Hemet Unified is proud to announce that it has received a 2025 Golden Bell Award for its Daily Huddle Program, an innovative initiative designed to enhance student safety, behavior management, and districtwide collaboration. Launched as a pilot program in the Spring of 2023 at Acacia, Dartmouth, Diamond Valley and Rancho Viejo Middle Schools, the Daily Huddle Program has since expanded across all HUSD campuses.
Each morning, school and district leaders meet virtually to review data on student behavior, address challenges in real-time, and deploy support strategies aimed at reducing physical aggression and suspensions. The program has had a measurable impact on student safety and school culture. Since implementation, HUSD has seen a 32% decrease in acts of physical aggression, a 30% decrease in students receiving suspensions, a 22% decrease in overall suspensions, and a 7% decrease in suspensions related specifically to physical aggression. These improvements have been achieved rapidly through daily collaboration, structured data review, and proactive interventions- giving staff more than 20 times the opportunities to address behavioral concerns compared to previous monthly meetings.
Superintendent Christi Barrett emphasized the program’s broader impact: “More than just a behavioral management tool, the Daily Huddles has fostered a culture of collective responsibility and solution-oriented leadership. Principals and Assistant Principals note that the structure has supported professional learning, provided emotional support, and enhanced transparency among peers. Students ultimately benefit when adults are aligned, equipped, and responding with care, clarity, and urgency.”
The Daily Huddle Program exemplifies HUSD’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Its simple, structured design is replicable, sustainable, and already garnering interest from districts across California and beyond. The Golden Bell Awards, presented by the California School Boards Association (CSBA), recognize outstanding programs that demonstrate innovation, effectiveness, and measurable results in public education. This marks the fourth consecutive year Hemet Unified School District has been honored with a Golden Bell Award, underscoring the district’s ongoing dedication to creating safe, supportive, and student-centered learning environments