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Superintendent

McDuffie

Dr. Darren McDuffie

August 2025

Dear SMBSD Families and Community,

Welcome back to a new school year! I hope that you and your family had a relaxing and enjoyable summer.

As we begin the 2025-26 school year, we want to reaffirm one of our core beliefs: that all people belong, have a voice, and can contribute. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student, family, and staff member feels seen, heard, and valued.

This year, we are excited to launch the Bright Futures Project, a five-year commitment that will serve as our roadmap for providing a REAL education—Rigorous, Empowering, Accelerated, and Liberating—for every student. This is not just another program; it's our promise to remove any barriers to learning so that every child can thrive, discover their purpose, and become the confident learner and leader they are meant to be.

As part of this initiative, we are strengthening our community schools model. This approach goes beyond academics, focusing on the "whole child" by addressing your student’s academic, social, and emotional needs. We will do this by expanding our partnerships with families and the wider community to provide essential resources and support.

We understand that recent events around immigration nationwide may be causing worry and uncertainty for many of our families. Please know that we are committed to the safety and well-being of every student, regardless of their background or immigration status. We want to assure you that your child’s privacy is protected. Our staff is trained on specific protocols to ensure student safety in situations involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

We are also actively working with our community partners to provide resources and assistance to affected families. These partnerships allow us to offer comprehensive support and ensure you have access to the information you need.

If you have questions, please visit our Family Resource Centers or our website at smbsd.org. Our staff is ready to help answer your questions and connect you with related services.

Thank you for being a part of our SMBSD family. We are excited to build a bright future together!

With care and commitment,
Dr. Darren McDuffie
Superintendent, Santa Maria-Bonita School District

Welcome Back, SMBSD Families!

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Darren McDuffie Ed.D.

Superintendent
Office: 805-361-8111

Kristyn Cornejo

Executive Secretary
Office: 805-361-8111

Maria Mota

Executive Liaison
Office: 805-361-8262

Samantha Scroggin

Public Information Officer
Work: 805-361-8113

Sasha Hernandez

Digital Media Specialist
Office: 805-361-8005