Growing Inland Achievement

Category: Education Insight Podcast

  • Education Insight: College Affordability and Access

    Education Insight: College Affordability and Access

    About This Episode

    Season 2. Episode 1.

    In this episode we learn about college affordability and access and gain a better understanding of student grants, loans and the billions that are available right now for students from all backgrounds to use for college. And, what’s being done to make the process easier to apply, and make college affordable and accessible for residents of our region.

    Our guests include Catalina Cifuentes; an expert in College and Career Readiness, for Riverside County’s Office of Education, and the Chair of the California Student Aid Commission. And, ET Winzer, Director of Strategic Outreach and Engagement at Federal Student Aid–an Office of the U.S. Department of Education.

     

    Featured Guests

    ET Winzer

    Director and Strategic Outreach and Engagement at Federal Student Aid (FSA), and Office of the U.S. Department of Education.

    Director, Strategic Outreach and Engagement at Federal Student Aid (FSA), an Office of the U.S. Department of Education

    Collaborates across Federal Student Aid, the US Department of Education, other federal agencies, and with industry experts to develop and execute innovative solutions. Develops partnerships and initiatives to equip students and families with the tools to make sensible post-secondary education decisions. Identifies business and industry best practices to improve Federal Student Aid performance. Utilizes relationships with stakeholders and organizations in the education space to improve student success.

    Catalina Cifuentes

    Executive Director, College and Career Readiness, Riverside County Office of Education.

    Catalina Cifuentes is an educator who has demonstrated a gift for counseling and advocacy on behalf of all students. 

    In her former position as lead counselor at Santiago High School, Corona- Norco Unified School District, Catalina worked with the counseling team to design a successful guidance program which led to Riverside County as well as California Department of Education recognitions for exemplary counseling practices. She worked with her administrative team and staff to transform the school by raising the academic rigor and expectations from students resulting in the highest graduation rate and second highest A-G completion rate in Riverside, Inyo, Mono and San Bernardino County.

    Catalina now shares those best counseling practices across Riverside County as the Executive Director of College and Career Readiness in the Riverside County Office of Education. Catalina focuses her work on the Riverside County Office of Education’s Pledge: “All students will graduate from high school well prepared for college or the workforce.” She is also a former secondary Language Arts teacher and has extensive experience working with English Learner programs.

    She was selected in November 2014 as a speaker for the College Opportunity White House Convening- Strengthening School Counseling and College Advising.  As a former Advancement Via Individual Determination student and first-generation college graduate, Catalina has a passion for this work and it is contagious.

    Interview Highlights

    3:17 – ET explains what FAFSA is and how it pertains to student aid.

    5:22 – ET shares some ways they are simplifying and modernizing the FAFSA programs in order to make it more accessible and beneficial to students and their families.

    7:08 – ET explains how the federal student aid office determines who is eligible for financial assistance.

    13:42 – ET details recent laws that have been implemented that are designed to simplify the application process

    15:23 – ET gives advice to students who are considering taking out a loan to pay for their education

    21:52 – Catalina explains the impacts of Governor Newsom’s recent signing of legislation to approve college affordability and increase access to higher education

    27:42 – Catalina gives insight to areas we need the most improvement on

    31:31 – Catalina details how many students in the Inland Empire actually complete the FAFSA

    35:11 – Catalina shares what we can do in the Inland Empire to increase FAFSA completion rates

    37:07 – Catalina reflects on how many students think college is simply out of reach financially.

    40:50 – Special Feature: Angel Rodriguez

    View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/

    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.

  • Education Insight: The Value of a College Degree

    Education Insight: The Value of a College Degree

    About This Episode

    Season 1. Episode 8.

    So many people are asking what the value of higher education is right now. Is it worth it? What can you expect to make as a result? How much will it cost? How long until it pays off?

    In this episode, we sit down with the Chancellor of the University of California, Riverside, Dr. Kim Wilcox, to hear his thoughts. Plus, we meet Dr. Yvonne Olivares, who recently completed a study of Inland Empire high school students to determine their perceived value of a college education today.

     

    Featured Guests

    Dr. Kim Wilcox

    Chancellor, University of California Riverside

    Kim A. Wilcox was appointed as UC Riverside’s ninth chancellor in August 2013.

    During his time at Riverside he has spurred a new era of growth, embarking on the expansion of the faculty and development of new facilities for research, teaching, and public service.

