility. The center was designed by DLR Group, with Erickson-Hall serving as lead construction partner.
Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said the project reflects RCOE’s commitment to innovation and community.
“In order to produce world-class students, it requires world-class facilities like this, and we are thankful for everyone who is helping bring this vision to life,” he said in a press release.
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Earn a teaching credential and master’s in one year with a $40K stipend through PSUSD
Reporting by Jennifer Cortez, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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