Growing Inland Achievement

Tag: Episode 4

  • Education Insight: Reviving Local Journalism in the Inland Empire: A Community Effort

    Education Insight: Reviving Local Journalism in the Inland Empire: A Community Effort

    About This Episode

    Season 4. Episode 5.

    As local newspapers and radio news reports continue to disappear across the U.S., many communities are finding themselves without access to crucial local information. This has led to what experts call “news deserts,” where citizens lack reliable access to local news. Some point to the Inland Empire as one of these growing news deserts.

    In our latest episode of Education Insight, we explore what it means to live in a news desert and why it matters for communities. Without local news, residents can become disconnected from their own communities, unaware of local propositions or the actions of elected officials. But there is hope on the horizon.

    We sat down with Dr. Thomas Corrigan, a professor of communication at Cal State San Bernardino and coordinator of the university’s Local Journalism Partnerships Initiative, to discuss the growing effort to bring back local journalism in the region and why it’s crucial for the future of community engagement. Tune in to hear Dr. Corrigan’s thoughts on the future of local news and the steps being taken to address the growing news desert in the Inland Empire.

    Featured Guest

    Dr. Thomas Corrigan

    Professor of Communication and Media Studies, California State University, San Bernardino

    Dr. Thomas F. Corrigan (or T.C.) is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). He teaches courses in Digital Media and Society, the Political Economy of Communication, and the Inland Empire News Ecosystem. His scholarship, which is published in academic and popular outlets, focuses on the nature and problems associated with commercial media systems. His recent research and writing examine what he calls the Inland Empire “news mirage” – a dynamic wherein I.E. communities seem to have more substantive, local news sources than they actually do. He also leads a CSUSB team that is working to build a local media coalition to support civic and community journalism in the region.

    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.

    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: Celebrating Local Educational Success

    Education Insight: Celebrating Local Educational Success

    About This Episode

    Season 3. Episode 4.

    Last month, a number of people in the Inland Empire were honored for extraordinary achievements in Inland Empire education. This week, we’d like you to meet a few of them. How does it feel to be recognized as the teacher or administrator of the year? What does an 8th-grade Fontana kid have to do to win the regional spelling bee and end up headed for the national competition? Plus, a look at the biggest STEM competition in the Inland Empire-where over a thousand science-loving kids converged to give it all they know for the Inland Empire Science Olympiad—all that and more on the next episode of Education Insight.

    Featured Guests

    Craig Petinak

    Director, Public Relations & Communications Services, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools.

    Craig Petinak is the Director of Public Relations and Communications Services at the Riverside County Office of Education where he leads an award-winning team of creative designers, communicators, and video producers. He serves as the “unofficial chief storyteller” for the transformational impact of education on the lives of individuals, the community, and society as a whole.

    Craig’s human-centered work blends the creative and strategic with the tactical and timely. From crisis communications and authoring press releases, to leading video productions and crafting internal newsletters, Craig also supports the school communications professionals within each of the county’s 23 districts to help them elevate their own schools, students, programs, and communications expertise.  

    Beth Schwandt

    Music Teacher, Lake Hills Elementary School in the Alvord Unified School District.

    “We’re up, UP WITH PEOPLE, we meet ‘em wherever we go. Up, UP WITH PEOPLE, they’re the best kind of folks we know. If MORE people were FOR people, all people everywhere, We’d have a lot less people to worry about and a lot more people who care!”

    I was in the 5th grade, at an Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, sitting in the audience of a UP WITH PEOPLE concert, and after hearing the harmonies, seeing the choreography, and experiencing the joy and the message, I knew I wanted to be a music teacher and a choir director. 

    My path was not direct, but after years of incorporating one period of the choir while I taught computer literacy or language arts, I finally became a full-time music teacher at the age of 53, and I wouldn’t trade one note of the journey along the way to realizing my dream! 

    My greatest contributions have been recruiting, training, and mentoring new music teachers at every level, and empowering them with curriculum, repertoire, pedagogy, and instruments. My greatest accomplishment has been building programs from the ground up; first, the Villegas Show Choir, next the Hillcrest Show Choir, and finally, the elementary music program. Exposing students to the arts through field trips, plays, concerts, workshops, and performances has instilled a rich passion and a life-long love for music in their hearts. 

    Jupharnoor Singh

    8th-grader, Heritage Intermediate, Etiwanda School District.

    My name is Jupharnoor Singh (Jup). I am 13 years old and in 8th grade from Heritage Intermediate in Etiwanda School District. This is my second year participating in the Spelling Bee. Last year (2022) I was the first person from my school to win the District Spelling Bee and got second place in the virtual San Bernardino County bee competition. This year I won the District Bee again and went on to win the SB county spelling bee which helped me secure a place in the National Competition in Washington DC from 30th May to 1st June.

    I speak 3 languages and got fluent in English in 2nd grade as my native language is Punjabi. In school, I always try to do my best and work hard to be an A + student. From 3rd grade onwards, I have been participating in the Battle of the Books (B.O.B) competition in which I secured good rankings every year.

    I love to play chess and basketball. I earned a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do when I was 9 years old. After the spelling bee, my goals for this year are to get selected into my high school basketball team, and finally write a short story and hopefully get it published.

    Karin Westerling

    Director, Inland Empire STEM Science Olympiad.