    Wilcox is a long-time national advocate for increased access to quality higher education and for the particular role public universities play in the U.S. Under his leadership, UC Riverside became a charter member of the University Innovation Alliance, a collaboration of major public research universities in America seeking to improve student graduation rates and outcomes across all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.

    Wilcox began his academic career on the faculty at the University of Missouri. He then spent 14 years on the faculty of the University of Kansas, including 10 as Chair of the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing. Immediately prior to coming to UCR, Wilcox served as provost at Michigan State University from 2005 to 2013.

    He has published extensively in the area of developmental speech acoustics and has directed teaching, research, and service projects funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education.

    A first-generation college-going student, Wilcox matriculated at Michigan State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in audiology and speech sciences. He also holds master’s and doctoral degrees in speech and hearing sciences from Purdue University.

    Dr. Yvonne Olivares

    Research Scientist & Methodologist, S4DDS

    Applied sociologist & methodologist with 15+ years’ experience in private, public (K-12, CC, 4-year colleges) and nonprofit sectors specializing in (a) designing research that goes beyond the symptoms to identifying root causes and solutions and (b) data storytelling.

    Interview Highlights

    1:40 – Yvonne describes the recent study she helped conduct, who commissioned it, the participants, and what it was all about.

    3:31 – Yvonne explains what types of value the teenagers in the study saw in education.

    7:50 – Yvonne shares what she learned about who or what influences their perceived value of college

    10:19 – Yvonne details commonalities between IE students’ college aspirations and what they imagined their futures to be like.

    15:13 – Yvonne reflects on her understanding of why the students were looking at colleges elsewhere as opposed to the Inland Empire.

    17:47 – Yvonne shares what surprised her the most about what she found over all of the information gathered in this research study

    22:23 – Kim shares his thoughts on whether or not the value of a post-secondary degree has changed over time.

    25:02 – Kim explains how earning a post-secondary degree promotes economic mobility for most people.

    29:26 – Kim gives insight into what can be done to assure that the return on education is equal for students across race and gender lines.

    31:43 – Kim talks about an appropriate time frame for evaluating the ultimate value received from one’s college degree.

    36:48 – Kim shares his opinions about corporate education programs and what impact they have on post-secondary value and attainment.

    38:19 – Kim tells us what he’s most excited to see in regards to the value of a college education this year and going forward in the IE.

    40:22 – Special Feature: A Thank You To Inspiring Teachers

    View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/

    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.

  • Education Insight: Supporting Inland Empire Adult Learners

    Education Insight: Supporting Inland Empire Adult Learners

    About This Episode

    Season 1. Episode 7.

    Over 24-percent of Inland empire adults have gone to college and dropped/stopped out, sometimes shortly before graduation. In this episode we speak with two people in the Inland Empire leading the charge to get those adults with some college back to finish. And, we hear from a determined mother who shares her journey of returning to complete her education for a very special reason.

     

    Featured Guests

    Dr. Emma Diaz

    Director, California Adult Education Program, Inland Adult Education Consortium, San Bernardino Community College District

    Emma Diaz has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of healthcare and education. She is currently the Director for the Inland Adult Education Consortium at San Bernardino Valley College, where she manages the implementation of the California Adult Education Program (CAEP) legislation. As Director she has played a leadership role in creating and expanding educational programs across the region for underserved, often marginalized populations in adult education.

    Emma participates regularly on state level advisory groups, presents at regional, state and national conferences, and is an international lecturer. She strategically positioned the Inland Adult Education Consortium as the professional development center for the Inland Empire, partnering with both state and national organizations. Most recently hosting the 2nd Annual Google Summit for Adult Education.

    In addition to her current role as Consortium Director, she teaches for both credit and noncredit programs at multiple community colleges. She is currently a Board Member of the Association of Continuing and Community Education and is on the Basic Skills and Noncredit Committee for the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. She earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California, holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and a bachelor’s in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge.

    Annette Webb, M.Ed.

    Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, University of California-Riverside

    Annette Webb, M.Ed., is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of California Riverside, University Extension. In her role, Annette upholds University Extension’s preeminent status in the professional, online, and continuing studies realm by evaluating and successfully responding to the educational needs of non-traditional learners, both domestic and international. She provides leadership in curricular and instructional areas, strategic planning, partnership engagement, student success, academic quality, and financial management.

    Annette is a product of the California Master Plan for Higher Education, beginning her educational journey at Crafton Hills Community College then transferring to California State University, San Bernardino to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She went on to complete a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on Higher Education Leadership and Policy from UC Riverside.

