About This Episode
Season 2. Episode 6.
Technology-focused industries are popping up all over the Inland Region, and that begs the question, are students learning the skills they need for highly technical jobs that are right here in our own backyard? From grade schools to universities the response is notable. In the next Education Insight, we explore immersive media, virtual and augmentative reality, artificial intelligence, 3D modeling, and animatronics. We meet some people that are bringing all of that into local elementary schools and universities to make our kids truly competitive.
Featured Guests
Sarah Alfonso Emerson
Director of Creative Learning for Garner Holt Education Through Imagination.
Kevin McCarty was elected to the California State Assembly in 2014 to represent the 7th Assembly District, which includes Sacramento, West Sacramento and parts of unincorporated Sacramento County.
McCarty serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, which oversees the largest component of California’s multi-billion dollar budget. As Chair, McCarty made historic investments in public education including expanding access to preschool for low and middle income families, providing greater career technical education programs, and increasing student enrollment at our public colleges and universities.
Other legislative priorities for Assemblymember McCarty include addressing housing affordability, fighting climate change, championing criminal justice reform, curbing gun violence, tackling the opioid crisis and advocating for the middle class.
McCarty began his public service career as a Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commissioner and served on the Sacramento City Council from 2004 to 2014. As a Councilmember, he created innovative youth programs and wrote common-sense gun laws, tackled sub-standard rental housing, and crafted clean air policies. He created Sacramento’s Little Saigon district, the City’s Whistleblower Hotline program, and the Independent Auditor department.
A lifelong Sacramentan, McCarty went to local public schools, attended American River College, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from CSU Long Beach and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from CSU Sacramento.
McCarty and his wife live in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Sacramento with their twin daughters.
Like, follow and connect with Assemblymember McCarty on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @AsmKevinMcCarty
James Trotter
Assistant Director, Academic Technologies & Innovation.
Karen Scott is the Executive Director of the Children and Families Commission – First 5 San Bernardino, a funding organization of services for children prenatal through age 5, by investing revenue received from Prop 10, a tobacco tax initiative in California.
Ms. Scott’s education and background is in Public Administration and Administration of Justice and she has worked in the realm of Human Services for San Bernardino County since 1977. Karen has served as Executive Director of First 5 San Bernardino for 14 years leading the organization’s efforts to promote, support and enhance the health and early development of children, prenatal through age five through coordinated and comprehensive systems of care that strengthen children, families and communities, ensuring children are safe, healthy and ready to enter and succeed in school.
Karen is married to James Scott and has 4 adult children and 4 grandchildren.
Interview Highlights
5:19 – James shares why he believes it’s so important for students to be more immersed in learning technology right now.
13:09 – James describes the relationship today between learning and technology.
15:03 – James goes into detail about immersive technology and putting students into situations.
19:16 – James explains that the department of Academic Technologies & Innovation serves all departments on campus.
21:48 – James shares if he feels his department is in tune with the coming technology needs of the Inland Empire.
26:43 – Sarah gives insight into what inspired the Education Through Imagination program.
29:48 – Sarah elaborates on what the program does at various schools and districts.
33:43 – Sarah describes the custom-designed classroom that they call the Animakers space.
36:05 – Sarah discusses skillsets these students gain from this program.
37:23 – Sarah reflects on how important she believes technology education is right now and some of the benefits that come with it.
39:39 – Sarah shares what technology learning opportunities our local kids are getting that she’s most excited about.
47:54 – Special Feature: Journey Parrot
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.