Principal's Message

Dear Mark Twain Families,

I hope you and your family are doing well. As principal, I am excited and grateful to welcome all of our students and families to Mark Twain for the 2026–2027 school year. I look forward to an exciting year of learning, growth, and success, and I can't wait to greet our students on Monday, August 10, the first day of school.

I am also pleased to share that Thorsten Hegberg has joined our team as our new Assistant Principal. We are excited to welcome him to the Mark Twain community and know he will be a wonderful support for our students, staff, and families.

Throughout the school year, we will focus on our district's goals, which support students' growth in academics and the personal skills needed for lifelong success. At Mark Twain, we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment where every student feels valued and has the opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to working together to make this an outstanding school year for every student. If you have any questions throughout the year, please feel free to email me at jsparks@ggusd.us or call the Mark Twain office at (714) 663-6050.

On behalf of the entire staff at Mark Twain School, we wish you and your family a wonderful and successful school year. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

Sincerely,

Joell Sparks

Principal, Mark Twain School

Our School

Mark Twain provides specialized academic instruction for students aged preschool through adulthood.  Our instructional program focuses on building the functional skills of our students in the following areas:

• Academics
• Communication,
• Social skills
• Daily living skills
• Vocational skills
• Recreation and leisure
• Physical education
• Humanities- art and music 

Our instructional program also incorporates community-based instruction, where students increase their opportunities to further develop their social skills and other specific skills critical to the individual’s ability to function independently in the community.  With support from staff, families, and the community, Mark Twain works tirelessly to ensure an empowering, safe, and enriching educational environment for our students.