    She is a member of Growing Inland Achievement’s Returning Adult Action Network Team and she is the inaugural Co-Chair and Staff Representative for the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women at UCR. Annette is a proponent for life-long learning and is a higher education professional who represents excellence, accountability, integrity, and respect.

    Interview Highlights

    3:35 – Emma Diaz describes the California Adult Education Consortium and how it supports adult education in the Inland Region.

    13:29 – Emma shares some of the top reasons students drop out of college.

    18:45 – Emma explains how Inland Empire colleges and universities are doing at accommodating the education goals and learning styles of returning adult students.

    24:29 – Emma tells students where they should begin if they are interested in going back to school.

    27:48 – Annette describes what the UCR Extension program is and how it supports adult education.

    31:27 – Annette shares what degrees have been the most desirable among the returning adult learners.

    36:48– Annette explains how the process of previous college credits and courses works for students returning to school 10+ years later.

    39:22 – Annette gives listeners tips on how to deal with the fear and anxiety about going back to school.

    40:46 – Annette tells students where they should begin if they are interested in going back to school.

    42:31 – Special Guest Feature: The Success Story of Linda Awad

     

    View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/

    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.

  • Education Insight: The Importance of Family Engagement in Student Learning & Success

    Education Insight: The Importance of Family Engagement in Student Learning & Success

    About This Episode

    Season 1. Episode 6.

     Over the past year and a half, millions of parents have learned just how hard it is to be a teacher as they’ve overseen their children’s at home and online learning. As a result, parents are more engaged with their child’s education than before the pandemic. But most parents still have some questions they need to be answered, and teachers and administrators have a number of things they wish parents knew. This week we’re digging deep to find those answers.

     

    Featured Guests

    Renae Ramsey

    Coordinator for Leadership, Innovation, and Outreach • Division of Educational Services, Riverside County Office of Education

    Emma Diaz has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of healthcare and education. She is currently the Director for the Inland Adult Education Consortium at San Bernardino Valley College, where she manages the implementation of the California Adult Education Program (CAEP) legislation. As Director she has played a leadership role in creating and expanding educational programs across the region for underserved, often marginalized populations in adult education.

    Emma participates regularly on state level advisory groups, presents at regional, state and national conferences, and is an international lecturer. She strategically positioned the Inland Adult Education Consortium as the professional development center for the Inland Empire, partnering with both state and national organizations. Most recently hosting the 2nd Annual Google Summit for Adult Education.

    In addition to her current role as Consortium Director, she teaches for both credit and noncredit programs at multiple community colleges. She is currently a Board Member of the Association of Continuing and Community Education and is on the Basic Skills and Noncredit Committee for the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. She earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California, holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and a bachelor’s in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge.

    Megan Silva

    Principal, Kendall-Harmon Elementary School

    Annette Webb, M.Ed., is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of California Riverside, University Extension. In her role, Annette upholds University Extension’s preeminent status in the professional, online, and continuing studies realm by evaluating and successfully responding to the educational needs of non-traditional learners, both domestic and international. She provides leadership in curricular and instructional areas, strategic planning, partnership engagement, student success, academic quality, and financial management.

    Annette is a product of the California Master Plan for Higher Education, beginning her educational journey at Crafton Hills Community College then transferring to California State University, San Bernardino to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She went on to complete a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on Higher Education Leadership and Policy from UC Riverside.

    She is a member of Growing Inland Achievement’s Returning Adult Action Network Team and she is the inaugural Co-Chair and Staff Representative for the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women at UCR. Annette is a proponent for life-long learning and is a higher education professional who represents excellence, accountability, integrity, and respect.

    Interview Highlights

    1:47 – Megan describes how important it is for parents to be involved in assignments and homework that their children bring home.

    3:15 – Megan gives advice for parents who are struggling to understand the material that their children are learning and they feel they can’t help with their children’s assignments.

    5:16 – Megan shares the biggest mistake parents unknowingly make when they’re trying to help their child succeed in school.

    7:59 – Megan explains practices by parents that might actually hinder their child’s success.

    10:06 – Megan gives parents/guardians 4 critical tips for young students this upcoming year.

    13:35 – Megan shares the absolute MUST items parents need to do to support their children’s success in school.

    15:00 – Megan describes what the optimal relationship between a parent and teacher should look like.

    17:41 – Renae explains what family engagement means in reference to education and why its so important to students.

