ABC Education Foundation

10/09/2026

It is with a very heavy heart that we share the sad news of the passing of Dr. Mary Sieu. Dr. Sieu was instrumental in the founding of the ABC Education Foundation , and her unwavering dedication to ABCUSD and the success of our students has left a lasting legacy. She believed deeply in the power of education, the potential of every student, and the strength of our community. Her leadership, vision, and commitment have been an inspiration to us all. The Foundation we serve today is a testament to the legacy she helped build and the lasting impact of her work. We will be forever grateful for her contributions, her dedication, and the difference she made in the lives of so many. Dr. Sieu will be deeply missed and remembered always with heartfelt gratitude, admiration, and respect.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with her during this difficult time. May she rest in peace.

October 8, 2026, Hawaiian Gardens - The City of Hawaiian Gardens is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Mary Sieu, former Superintendent of the ABC Unified School District.
Dr. Sieu served ABCUSD for more than three decades.

She joined the district in 1989 and became its first woman and first Asian American superintendent. The daughter of immigrant parents, she knew firsthand the power of a good education, and she spent her career making sure every child in our community had one. Under her leadership, ABC’s schools earned statewide and nationwide recognition. She was named California’s Superintendent of the Year in 2017 and was one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year in 2018.

Those who worked with her remember her as a caring leader and a good listener. She brought teachers, families, students, and city partners together around a shared purpose. Her legacy lives on in the thousands of students whose lives she shaped.

“Dr. Sieu was a true partner to our city and a champion for our children. We will miss her deeply. On behalf of the City Council and our community, we extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Sieu’s family, friends, and the entire ABC Unified family,” said Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Maria Teresa Del Rio

10/06/2026

🎭✨ Celebrate the Grand Opening of Leal Elementary’s Newly Modernized Performing Arts Center! ✨🎤

We are thrilled to join for the Ribbon-Cutting & Grand Opening Celebration of Leal’s newly modernized Performing Arts Center!

📅 **Monday, November 2, 2026**
⏰ **5:00–7:00 PM**
📍 **Leal Elementary**

Come celebrate this exciting milestone with our Leal community! The evening will feature **special performances by Leal students and alumni**. 🎶🌟

🥳 Join the Patron Wall of Fame! 🌟

As part of this special celebration, we invite our community to help support the vision behind Leal’s new Performing Arts Center. Please click the link below to give your support ⬇️

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/leal-performing-arts-center

Your generous donation will help bring this vision to life, and your name will be permanently displayed on the Patron Wall of Fame which will be unveiled during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. ✨

⬇️ Patron Levels ⬇️

💎 **$5,000 — DIAMOND**
• Personalized 12" Diamond Star
• 4 Gala Tickets
• 2 LEAP Musical Production Tickets for Life

💎 **$1,000 — PLATINUM**
• Personalized 10" Platinum Star

⭐ **$500 — GOLD**
• Personalized 8" Gold Star

⭐ **$250 — SILVER**
• Personalized 6" Silver Star

⭐ **$100 — BRONZE**
• Personalized Name on Wall

🎟️ **$25 — GALA TICKET ONLY**

✨ **All patron levels of $250 and above receive a personalized star on the Wall of Fame and 2 tickets to the Gala.**

🗓️ **All donations are due by Sunday, October 11, 2026.**

Your support helps create a lasting legacy for the arts and provides future generations of Leal students with a place to **perform, create, and shine.** 🌟🎭

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating this incredible achievement and consider becoming a Patron of the Arts!**

Join Leal Elementary for the Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening Celebration of the newly modernized Performing Arts Center featuring performances by Leal students…

09/18/2026

🚨Attention local business owners 📣 Please consider supporting LEAP program and students at Leal Elementary 🎭 Performing arts isn’t just about performing on stage but also for students to learn about public speaking skill, improvisation and promote self confidence. It’s more than what’s going on on stage. It’s also about building long lasting memories.

09/16/2026

🚨 Attention ABC schools / teachers & students 📣 Our 2026 Grant Application is now OPEN‼️ The last day to submit your application is October 4, 2026 🚨

09/15/2026

09/10/2026

🤩 Congratulations Cerritos High School 🎉🥳

08/07/2026

Register Today! Technology is changing rapidly, and families are navigating new challenges every day. Join ABC Unified School District and ABC Adult School for Navigating Student Screen Time, a free community event focused on helping families support safe, healthy, and balanced technology use. Reserve your spot today!

Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, September 9
Time: 5:00–7:30 p.m.
Location: Artesia High School

Register here: abcusd.info/ScreentimeSymposium

06/01/2026

Let's come together to support Kara Rodarte (Laborde), our beloved TK teacher at Cerritos Elementary. She's been caring for her husband, Jorge, who has been battling cancer, and recently, his condition took a turn for the worse. With her personal and sick leave exhausted, Kara needs our help. The recent chemical spill in Garden Grove-Cypress forced them to evacuate their home and relocate to an Anaheim hotel, where they've had to transfer his medical equipment. Thankfully, Cerritos Elementary has started a meal train to help with their needs. Please consider helping and supporting Kara and her family:

5/12/26 Update: Hey everyone, Kara and Jorge recently found out the devastating news that there are no more options for his cancer battle. Jorge is home for comfort care and Kara will be spending her time caring for him. While Jorge is on a purely liquid diet, we would like to continue to support Ka...

05/23/2026

Another great night celebrating our students! At last night’s meeting, the ABCUSD Board of Education recognized outstanding students and programs from across the District.

Students from Elementary School kicked off the evening by leading the flag salute and sharing fun updates about their school. The Board also recognized the 2025–2026 Student Board Representatives from each of our high schools and the ABC Adult School for their leadership and input throughout the school year.

Wittmann Elementary School was honored for earning the Judicial Council of California Civic Learning Award of Distinction, with students sharing how the program has impacted their learning and school community. The CIF Champion Cerritos High School Boys’ Swim Team was also recognized for an incredible season in the pool.

What a wonderful night highlighting what makes ABCUSD so special — our students!

Missed the meeting? You can watch the full recording on our Board Meetings YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/

05/23/2026

What an incredible honor for Cerritos High School! 🎉

Cerritos High School has been named a 2026 America’s Best Schools Award Winner by the National Center for Urban School Transformation at San Diego State University. Cerritos was one of just 13 schools across the nation selected for this prestigious recognition, celebrating excellence in student achievement, school culture, leadership, and commitment to student success.

Earlier this year, Cerritos High School was also recognized as a California Distinguished School for closing the achievement gap.

Cerritos High School is the second ABCUSD school to earn this national recognition, following Gahr High School in 2024.