Partnering with a Purpose (1990s-today)

1990-1999

• 1990 - Sunnyvale Jr. High changed to Sunnyvale Middle School

• 1991 - The City of Sunnyvale and Sunnyvale School District form a shared open space agreement

• 1992 - Hollenbeck closes

• 1993 - Newly renovated Carson School renamed Manuel Vargas School after Manuel Vargas, “Mr. Sunnyvale,” who grew up working on his family farm and later at Libby’s cannery and Joshua Hendy Ironworks.

• 1995 - California Department of Education Tobacco-Free School District Recognition presented to Sunnyvale School District for adopting a Tobacco-Free School District Policy.

• 1995 - Columbia Middle School and San Miguel reopen

• 1996 - Superintendent Dr. Doris Wilson

• 1996 - Columbia Neighborhood Center (CNC) opens through a partnership with the City, District, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). A Joint Task Force was formed by agreement between the City of Sunnyvale and Sunnyvale School District to provide joint oversight to coordinate service delivery to children and families of the Columbia neighborhood service area. The Task Force continues today!

• 1996 - Corporate partners and volunteers connected SSD classrooms to the Internet during California’s Net Day, to “connect kids to the future.”

• 1996 - Measure A, a $34 million dollar school bond, passes 

• 1996 - Cherry Chase “Stretchers” Program wins state and local awards

• 1996 - The District opened its current location on 819 W. Iowa Avenue.

• 1997 - Newly renovated Fairwood School reopens

• 1997 - SMS renovation begins

• 1999 - Sunnyvale Middle awarded California Distinguished School

• 1999 - Bishop renovation begins

• 1999 - Mayoral Proclamation to the Sunnyvale School District for 100 Years of Excellence.

• 1999 - School Board receives the State of California Educational Leaders of the 21st Century Award

2000-2009

• Dr. Joe Rudnicki Superintendent

• 2000 - Yahoo! Donates $100,000 toward a new computer lab for Bishop Elementary and Lakewood Elementary.

• 2001 - Sunnyvale School District earns California School Boards Association Professional Governance Standards certification for its commitment to governing effectively 

• 2004 - Bond Measure P passes

• 2008 - California Department of Education (CDE) and California Middle Grades Alliance present Superintendent Dr. Joe Rudnicki and the Board of Education a Certificate of Recognition for continued commitment to academic excellence at the District’s middle schools. 

• 2009 - Dr. Benjamin Picard named as SSD Superintendent

2010-2019

• 2010 - Superintendent Ben Picard receives the 2010 Sunnyvale Mayor’s Award for Excellence and a Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature Assembly.

• 2010 - Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce awards Sunnyvale School District for Outstanding Fiscal Management

• 2010 - SSD’s Fairwood Explorer parent participation program was opened to meet the needs of interested local families, bringing families in to help with small-group projects in and outside the classroom.

• 2010 - Sunnyvale School District began partnering with Stanford University’s Teacher Education Program (STEP), to offer a comprehensive summer school program.

• 2011 - Measure B Parcel Tax passes

• 2011 - California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award for Outstanding Multi-level/Districtwide Accountability/Assessment Program Strategic Planning, Curriculum Audit, and Curriculum-driven budgeting.

• 2011 - The Alliance of Schools for Cooperative Insurance Program (ASCIP) recognizes the District for excellence in its risk management practices

• 2011 - Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition presented to Sunnyvale School District for outstanding and invaluable service to the community. 

• 2013 - Bond Measure G passes

• 2014 - El Camino Healthcare District recognized Sunnyvale School District for its Service to the Community.

• 2014 - Columbia Middle School’s FLEX program receives county and state recognition for its positive impact on student success. 

• 2015- San Miguel Elementary established Juntos, SSD’s first Spanish-English dual-immersion program.

• 2015 - The Sunnyvale Education Foundation was founded by local parents, school staff, and school board members to support high-quality education for all students across the Sunnyvale School District. 

• 2016 - SSD’s board passed a resolution to become a sanctuary district, providing a safe space for families regardless of immigration status.

• 2016 - Fairwood Explorer’s Parent Participation and Cumberland Elementary School’s project-based learning programs were recognized for their positive impact on student success with the Santa Clara County School Board Association’s Hoffman Award.

• 2016 - The District received the Santa Clara County Office of Education ELA/ELD Framework Trailblazer Award for commitment and trailblazing leadership in supporting the academic achievement of English learners. 

• 2016 - Sunnyvale School District’s Cumberland, San Miguel, and Vargas Elementary Schools win California Gold Ribbon Schools Awards

• 2017 - Congress of the United States House of Representatives citation presented to Sunnyvale School District in recognition of supporting accessible food distribution programs through its Our Kids Our Community initiative

• 2017 - San Miguel Elementary School’s Community School Model received county and state recognition for its positive impact on student success. 

• 2018 - California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition for Sunnyvale School District for encouraging students to pursue bilingualism and multilingualism.

• 2019 - The District receives county and state recognition for continuing to build a culture of respect for diversity in its school community via the My Name My Identity initiative. 

2020-2024

• 2020 - Dr. Michael Gallagher started his position as SSD Superintendent in July.

• 2020 - The District receives the Family Engagement Institute Foothill College Award for its commitment to advancing equity.

• 2020 - Bishop Elementary School’s Leader in Me and Vargas Elementary School’s Students Success through Science programs recognized for their positive impact on student success with the Santa Clara County School Boards Association’s Hoffman Award. 

• 2020 - SSD’s Social-Emotional Learning Initiative was recognized for excellence in public education and school board governance with the California School Board Association’s Golden Bell Award.

• 2020 - In 2020, SSD, FUHSD, and the City of Sunnyvale approved a branch library to be built on the Lakewood School property.

• 2021 - SSD’s Board of Education passed a resolution to enhance support and resources for LGBTQIA students and staff.

• 2021 - SSD crafted its equity statement recognizing and celebrating the cultural assets of our school community and providing support, access, and opportunities so every student can thrive.

• 2021 - Santa Clara County Office of Education recognizes the District for supporting bilingual/multilingual learners through the Pathway to Biliteracy and the Seal of Biliteracy recognizing students’ achievement. 

• 2021 - Cupertino-Fremont-Sunnyvale Council of PTAs Honorary Service Award presented to the Sunnyvale Board of Education and Administration for outstanding service to children and youth. 

• 2021 - Sunnyvale School District joined the West Side Education Authority, a joint powers agency with Cupertino Union School District and Fremont Union High School District, to mitigate the impacts of the high cost of living and aid all three districts in recruiting and retaining employees. 

• 2021 - Ellis Elementary School’s Units of Study in Reading, Writing, and Phonics program was recognized by the Santa Clara County School Boards Association and the California School Boards Association for its positive impact on student success. 

• 2022- The California Department of Education recognizes the District’s School Attendance Review Board as a model program for reducing chronic absenteeism rates and improving student attendance.

• 2022 - Sunnyvale School District’s bi-annual mailer to the community, The District Bridge, won a 2022 Publications Award of Excellence from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).

• 2023 - San Miguel Elementary School’s Juntos Spanish-English dual-immersion learning program was recognized for its positive impact on student success by the Santa Clara County School Boards Association. 

• 2023 - Juntos expanded from transitional kindergarten through 8^th grade.