From Weedpatch to the top: Teacher of the Year grows Arvin High’s ballet folklórico from 5 to 100 students

From Weedpatch to the top: Teacher of the Year grows Arvin High’s ballet folklórico from 5 to 100 students

Brenda Ruiz is this year's Arvin High School Teacher of the Year one of 56 teachers from across Kern County being honored with the distinction.Ruiz is also the force behind Arvin High School's ballet folklrico program, which she started in fall 2022 with only 5 students. By 2026, the program has grown to more than 100 students.For Ruiz, teaching folklrico is something deeply personal. She immigrated with her family from Mexico when she was 3 yea…