California School News Radio

Sierra Vista High School Class of 2019 graduate Diana Aguilar-Cruz and Sierra Vista English language development teacher Charlene Fried discuss the amazing journey that has seen Aguilar-Cruz go from a newly arrived English learner in 2015 to becoming a biology major at Cal Poly Pomona and being appointed as a Cal State University Student Trustee. 

Newly appointed Río Hondo College Superintendent/President Dr. Marilyn Flores discusses why community college is such an important educational resource, the role community college plays in supporting underrepresented students, the opportunities for middle and high school students to get a head start in higher education, conducting a listening tour to meet her new colleagues, and how school distric...

Río Hondo College English professor Dr. Angela Medina-Rhodes discusses the journey that took her from being a 17-year-old Río Hondo College student to preparing for her first term as RHC’s Academic Senate President, and her commitment to providing equity for students through Río Hondo College’s EOPS/CARE programs.

St. Anne’s Family Services President and CEO Lorna Little and Lynwood Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Shawna Dinkins discuss the District’s new Early Learning Center, Early Head Start and the importance of early childhood education. 

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Adult Education (HLPAE) CTE Director Micah Goins and his wife Crystal Goins, who recently graduated from the adult school’s cosmetology program, discuss the diversity of programs offered at HLPAE, the benefits and value of adult school education and how to make a successful career shift. 

Covina-Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer discusses the District partnership with Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence to bolster social-emotional learning through its renowned RULER program, which provides teachers with the skills and tools to recognize and understand the emotions of their students.

Sierra Vista High School visual arts teacher Jenna Guerrero and VAPA tutor Genesis Alvarado discuss the Baldwin Park Unified school’s TV Production CTE Pathway, the popularity of the student-produced “Sierra Vision” news program, and how the Strong Workforce Grant has enabled the school to bring back alumni as tutors. 

Mountain View High School Teacher Prep Academy co-directors Amy Minick and Mary Boutté discuss the Golden Bell Award-winning El Monte Union High School District three-year education pathway that focuses on developing teaching skills, providing an opportunity for students to tutor TK-6 students from a neighboring school district.  

California High School Class of 2016 graduate Alondra Saldivar discusses the benefits of participating in high school service clubs. Saldivar, a UCLA graduate who is currently studying law at the University of San Francisco, organized a group of Whittier Union alumni to serve as advisers for Cal High’s Interact Club, hoping to inspire the next generation of community service leaders. 

Baldwin Park Unified Senior Director of Support Services Noreen Iwai-ito and Think Together San Gabriel Valley Region General Manager Samira Mejia discuss the District’s upcoming spring break camp for K-5 students, the benefits of expanded learning, and creating afterschool curriculum that is fun and educational.

Henry J. Kaiser High School senior Amitoj Lobana, who will attend MIT in the fall, and his brother, Kaiser High School Class of 2019 graduate Jashandeep Lobana, currently a junior at Johns Hopkins University, discuss being first-generation college students encouraged by their parents and teachers to achieve at the highest levels, pursue humanitarian interests and work toward careers where they can...

Buena Park School District Chief Academic Officer Dr. Yvette Cantu discusses the District commitment to providing every middle school student an opportunity to experience outdoor overnight science camp, building social skills and discovering a love for learning, and the excitement of seeing students experience snow for the first time. 

Baldwin Park High School sports medicine teacher Mimi Cash and information technology instructor Carlos Renteria discuss the advantages of career technical education pathways, earning college credits and certifications in high school, career opportunities, and the joy of seeing students connect with the curriculum. 

Pioneer High School science teacher Victor Gonzalez, senior Emily Avalos and sophomore Johann Avalos discuss the school’s Cyber Security Club, participating in CyberPatriot competitions, the benefits of ethical hacking and pursuing careers in the field of cyber security. 

Arroyo High School senior Andrew Ramos, Eco Urban Gardens Executive Director Marianne Zaugg and Arroyo High School Farm Lab Manager Alan Melgoza-Calderon discuss the school’s ongoing Farm Lab project, sustainability and organic living in urban environments, and college and career opportunities in horticulture and environmental science.

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Executive Director of High Schools Dr. Mark Anderson and William Workman High School Principal Dr. Anna Corral discuss the Workman Early College Academy Network, a partnership with Mt. San Antonio College that allows students to earn transferable college credits while attending high school. 

Lynwood Unified Asst. Superintendent of Technology and Innovation Dr. Patrick Gittisriboongul discusses the importance of developing K-12 curriculum to address the emerging field of cryptocurrency and how it affects student understanding of financial literacy. 

Bonita Unified School District Band Director Kelly Leyva discusses participating in the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade as a member of the Saluting America’s Band Directors project, 30 years after she appeared in the parade as a high school student, and the joys of teaching music to middle and elementary school students.

Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Executive Director of Elementary Education Dr. Angela Lin and Sparks Elementary School teacher Dr. Dalila Menjivar discuss the benefits of transitional kindergarten, creating a supportive learning environment and the TK eligibility requirements for the 2022-23 school year. 

Whittier Union High School District Director of Federal & State Categorical Programs Francisco Meza and parents Artisia Alcazar and Claudia Hernandez discuss the District’s Parent Mentor Program, providing support to parents of English learners and increasing parent engagement. 

Almond Elementary School principal Tim McCaffrey, Almond Elementary fifth grader Kassandra Rodriguez, Summit High School TV Production teacher Artie Casas and Summit High senior Leigha Ortiz-Matney discuss the elementary school’s Pacer Production Studios afterschool program, which teaches students the basics of film and TV production, with help from Summit High TV Pro mentors. 

Bonita High School auto shop teacher Rob Zamboni, Bonita High sophomores Randy Gershman and Rylan Blancett, and La Verne Historical Society historian Bill Lemon discuss the challenges of restoring a vintage 1938 International pickup truck in time for the city of La Verne’s 2022 Fourth of July parade.

Arroyo High School Math Department Chair Patricia Espinoza and Cal Poly Pomona math professor Greisy Winiki-Landman discuss Mathematical Reasoning With Connections (MRWC), a fourth-year math class designed to prepare students for the expectations and rigor of college mathematics. 

Whittier Union Adult School Assistant Principal Juan Anzaldo and teacher Giovanni Masia discuss the school’s newly launched residential plumbing course, a 10-week course that prepares students to become apprentices and graduate with work-ready skills, and the positive impact of adult school education in the Whittier community.

Mountain View High School CTE teacher and El Monte Union 2021-22 Teacher of the Year John Mann joins Mountain View High Class of 2020 graduate Zaid Mendoza to discuss the school’s VISTA Academy video production pathway, state-of-the-art filmmaking equipment, and the importance of storytelling.