    Karin Westerling is a native-born Riversider. While earning a Ph.D. in biology at UC Irvine, she discovered that teaching was even more fun than bench science. A four-decade career teaching science to students in college, high school, and middle school followed. Now retired, Karin can’t quite quit the teaching bug. She is a water aerobics instructor and serves on the board of the So. Cal Tri-Counties Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and helps out with the Inland Empire Science Olympiad.

    Interview Highlights

    1:45 – Craig shares how it feels to be named the Classified Administrator of the Year.

    3:41 – Craig describes his work as the Director of Public Relations and Communication Services at Riverside County Office of Education.

    9:50 – Craig reflects on his proudest achievement in his position thus far.

    13:43 – Craig explains what he wishes people knew about Riverside County Schools.

    16:03 – Beth describes her role as a music teacher at Lake Hills Elementary School.

    17:43 – Beth shares the ways that music empowers students in that nothing else can.

    19:22 – Beth describes how music influences the academics of a student.

    22:01 – Beth talks about her greatest accomplishment.

    30:28 – Karin gives insight into how the Inland Empire Science Olympiad first got started.

    31:31 – Karin explains how many teams come to participate in this event

    46:45 – Karin shares why events like this cause a shift in kids’ passion for science here in the Inland Empire. 

    41:06 – Special Feature: Jupharnoor Singh, 8th-Grader, Heritage Intermediate, Etiwanda School District.

    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: Middle School-Where Planning your Future Begins

    Education Insight: Middle School-Where Planning your Future Begins

    About This Episode

    Season 2. Episode 4.

    An extraordinary number of television shows and movies focus on the struggles of kids in middle school. The struggle is real for kids at an awkward age where decisions are often poorly made. The brain of kids between ages 10-14 is growing at an amazing rate, and experts agree that is when they need to begin to think about a career and college, often despite their indifference. So how do parents and educators get middle schoolers thinking about the future? In today’s program, we find answers to the tough questions: How to talk to kids, how to successfully get them to begin preparing for college or a successful career, and when they just need to focus on being a kid. Our guests today work through that with kids and families every day, in the Inland Empire.

    Featured Guests

    Carol Tsushima

    Administrator for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

    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

    Randall Olson

    Family Engagement Specialist at San Bernardino City Unified School District

    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

    3:02 – Randy shares why he believes attention to education for middle schoolers is so important

    4:10 – Randy describes the greatest areas of need for middle school students when it comes to their family engagement and education

    7:30 – Randy discusses how a parent who has never gone to college can prepare their child for higher education

    9:50 – Randy briefly summarizes the top 5 findings that are important for us to understand as it pertains to the value of family engagement

    14:30 – Randy explains what parents should do to help their kids make a tangible plan for college

    18:14 – Randy gives advice to parents who would prefer to give their kids the college talk in high school as opposed to in middle school

    27:37 – Carol shares her opinion on the most important things a child must be learning or gaining during middle school

    28:55 – Carol describes the top 3 things that a middle school student needs to consider regarding moving from K-12 to college or a career

    32:29 – Carol explains what issues are easier to address in middle school as opposed to later on in high school

    37:54 – Carol gives insight into how students should go about creating a six-year plan

    39:50 – Carol discusses what a “growth mindset” is

    44:10 – Carol shares the courses that are most important for middle schoolers to hone in on during the crucial learning period of 7th and 8th grade

    45:39 – Special Feature Original Song: Love Theme by: Victoria Romano

    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: Multimillion Grants and their Impact on IE Education and Student Success

    Education Insight: Multimillion Grants and their Impact on IE Education and Student Success

    About This Episode

    Season 1. Episode 4.

    In this episode, we discuss what kinds of change can be created in local education with million-dollar gifts. More specifically, we’ll hear what Chaffey College plans to do with the $25 million gift they recently received from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. And, we’ll learn about the change that has been created with the late Jack Brown gift of $10 million to Cal State San Bernardino 5 years ago. We’ll also speak to the new chancellor of the San Bernardino community college district, Diana Z Rodriguez, about her plans and vision as she enters this new position.

     

     

    Featured Guests

    Dr. Henry Shannon

    Superintendent & President of Chaffey College.

    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.

    Julie Nichols

    Interim Associate Vice President for Philanthropic Giving.

    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

    2:37 Dr. Shannon describes Chaffey College.

    5:13 Dr. Shannon shares how the $25 million gift came as a surprise.

    9:37 Dr. Shannon tells us why he believes MacKenzie Scott and her team chose Chaffey College to be a recipient.

    13:29 Dr. Shannon explains how much good he believes the $25 million grant can really do.

    18:06 Dr. Shannon shares what problems the campus was already facing that this money could help to resolve.

    21:21 Dr. Shannon answers how the campus is preparing to spend the money.

    22:36 Dr. Shannon shares a personal message for MacKenzie Scott.

    26:01 Julie shares the history that took place 5 years ago when CSUSB first got the news they would be receiving a large gift.

    28:43 Julie discusses what restrictions came with the $10 million gift.

    33:13 Julie looks back on what the campus hoped the money would do for them.

    34:03 Julie shares the most significant enhancement caused by the Jack H. Brown gift.

    35:49 Special Feature: Diana Z. 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.