California Department of Education Leader Visits VCUSD to Learn About Student Success and Equity

Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) welcomed William McGee, Director of the Student Achievement and Support Division at the California Department of Education (CDE), for a special visit to our district on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. McGee toured two school sites—Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy and Steffan Manor Elementary—accompanied by Superintendent Rubén Aurelio and Assistant Superintendent Heather Topacio.

McGee’s visit was driven by an interest in how VCUSD works to support and uplift African American student populations across our schools. His tour focused on learning about the district’s strategies for equity, student engagement, and academic achievement, especially concerning historically underserved student groups.

Student-Led Leadership at Solano Widenmann

At Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy, the visit was made extra special thanks to a guided tour from a confident and articulate 7th-grade student. As McGee, Aurelio, and Topacio explored the campus, they were joined by Principal Mitchell-Lewis, who shared insights into the school’s leadership initiatives and culture of student empowerment.

Classroom visits gave McGee a glimpse into active learning environments and the school’s integration of the Leader in Me program. This initiative fosters leadership, responsibility, and personal growth among students. The experience reflected Solano Widenmann’s commitment to nurturing academic excellence and leadership development.

Data-Driven Excellence at Steffan Manor

The visit continued at Steffan Manor Elementary, where Principal Brenda Zander welcomed the group. McGee explored how the school uses data-driven visuals throughout the campus to clearly focus on attendance trends, academic achievement, and state testing performance, among other features like staff and student spotlights.

The team observed several classrooms where teaching and learning were in full swing. McGee engaged with staff and students to gain insight into how VCUSD schools translate data into action and use it to drive continuous improvement and equity in education.

A Shared Commitment to Student Achievement

VCUSD is proud to have the opportunity to showcase the impactful work happening across our district with the CDE. From student-led leadership to data-informed instruction, both school visits highlighted the dedication of VCUSD educators and administrators to ensuring every student succeeds.