Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez used his annual State of Education address Wednesday to paint an ambitious picture of where the region's public schools are headed — and how students are already getting there.
The event, held March 4 at the Riverside Convention Center, drew more than 800 students, educators, and community leaders for a luncheon and showcase organized by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE). The theme: "Future-Proof: Ready for College. Ready for Career. Ready for Anything."
"The State of Education is a powerful showcase of the educational excellence that is on display every day in Riverside County's public schools," Gomez said. "When we say Riverside County students are future-proof, we are not offering a slogan, but, instead, an affirmation that they are academically prepared and ready to contribute to a workforce that is changing in real time."
The event featured highlights from all 23 school districts in Riverside County, along with California School for the Deaf, Riverside, and county charter schools.
A first-ever Future-Proof Student Showcase gave students the chance to demonstrate career technical education programs in fields ranging from culinary arts and aviation to drone technology, fire science, and hybrid/EV automotive repair.
The event also included six student performances, among them a high school string quartet and a closing set featuring the Moreno Valley Unified School District's Moreno Mustang Singers alongside the Lil Cubs Signers from California School for the Deaf, Riverside.
Three Future-Proof Impact Awards were presented during the luncheon. The California State University System and Cal State San Bernardino received the Ready for College Impact Award for launching the CSU Direct Admission Pilot Program. CAL FIRE Riverside County Fire Department took home the Ready for Career Impact Award for its Fire Careers Expo Partnership. Justin Hudson, founder of 1LoveIE, received the Ready for Anything Impact Award for his work encouraging student entrepreneurship.
RCOE also released its 2025-2026 Annual Report to the Community at the event. The office supports the county's 23 school districts and more than 500 schools, which together serve more than 430,000 students.
A full video replay, photo gallery, and event program are available at rcoe.us/state-of-education.
