Casita in the News

A 2023 National Blue Ribbon Celebration in Washington D.C. 

Representatives from our school, Ms. Chien (Principal) and Ms. Weiser (IB Coordinator, and our district's Superintendent, Dr. Doyle flew to Washignton D.C. for the 2023 National Blue Ribbon recognition. 

• If you would like to see the Vista Press coverage on the event, please visit: https://www.thevistapress.com/vista-unified-casita-center-awarded-national-blue-ribbon-school-honor-in-washington-dc/
• If you would like to see the North County Daily Star coverage on the event, please visit: https://northcountydailystar.com/vista-unifieds-casita-center-awarded-national-blue-ribbon-school-honor-at-ceremony-in-washington-dc/

Blue Ribbon School Event

After learning about being recognized as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School, we celebrated as a learning community on October 6, 2023 and invited our School Board, high school cheerleaders and dancers, learning community, and past Casita staff to join us to celebrate. 

• If you would like to see Congressman Mike Levin's message to Casita, visit: https://youtu.be/i9hhjQ2E_LY
• If you would like to see the Coast News coverage on the event, please visit: https://thecoastnews.com/casita-center-in-vista-earns-national-blue-ribbon-award/
• If you would like to see the Vista Press coverage on the event, please visit: https://www.thevistapress.com/casita-center-for-technology-science-math-recognized-a-2023-national-blue-ribbon-school/ 
• If you would like to see the North County Daily Star coverage on the event, please visit: https://northcountydailystar.com/casita-center-for-technology-science-math-recognized-as-a-2023-national-blue-ribbon-school/
• If you would like to see the Channel 10 News coverage on the event, please visit: https://youtu.be/h_fA-Lb5F0g

Casita named 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona

Casita has been named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School. This is the first time in the school’s history that we have received this prestigious honor. The national award has been given out since 1983 on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education to recognize elementary, middle, and high schools. Casita received the award as an Exemplary High Performing school. This accomplishment is one of two schools in San Diego County, one of 33 schools in California, and one of 353 schools across the nation (out of more than 130,000 K-12 schools). This recognition is a testament to the incredible learning environment that our staff, learners, and community members have created by working together and continually striving for academic excellence and innovation. 

If you’d like to see US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announcement of the 2023 Blue Ribbon schools, visit: https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/2023-announcement/ 

If you’d like to read more about the National Blue Ribbon awards, please click on the following: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/index.html 

If you’d like to read more about Casita and our application, please click on the following: https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/awardwinners/winning/23ca118pu_casita_center_for_sciencemathtechnology.html 

If you'd like to read California State Superintendent, Tony Thurmond's announcement, please click on the following: https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr23/yr23rel68.asp 

Congratulations to Casita Assistant Principal - Recipient of the 2023 Heroes of Vista, Education Administrator of the Year

Congratulations to Tracy Zachry for her role as Casita's Assistant Principal and her many dedicated years in Vista Unified! 

Congratulations, Ms. Therisa Cash, 2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching (PAEMST) Finalist

Congratulations to Ms. Cash for her recognition of being one of the top 5 finalist awardees for the California PAEMST award! We're so proud to have her as part of our staff and sharing her mathematical wisdom with us!

Casita is a Recognized as California Distinguished School 

Casita is recognized as a California Distinguished School in 2020 by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. Read more here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr19/yr19rel85.asp

Casita teacher recognized as California Teacher of the Year

Ms. Jenny Chien receives recognition as the Vista Unified Golden Apple Teacher of the Year, San Diego County Teacher of the Year, and California Teacher of the Year. Read more here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/ct/catoy2017.asp

Casita Principal Smith - Heroes of Vista Education Administrator of the Year

Principal Laura Smith is awarded Vista Education Foundation's Heroes of Vista Education Administrator of the Year for her innovative and excellent leadership skills. Read more here: https://www.thevistapress.com/heroes-vista-evening-carlsbad/

Casita is a Recipient of the CSBA Golden Bell Award for their Personalized Learning program

Casita receives a recognition from the California School Board Association as a Golden Bell school for the Personal Learning program. Read more here: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/sd-no-goldenbell-20161018-story.html

Casita Principal Recognized as Innovative Principal of the Year

Congratulations to Principal Laura Smith for her and her team's innovative efforts to transform Casita into an IB World School with a STEM focus from the Classroom of the Future Foundation.

Teacher at Receives Biliteracy Award in San Diego

Congratulations to Ms. Mireya Spacher as a recipient of the Biliteracy Award as our Spanish Teacher.

Vista Magnet Elementary School Beats the Odds

Casita makes the KPBS news as an engaging school that beats the odds. Read the article here: https://www.kpbs.org/news/evening-edition/2015/11/11/vista-magnet-elementary-school-beats-odds

Teacher at Casita Receives North County San Diego NAACP Award

Leethel Farmer, IB Coordinator, is a recipient of the North San Diego County Women in the NAACP award.