Scott Payne, Director of Expanded Learning Programs at HUSD, was recently recognized by the California Department of Education with an Expanded Learning Leadership Award. As Director of the S.A.F.E. (Students Achieving in Fun Environments) Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, Scott and his team currently operate at 19 school sites across the district and serve approximately 2,000 students each day. It is Scott’s core belief that exceptional Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs are the combination of a hardworking, dedicated staff and site/district support. Working together as a team with the S.A.F.E. staff, the school site staff, students, and parents, the S.A.F.E. program offers numerous enrichment and academic opportunities to engage and build a sense of belonging for all of the Hemet Unified students. As a District, we are grateful for the hard work of Scott and his team and the positive impact that they are having on students.