Yuri Calderon@ycalderon

Executive Director of the Small School Districts’ Association

 Santa Barbara, CA
ssda.org
Joined August 2009
82 Photos and videos
I’m grateful to CAEdTribune for this thoughtful, in-depth look at Penn Valley Union Elementary School District and our path forward. ca.edtribune.com/2026-09-29-…

Yuri Calderon Wants Penn Valley's Vision Written by the Community, Not His Office

Yuri Calderon became superintendent of Penn Valley Union Elementary on July 1 after a career in school finance, law, and small-district advocacy. He starts with 530 students and a community vision...

ca.edtribune.com
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Celebrating a very successful week in Nevada County and sharing a write-up: The Power of Partnership in Rural Schools linkedin.com/pulse/power-par… via @LinkedIn

The Power of Partnership in Rural Schools

By Yuri Calderon, Superintendent of Penn Valley Union Elementary School District In a rural community, a school is often much more than a place where children attend classes. It is where families...

linkedin.com
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Incredibly grateful for the team at @c21cornerstone for their backpack giveaway in Penn Valley and broader Grass Valley/Nevada City area. An amazing event with all kinds of goodies for our PV students!! #PennValleyProud #PVUESD #AllStudents
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Happy 250th America! Nothing is more American than a small town parade on the Fourth!!
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Yuri Calderon retweeted
Amy Alzina, Ed.D@alzina_amy
May 4
Celebrating Cold Spring creativity & innovation! Congrats to our 5th/6th grade Sewing Club for winning 1st Place + Blue Ribbon at the Santa Barbara Fair for their Peace Quilt Project, and to our 4th graders for earning the “Discover California” Award for their STEAM project.
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"In towns like Orick, the school serves as a savior. It’s a community hub, one of the few sources of decent-paying jobs and a symbol of hope for the future. It’s a central part of the town’s identity." calmatters.org/education/k-1…

One school, nine students. CA pays over $100,000 per kid to keep small schools open

Small, rural districts in California are often under pressure to close schools, but school closures can decimate those communities.

calmatters.org
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SSDA has been hard at work advocating for and supporting small and rural school districts in California and across the country. Check out our latest Semi-Annual Report. linkedin.com/posts/yuricalde…
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Continuing to celebrate passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization! Thank you, @haileybranson, for your coverage of this issue! linkedin.com/posts/yuricalde…

Congress approves an economic lifeline for rural schools in California and elsewhere | Yuri Calderon

Riding high from the passage of the Reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Act, I reflect on the incredible three-year journey to secure this vital legislation for rural communities. The nearly...

linkedin.com
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Victory for Rural Education: Secure Rural Schools Act Reauthorization Passes the U.S. House 395 - 4!
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A Guide to Charter School Authorizing and Oversight live youtube.com/live/vX-06AQppEc…

E3 Forum Webinar

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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I love learning about flex-based charters from @RqlMrqzMaden and @brenner_liz
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Join us on YouTube for Charting the Course youtube.com/live/vX-06AQppEc…

E3 Forum Webinar

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com
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Congrats!!! #SmallbutMighty
Nicolas Wade@DrNicolasWade
13 Nov 2025
We just posted our best CA Dashboard results ever—ZERO red indicators. 75% of students grew in ELA/Math, Science hit 98%, and absenteeism dropped to 22%. Small, rural, and proving what’s possible with strong leadership, systems, and innovation. 💚💛 cusd49.com/article/2547114
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Honoring all who served. Thank you, veterans, for your courage and sacrifice. 🇺🇸 #VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans
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Our SPI Candidate Forum is happening now. Hear from the candidates running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. SSDA.org
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Rural and geographically isolated communities are increasingly dependent on international, fully credentialed teachers to fill positions that have proven nearly impossible to staff. @SmallSchoolDA edsource.org/?page_id=743591 via @edsource

White House visa fee hike could weaken California’s teacher pipeline

The Trump administration's decision to add a $100,000 fee to the H-1B visa, which allows employers to hire from overseas for hard-to-fill positions, could negatively impact school districts already...

edsource.org
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Kicking off the morning with FFA students from 10 states across rural America getting ready to advocate for the reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools. @SmallSchoolDA @Dr_Chap_LISD @MSadorf03 @hhadwickAD1 @BodeGower
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Announcing the release of our book “Leading Smalls:Thinking Big”. Incredibly proud of my SSDA board and staff for supporting this important endeavor! ⁦@SmallSchoolDA⁩
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Energizing morning with NREA affiliates from across the country. Leaders who are passionate about rural education. Melissa Sadorf is on fire leading the association and putting on a phenomenal NFARE Conference.
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Yuri Calderon retweeted
Amy Alzina, Ed.D@alzina_amy
1 Oct 2025
Honored to be featured on The Superintendent Effect podcast where we talked about leading with purpose, amplifying teachers through AI, and building people, culture, and success that will last. youtu.be/09VJli5i-ls

Dr. Amy Alzina: Leading with Purpose in Education

In this episode of The Superintendent Effect, host Anne Brown inter...

youtube.com
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