In this episode, our co-hosts Alyssa Silva and Alysha Paulino share 6 tips that can help you keep your mind sharp this summer to prepare you for the school year ahead. Listen in as they discuss strategies backed by experts to keep your brain focused and active during summer break.
Education Chat tells the stories of students in the Inland Empire by cultivating meaningful discussions about lived experiences, successes, and opportunities for growth. Join GIA Interns Alysha Paulino and Alyssa Silva as they engage in candid conversations with students throughout the region. 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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
