2025 Induction Milestone: Where Passion Meets Profession

This spring, nearly 20 Redwood City School District (RCSD) teachers completed the RCSD Induction Program, a milestone that signifies more than a professional achievement. It reflects a deep commitment to the craft of teaching and to the students they serve each day. Another 25 educators successfully completed their first year in the two-year program. 

Required by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), an Induction Program clears a teacher's preliminary credential in the State of California. It is typically a two-year program that incorporates mentoring and is designed to offer support, guidance, and orientation for first-year teachers.

Through the RCSD Induction Program, teachers are supported in their continued growth, helping to ensure that students thrive in classrooms led by inspired, reflective, and dedicated professionals who are building strong foundations for lifelong learning.

While working as full-time, credentialed teachers, Induction Candidates must also complete goal-setting cycles which include evidence of best practices and exemplary professional growth. 

Superintendent Dr. John Baker spoke at the Induction Completion Ceremony, congratulating the educators for completion of the program.

“More than a requirement, this is a two-year journey of mentoring, growth, and reflection that supports our early-career educators and helps ensure our students have skilled, caring teachers in every classroom,” said Dr. Baker. “To those completing the induction program, we are proud of your hard work, commitment, and growth. You chose a profession that shapes lives, and you've already begun making a difference.”

Dr. Baker also reflected on his start as a kindergarten teacher at Garfield Community School and the gratitude he had for mentors, including his own who had been a kindergarten teacher for 23 years. 

“I also want to recognize the incredible work of our mentors and our Director of New Teacher Induction, who guide and support our candidates every step of the way,” he said.

The Induction Ceremony, held mid-May at Henry Ford Elementary school, was attended by many, including mentees, mentors, Dr. Baker, Deputy Superintendent Kelly, Board Trustees, and school administrators.

Year 2 and Early Completion Candidates:

• Argon Amboy of Kennedy Middle School
• Zenaida Barrios of Roosevelt Elementary School
• Brittany Benedict of Garfield Community School
• Madison Carrasco of Hoover Community School
• Gabriel Font Salom of McKinley Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Chenchen Gong of Orion Alternative Elementary School
• Rita Gould of Clifford School
• Karen Hinojosa of North Star Academy
• Gabrielle Kitchen, supporting Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School, North Star Academy, Orion Alternative Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Taft Community School
• Vienna Klingele of North Star Academy
• Jake Mauldin of Hoover Community School 
• Frida Miranda Lopez of Garfield Community School
• Emma Parsons of Roosevelt Elementary School
• Maria Fernanda Rojas Viviescas of Hoover Community School
• Cassandra Schaffer of Kennedy Middle School
• Yidan Sun of North Star Academy
• Zaira Moncerrat Viadero Nava of Taft Community School
• Maozhu Zhao of Roy Cloud School
• Matthew Zung of Hoover Community School

Year 1 Candidates

• Nolan Allen of Orion Alternative Elementary School
• Cherry Avila of McKinley Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Vivian Bisda of North Star Academy
• Angelina Campagna of Kennedy Middle School
• Ted Anthony Dizon of McKinley Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Brianna German of Garfield Community School
• Nancy Gonzalez of Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School
• Jaymie Guillena of Kennedy Middle School
• Rosalie (Chiayu) Hsu of Orion Alternative Elementary School
• Alma Jimenez of Roosevelt Elementary School
• Michelle Jinayon of Roy Cloud School
• Lauren Jones of Hoover Community School
• Danielle Joo of Hoover Community School 
• Jeff Louie of Hoover Community School
• Olivia Manzanares of Garfield Community School 
• Princess Margaret Paz of Kennedy Middle School
• America Ponggan of McKinley Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Laci Rojas of Henry Ford Elementary School
• Domingo Rosaros of Kennedy Middle School
• Danielle Schall of Clifford School
• Angie Sisquiarco Acevedo of Hoover Community School
• Angie (Huailan) Sun of Orion Alternative Elementary School
• Meng Thao of Hoover Community School
• Brooklyn Willis of Roy Cloud School
• Mingjiao (Lizzie) Xu of Orion Alternative Elementary School

The path to becoming a tenured teacher in California has many steps with this on-the-job mentorship program as the final accomplishment. All California teachers complete their collegiate coursework in best education practices, pass multiple rigorous exams, participate in student teaching or intern teaching, and eventually graduate from a preliminary credential program. Teachers must then dedicate an additional two years of an Induction Program while teaching full-time. Once teachers have completed Induction, they receive cleared credentials and can be tenured.

California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) renewed RCSD’s Induction Program with full accreditation in 2017, praising the inclusion of equity-focused reflection, the dedicated group of veteran teacher mentors offering individualized support to new teacher candidates, and the School Board’s dedication to supporting the program financially and with direct involvement.

Redwood City School District’s Induction Program Accreditation is effective until 2027.