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Riverside County Education Update
February 2025 
Dear Community Members,
The start of the year is always a dynamic and exciting time at RCOE. We are actively engaged in student academic events such as the Mock Trial and Academic Decathlon, alongside professional development symposiums for counselors, literacy coaches, and other dedicated educators. It’s the kind of busy that fills us with pride—pride in the support we provide to students, educators, and families across Riverside County. These events and initiatives reflect our unwavering commitment to fostering academic excellence, professional growth, and meaningful community engagement as we continue striving to create opportunities for all. If you are interested in volunteering for our upcoming student events, please check out RCOE Volunteer Opportunities.
On March 5, we’ll be hosting the annual Riverside County State of Education. This year’s theme, “Leading With Competitive Edge,” focuses on our commitment to educational excellence and our dedication to fostering the intellectual and creative talents of our students. We look forward to showcasing the recent achievements and forward-looking goals that are shaping our educational landscape.
This February, we proudly celebrate the one-year anniversary of The Torch podcast, a platform that has amplified powerful voices and sparked meaningful conversations over the past year. In our latest episode of The Torch, we were honored to host Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., the great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington. As co-founder and president of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, Morris continues to inspire as a prolific public speaker and dedicated anti-slavery advocate.
Let’s continue to lead with a competitive edge, uplift diverse voices, and make a lasting impact together.
Sincerely,
Edwin Gomez, Ed.D.
Riverside County
Superintendent of Schools2025 Riverside County Student Event Competitions
Our student event season is well underway, and we are excited to share some of the competition highlights and congratulate our winning 2025 Academic Decathlon and Mock Trial teams. 2025 Riverside County Mock Trial champions, Riverside Unified's Poly High School, will now represent our county at the California competition March 14-16 in Los Angeles. And 2025 Riverside County Academic Decathlon champions, Hemet Unified's Western Center Academy, will represent our county at the California Academic Decathlon March 20-23 in Santa Clara.
This weekend, 4 through 12 grade students from across the county will compete at our National History Day competition. And later this month students will pack up those school/district winning Science and Engineering projects to compete at the county level.
Fourth through eighth grade students who win their school district's Spelling Bee will have a seat at the annual Riverside County competition on March 26.
It's wonderful seeing the enthusiasm of our students as they compete at the county level, and we look forward to cheering on the award winning students who qualify for state and national level competitions.
State of Education Address & Luncheon
Join Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Edwin Gomez, Ed.D., for the highly anticipated 2025 State of Education Address. Experience an engaging and visionary presentation that highlights groundbreaking initiatives, celebrates educational achievements, and sets the course for an inspiring future for Riverside County students.
Register by February 28 to attend the Wednesday, March 5, luncheon event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Riverside Convention Center.
Annual Countywide Career Fair
Join us for the annual Countywide Education Career Fair on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the RCOE Conference Center. Visit www.rcoe.us/CareerFair for a current list of on-site agency employers, job classifications, and "Tips for Job Seekers". No preregistration is needed for job seakers.
RCOE Podcast "The Torch" - Season II
Episodes 9 & 10
Episodes 9 and 10 of The Torch are available NOW on our Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube channel.
Featuring Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., the great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington, episode 9 uncovers how Mr. Morris' organization is tackling human trafficking through the power of education.
In episode 10, featured guest Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Matt Jennings, shares his journey and innovative strategies to make financial literacy accessible to all, especially underserved youth.
Listen to/Watch these latest episodes and find all previously released episodes on our website at www.rcoe.us/torch.
Superintendent's Initiatives
Vist our initiative pages linked below for resources and information on the latest updates.
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Our mailing address is:Riverside County Office of EducationP.O. Box 868Riverside, CA 92502-0868