    21:25 – Renae describes the relationship between parent involvement and student success.

    23:41 – Renae shares her biggest concerns for Inland Empire students and their families.

    27:23 – Renae tells parents how they can help to stop their child’s attendance issues and catch them early on.

    29:15 – Renae shares how parent engagement has changed in the past 18 months amid the pandemic.

    34:38 – Renae talks about screen time and cell phones; when the appropriate age might be, and how to regulate screen time. 

    44:15 Special Feature: Garretson Elementary School Teachers

    View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/

    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.

  • Education Insight: Diversifying the Teacher Workforce

    Education Insight: Diversifying the Teacher Workforce

    About This Episode

    Season 1. Episode 5.

    In this episode of Education Insight, we look at the success schools with a diverse teacher workforce are experiencing and why. And we learn more about a unique collaboration taking place in the Inland Empire to get more Black and Latinx male teachers in the pipeline. 

     

     

    Featured Guests

     Desiree Carver-Thomas

    Researcher and Policy Analyst on the Learning Policy Institute’s Educator Quality Team

    Emma Diaz has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of healthcare and education. She is currently the Director for the Inland Adult Education Consortium at San Bernardino Valley College, where she manages the implementation of the California Adult Education Program (CAEP) legislation. As Director she has played a leadership role in creating and expanding educational programs across the region for underserved, often marginalized populations in adult education.

    Emma participates regularly on state level advisory groups, presents at regional, state and national conferences, and is an international lecturer. She strategically positioned the Inland Adult Education Consortium as the professional development center for the Inland Empire, partnering with both state and national organizations. Most recently hosting the 2nd Annual Google Summit for Adult Education.

    In addition to her current role as Consortium Director, she teaches for both credit and noncredit programs at multiple community colleges. She is currently a Board Member of the Association of Continuing and Community Education and is on the Basic Skills and Noncredit Committee for the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. She earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California, holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and a bachelor’s in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge.

    Dr. Chinaka DomNwachukwu

    Dean of the College of Education at Cal State San Bernardino. 

    Annette Webb, M.Ed., is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of California Riverside, University Extension. In her role, Annette upholds University Extension’s preeminent status in the professional, online, and continuing studies realm by evaluating and successfully responding to the educational needs of non-traditional learners, both domestic and international. She provides leadership in curricular and instructional areas, strategic planning, partnership engagement, student success, academic quality, and financial management.

    Annette is a product of the California Master Plan for Higher Education, beginning her educational journey at Crafton Hills Community College then transferring to California State University, San Bernardino to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She went on to complete a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on Higher Education Leadership and Policy from UC Riverside.

    She is a member of Growing Inland Achievement’s Returning Adult Action Network Team and she is the inaugural Co-Chair and Staff Representative for the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women at UCR. Annette is a proponent for life-long learning and is a higher education professional who represents excellence, accountability, integrity, and respect.

    Interview Highlights

    2:26 – Desiree explains what the racial and ethnic diversity in the teacher workforce looks like today.

    3:23 – Desiree describes the current conditions when it comes to hiring a diverse workforce of teachers and breakdown the national teacher shortage issue.

    4:32 – Desiree shares the positive impacts that a diverse teacher workforce has on students.

    5:25 – Desiree talks about unique barriers that teachers of color run into when they enter the teaching profession.

    6:33 – Desiree shares strategies or practices that she’s heard of that are focused on bringing more teachers of color into the profession.

    8:33 – Desiree discusses how critical it is to retain teachers once they are hired.

    10:17 – Desiree talks about teacher preparation, challenging conditions, and school closures.

    13:26 – Desiree shares her thoughts on what educators in the IE should be doing if they want to see a more diversified teacher workforce.

    16:37 – Chinaka tells us about the college of education at CSUSB and his role in preparing a qualified teacher workforce.

    20:23 – Chinaka describes why it is critical for the Inland Empire to diversify the teacher workforce.

    23:32 – Chinaka shares a unique project he has been working on to help further diversify the teacher workforce.

    27:50 Chinaka talks about collaborators working on Project Impact.

    32:01 – Chinaka speaks on what he would really like to see happen both short-term and long-term as a result of the IE minority male teacher pipeline project.

    34:42 – Chinaka shares the key focus areas of this project and the work that has taken place so far.

    42:09 – Chinaka explains why this project should be replicated elsewhere.

    44:03 – Special Feature: Ann Marie Sakrekoff

    View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/

    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.