Congratulations to Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) Dental Assisting and Milpitas High School student,
Fe Lorraine Aguinaldo,
​on placing 2nd in the nation in Dental Assisting at the SkillsUSA National Competition in Kentucky, June 20-24.

Aguinaldo said she was shocked and surprised when they announced her name as the silver medal winner. The high school senior said she is very proud of her accomplishment.

“For Fe to place nationally is extremely exceptional,” Aguinaldo’s SVCTE Dental Assisting instructor, Michelle Sugden, said. She explained that Aguinaldo competed against high school students from other schools nationwide who take Dental Assisting courses for up to three years, several hours a day.

The Dental Assisting portion of the competition consisted of both a hands-on and written exam. Aguinaldo said that the hands-on portion of the test took 5 1⁄2 hours and consisted of 18 different testing stations. The testing stations included taking impressions, identifying dental tools, x-rays, and chairside assistance. For the written exam, she had to display a wide range of dental terminology and dental knowledge. Sugden and Aguinaldo prepared together for the competition throughout the school year and summer. Sugden attended the competition with Aguinaldo and said the entire experience was “fantastic.”

Aguinaldo said that after high school, she would like to first work as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and then continue her education to become a dentist. She said she is currently saving money to take the classes needed for the RDA certification.

Aguinaldo is the first student from SVCTE to ever place in the top three at the SkillsUSA National Competition in Dental Assisting. A total of five students from SVCTE competed at National SkillsUSA in the areas of Dental, Medical Terminology, Medical Assisting, and Carpentry. MetroED Superintendent, Alyssa Lynch said she is proud of SVCTE’s team of students who competed and for the professionalism they showed during the competitions.

SkillsUSA is a national organization for Career Technical Education (CTE) students within trade, technical, industrial and health occupations. Annual competitions are held to encourage students to challenge themselves within their chosen technical careers.

After accepting Superintendent Matsuoka’s resignation at its June 14, 2016 meeting, the Board appointed Deputy Superintendent Cheryl Jordan as the Interim Superintendent of Milpitas Unified School District.  Ms. Jordan has served in the District since 1989 when she started her career as a social studies teacher assigned to both Calaveras Hills High School and Russell Middle School.  Ms. Jordan has held various leadership positions in MUSD, including Assistant Principal at Rancho Middle School, Principal of Pomeroy Elementary School, and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.  The Board gave Ms. Jordan its full support voting unanimously for her six-month appointment.  Ms. Jordan stated that together with the MUSD staff she will build on the good work established under Superintendent Matsuoka, and that the District will continue its focus on ensuring that every student’s needs are met through personalized learning.  Ms. Jordan wants to deepen the sense of community and family shared by our city members, parents and staff so that we can become even greater at what we do for and alongside our students.

At the June 14, 2016 board meeting, the district received a letter of resignation from Superintendent Cary Matsuoka.  Mr. Matsuoka has served as superintendent for Milpitas Unified since July 1, 2011.  He is leaving to become the superintendent of Santa Barbara Unified School District, in Santa Barbara, California, effective July 1, 2016.  In his letter to the Board, Mr. Matsuoka stated, “It has been an amazing experience these last five years – we accomplished so much together and the district has great momentum. I am so proud of the work of our staff and when the SBAC scores are shared this fall, we will see the fruits of our work. I will be forever grateful for the chance to lead such a great district.”  We wish Mr. Matsuoka well in his new position and know that he will make a great impact there as he has here in MUSD.

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