State Superintendent Celebrates California State Student Authors

• Home
• Newsroom
• News Releases
• Year 2026

California Department of Education
News Release California Department of Education
News Release Release: #26-23
April 10, 2026 Contact: Communications
E-mail: communications@cde.ca.gov
Phone: 916-319-0818

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Celebrates California State Student Authors

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the California Department of Education (CDE) were honored to host California State Student Authors on Monday, April 6, for a special celebration at CDE headquarters in Sacramento to celebrate their published works and recognize the power of writing to promote literacy and student voice.

These incredible student authors, who range in grades from five to twelve, read excerpts from their published works. The students’ books cover many themes relevant to young readers, including belonging, curiosity, adventure, science fiction, bullying, and positive thinking. Tanya Baker, Executive Director of the National Writing Project, and award-winning author Sandra Cisneros shared advice for young authors and spoke about the importance of writing and literacy as skills for lifelong learning and success.

This year’s student state authors:

• Zinuo (Dora) Cai, Suzanne Middle School in Walnut
• Sailee Charlu, Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana
• Sonata Chi, Glen A. Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights
• Helena Donato-Sapp, Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana
• Kristal Fuentes, San Bernardino High School in San Bernardino
• Soorya Ramaraju, James Logan High School in Union City
• Emmanuel Salazar Lira, Norwalk High School in Norwalk
• Leila Sahabi, Anderson W. Clark Magnet High School in Glendale
• Aizelle San, Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Elk Grove
• Samantha Wu, Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana
• Zoe Zavala, San Jacinto Leadership Academy in San Jacinto “There is a deep connection between writing and reading, and this is another way for us to help remind other students in our state about the importance of literacy and reading,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “We often say that when you learn to read, you read to learn everything and anything. We want California students to develop a love for reading, and we think that writing can be an important part of that.”

Superintendent Thurmond continues to lead California’s commitment to literacy and biliteracy, emphasizing the importance of writing as a key driver of strong reading outcomes and meaningful student engagement. California’s approach to literacy and biliteracy builds on decades of educational research applicable to our culturally and linguistically rich and diverse student population, including the science of reading and literacy and the science of learning and development. As a dynamic state with extraordinary cultural and linguistic resources, California is committed to ensuring students are reading by third grade and are fully literate when they graduate from high school. These efforts include biliteracy enrichments for dual-language learners.

A recording of the event is available on the California Department of Education Facebook page
.

# #

Tony Thurmond —
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last Reviewed: Friday, April 10, 2026 Trending in News Releases
- SPI Announces 2026 CA Distinguished Schools
- 2024–25 California Statewide Assessment Results
- SPI Announces 2025 CA Distinguished Schools
- 2025 Dashboard Shows Gains for California Students
- Year 2026

• 2026 California Exemplary Dual Enrollment Schools
• SPI Celebrates California State Student Authors (this page)
• 2023–24 Assessment Results Show Student Progress
• 2026 CA Teachers of the Year Announced
• 2024 California Distinguished Schools Announced
• SPI Announces 2026 Model Continuation High Schools More Trending Items Recently Posted in News Releases
• SPI Celebrates California State Student Authors (added 10-Apr-2026) State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond celebrates California state student authors.
• SSPI Announces New Workgroup as Healthcare Rises (added 02-Apr-2026) State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announces workgroup to address impact of rising healthcare costs on school districts and educators.
• SPI Hosts Town Hall to Discuss AB 673 (Jackson) (added 27-Mar-2026) California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosts town hall to discuss Assembly Bill 673 (Jackson) and critical needs of unaccompanied homeless youth.
• Town Hall to Discuss AB 673 on Homeless Youth (added 24-Mar-2026) California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond to host town hall in Moreno Valley on March 27 to discuss AB 673 (Jackson) and critical needs of unaccompanied homeless youth.

• 2026 California Exemplary Arts Education Awards (added 24-Mar-2026)
  California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announces 2026 California Exemplary Arts Education Awards.

• 2026 California Exemplary Dual Enrollment Schools (added 23-Mar-2026)
  California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announces 2026 California Exemplary Dual Enrollment schools.

• New Video: Joseph Londono Wants to Return to U.S. (added 18-Mar-2026)
  State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond shares update, new video released by mother of Joseph Londono Rodriguez; child uses pictures, gestures to say he wants to return to U.S.

• SPI Announces 2026 Model Community Day Schools (added 11-Mar-2026)
  State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announces 2026 Model Community Day schools.

• Thurmond Calls for Return of Deported Deaf Child (added 06-Mar-2026)
  State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and others call on Trump administration to release and return six-year-old deaf child detained and deported by ICE.

• SPI Announces 2026 Model SARB Recipients (added 04-Mar-2026)
  State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announces Model School Attendance Review Board recipients for 2026.
  More Recently Posted Items