About This Episode
Season 6. Episode 4.
In this episode of Education Insight, we sit down with Shelley Mattazaro, Executive Director of the Veterans’ Alcohol Rehabilitation Program (VARP). For more than forty years, VARP has been a lifeline in San Bernardino, offering recovery housing and support to thousands of individuals seeking to rebuild their lives. Its mission has always centered on healing, hope, and providing a stable foundation for people to reclaim their futures.
Now, under Shelley’s leadership, VARP is entering a new chapter—partnering with San Bernardino Valley College’s Rising Scholars Program. This collaboration is more than just a bridge to education; it’s a chance for individuals in recovery to walk onto a college campus, enroll in classes, and begin to see themselves as students with real opportunities ahead.
Shelley shares her own journey into this work, as well as the legacy of VARP’s recovery houses and the countless lives touched through the program. She also highlights the groundbreaking potential of the Rising Scholars partnership, which not only opens doors to higher education but also creates a powerful message: that recovery is not just about overcoming the past, but about envisioning and building a brighter future.
This conversation shines a light on the transformative power of education and community support, and how together they can create second chances for those who need them most.
Featured Guest
Dr. Jeff Oldfield
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Interview Highlights
3:57 – Adrienne describes dual enrollment and its benefits.
7:15 – Adrienne speaks to how recent California mandates and initiatives may have influenced the growth of these new programs.
8:34 – Adrienne explains what research shows about the impact of dual enrollment on a student’s academic achievements or even their future success.
9:24 – Adrienne shares examples of dual enrollment activities that are taking place in our region and what is happening in the IE.
13:11 – Adrienne talks about strategies in place to make sure that equal opportunities are available for all students.
20:18 – Jorge explains how dual enrollment aligns with his role at Riverside County Unified School District.
21:28 – Jorge shares his experiences and thoughts on the current dual enrollment programs that are being offered at Riverside Unified School District.
23:32 – Jorge gives insight into how dual enrollment makes students career ready.
25:58 – Jorge describes what challenges students typically face in dual enrollment programs and how he addresses those issues.
32:43 – Jorge shares what he would like to see be the future of the dual enrollment program in his district and beyond.
36:31 – Special Feature: Avijeet Randhawa, 8th-Grader, Auburndale Intermediate School in the Corona Norco Unified School District.
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Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.