RUSD Family & Community eNews
February 2025
📣 With great excitement and gratitude, I introduce myself as the new Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Redlands Unified. 👋 I am honored to serve in this capacity, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside dedicated educators, staff, students, and families to further our shared mission of fostering a supportive and innovative learning environment. 🙌
⏳ As an educator with over 35 years of experience, I have had the privilege of working in various roles within the educational system. I began my career in Garden Grove Unified as a classroom teacher, later serving as a Teacher on Assignment and Program Coordinator. 👩🏫 I have also worked in leadership roles in Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified and Banning Unified, before proudly serving as the principal of Crafton Elementary for 8 years. 😸 I transitioned to the district office to lead Distance Learning and then served as the Executive Director of Special Services for the past four years. 💖 Throughout my career, I have remained passionate about student success and firmly believe that every student has the potential to thrive when given the right opportunities, support, and resources. 💪
One of my primary goals as Assistant Superintendent is to ensure that every student graduates with a clear and actionable plan for their future. 🎓 This means providing all students with not only the academic foundation they need, but also the guidance and resources to help them discover their passions and set meaningful goals for their next steps after graduation—whether that be in higher education, technical careers, or directly entering the workforce. 💼 We must continue to expand and strengthen rigorous, inclusive educational options for students so they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed in an ever-evolving world. 🌎
🏫 In addition to academic rigor, I want to focus on empowering both our students and staff. By fostering an environment where individuals feel supported, valued, and encouraged to grow, we can ensure that both students and staff are confident in their abilities to achieve their goals. 📈 Together, we can build a community that thrives on collaboration, inclusion, innovation, and mutual respect, preparing students for life beyond graduation. 🤝
Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with your ideas, questions, or suggestions. 📥 My door is always open, and I am here to support you in any way that I can. I look forward to the journey ahead and to making a positive impact on the educational experiences and future success of our students. 👏
Sincerely,
Patti Buchmiller
Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services
Game On! Middle School Esports Tournament Brings Competition and Community Together 🎮
🦁 Moore Middle School recently hosted a thrilling Super Smash Bros competition, bringing together students from all four Redlands Unified middle schools—Beattie, Clement, Cope, and Moore—for an exciting day of competition and connection. 🎮 Players faced off in two divisions, testing their skills while building camaraderie with students from different grades and schools. 👏 Students cheered each other on, coached each other, and celebrated victories–and every game was ended in a handshake. 🤝
What made this tournament special was the incredible support from families. 🙌 Parents lined the room, enthusiastically cheering for their kids and sharing in their excitement. 🗣️ The competition proved to be more than just gaming—it was a testament to the power of esports in fostering community, strategic thinking, and sportsmanship. 💪
Congratulations to the champions (pictured), and a shoutout to all the students who participated in this fantastic event!
"One thing I learned is working together is most important in a group project. If you have conflicting ideas is it important to resolve the conflict and have a compromise to make the project a
success," shared Jayden Liu, 8th grader at Cope. 🤝
Congratulations to all the Science Fair participants and students moving on to SIMSEF (county)! 🏅
Classified Spotlight: Marie Ordaz
🗓️ She describes her day as a giant puzzle—working to ensure every classroom has the substitute teacher they need! 🧩 With over 300 substitute teachers in the district, she sometimes oversees coverage for more than 150 teacher absences in a single day. 🤯
🤔 Marie fondly remembers last year when the district office was under construction. 🚧 Despite the challenges of being displaced, her department made the most of their temporary location, finding ways to have fun and share good times together!
🍊 Marie said Redlands Unified means a lot to her because all her children have gone through RUSD, and now her grandchildren are too. 👶 "I take pride in my job and in my community," she said.
⛺️ A fun fact about Marie: In addition to spending time with her family, she loves to GLAMP! 🚐 > 🏕️
🗣️ Advice for students & families: "Students always keep an open mind when learning. Try to remember there are 30 students in your class that come from 30 different lifestyles. Be kind to everyone! 🥰 Parents, be supportive, and communicate with each other."
Certificated Spotlight: Chandler Mills
👋 Meet Chandler Mills, an Education Specialist working as the specialized academic instruction inclusion teacher for Kimberly 🐻 and Mariposa 🦋. She has been an education specialist for nearly a decade! ⏳
🗓️ She said a day in the life of an inclusion teacher is dynamic, rewarding, and collaborative! 📚 She helps students with diverse learning needs and ensures they have all the proper support in place to be successful in the general education setting! 🤲 She is also a member of the IEP team, so she work closely with parents, teachers, and other team members to make sure her students are thriving. 💪
❤️ Chandler said her favorite moments are when she sees students grasp concepts, build confidence, and achieve goals. 📈 "I love to see students engaging with their peers during different learning opportunities. Being in the classroom is the best!"
For her, working in RUSD means having a commitment to provide equitable access to education for all students. ⚖️ Representing Redlands means being "an advocate for students, a team player and a member of a greater community." 🏘️
🏃♀️ A fun fact about Chandler: She is a runner and used to run cross country and track at Yucaipa High School! She said that as a ⚡️ Thunderbird 🐥 Redlands was one of her biggest rivals! 👟 Her current goal is to run a marathon within the next year! 🏅
🗣️ Advice for students & families: "You are the most important member of the team. You and your student are not alone. Together we can create a supportive and successful path forward." 🤝
Website: www.redlandsusd.net
Location: 20 West Lugonia Avenue Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: (909) 307-5300
Facebook: facebook.com/RedlandsUSD
Instagram: instagram.com/redlandsusd
X (Formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RedlandsUSD
YouTube: youtube.com/RedlandsUSD Media
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/redlandsusd
Photo Gallery: redlandsusd.smugmug.com