Welcome!
Dear Families,
This year during California School for the Deaf, Riverside’s 70 years anniversary, I am proud to start serving as the 8th Site Superintendent, as of January 1, 2023. I am passionate about leading the school to best achieve its mission of promoting student achievement while embracing the school’s core values. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.
This Superintendent position is not my first position at CSDR. I first worked as the Alternative Curriculum Education (ACE) principal since August of 2022. Prior to serving as ACE principal on campus, I was an elementary principal and the ASL-English bilingual director at the Washington School for the Deaf/Washington State Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth. There, I provided training and consultation to school district staff, families, administrators, and legislators throughout Washington state. I received my Administrator’s Credential from Washington State University, Vancouver, and master's degree in Teaching and Learning: ASL and English Bilingual Education from the University of California, San Diego. I received my undergraduate degree at California State University, Northridge.
My husband, Rob, and I are both Deaf. We are the proud parents of two young adult sons. The oldest, a graduate of Pepperdine University, works for a marketing firm firm in Manhattan, NY and the youngest is a sophomore at Martin Luther King High School.
Among my goals for CSDR is to advance the quality of the ASL/English bilingual education program for all students, supporting our students’ language acquisition. I will work closely with our staff to ensure that we utilize data to monitor the application of appropriate resources to support our school needs. I also plan to expand Outreach services to educators, students, families, and medical professionals in the 12 counties in Southern California under its jurisdiction.
Relationships are important to me. I look forward to building relationships with all CSDR stakeholders: families, students, staff, alumni, community members, and local education agencies. I value teamwork communication, integrity, and stewardship. As well as academic and social emotional growth.
I wish you a happy and healthy New Year!
With Cub Pride,
April McArthur
Superintendent
Leadership Team
Edward Peigneux
Director of Student Life
After School Programs | Residential Cottages | Security | Transportation
Teresa Maxwell
Director of Support Services
Athletics | Career & Technical Education | Curriculum, Data, Instruction & Advancement
Denise Taylor
Director of Student Services
Admissions | Assessment | Counseling, Speech & Audiology | Health
Eric Lopez
Director of Business Services
Accounting | Dietetics | Interpreting | Plant Operations | Procurement
Academic Principals
Tammy Mitchell
Scarlett Valencia
Janelle Green
James Smith
Laura Edwards
Mission & Values
OUR MISSION
Students at California School for the Deaf are engaged in a positive environment where ASL and English are valued, cultures are embraced, learning is relevant, and self-worth is uplifted. In collaboration with families and school communities, Southern California students prepare for college and careers through academic rigor, innovative technology, and extra-curricular opportunities.
OUR CORE VALUES
Support
children becoming balanced bilingual individuals by recognizing the relationships between language development, cognitive development and social/emotional development.
Value
and utilize data to ensure ongoing, consistent improvement both for the individual student and the school as a whole.
Grow
professionally as educators who implement standards-based best practices by planning collaboratively with resources and training.
Foster
an equitable learning environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and staff.
Respect
families as a vital part of the students' learning, where staff and families work together, and put the good of the student first.
SCHOOLWIDE LEARNER OUTCOMES
Communication
Students will effectively communicate opinions, ideas, and information through American Sign Language and English.
Collaboration
Students will contribute in shared learning and knowledge as accountable members.
Literacy
Students will engage in multiple literacies to comprehend and reflect on information for learning and meaningful participation.
Critical Thinking
Students will apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate resources to solve complex problems.
Community
Students will demonstrate courage, respect, and excellence as they serve within their communities.
Work Ethic
Students will take responsibility for their own learning with self-discipline, honor, and integrity.
School Educational Logo
We have a visual expression of our purpose - one that marries our past to our present and sets the course for where we're headed in the future. This bilingual logo, by Deaf professional designer Suzanne Stecker, symbolizes our commitment to you that we'll remain true to our core values as we set our sights on the future.
The logo shape is an abstract of the ASL handshape “R” in print form for “Riverside.”
The two languages of ASL and English are represented with balance and equality by the two tree trunks. The trees intersect because both languages are used back and forth with clear purpose throughout the day, with ASL as a bridge to learning English.
The trees grow, as students achieve through this bilingual program, and their cognition, language, literacy, academic performance, and self-esteem thrive.
Five palm branches at the top of the tree trunks represent the shape of hands signing “CHAMP.” Students shall be champions in academics, sports, organizations, career, and life.