California School News Radio

3/24/22 Daylight Learning Time: Spring Break Camp in Baldwin Park

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.

3/10/22 All In The Family: Scholars and Humanitarians in Fontana Unified

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 bring equity to their communities. 

3/3/22 Exploring the Possibilities: Science Camp in Buena Park

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. 

2/24/22 On the Pathway to Success: Career Technical Education in Baldwin Park

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. 

2/17/22 Wearing the White Hat – Cyber Security in Whittier Union

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. 

2/10/22 Down on the Farm Lab: Regenerative Studies in El Monte Union

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.

1/27/22 Off to a Good Start: Early College Academy at Hacienda La Puente

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. 

1/27/22 Off to a Good Start: Early College Academy at Hacienda La Puente

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. 

1/20/22 Future Economies: Financial Literacy in Lynwood

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. 

1/12/22 It Must Have Been the Roses: Music Education in Bonita Unified

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.

1/6/22 New Beginnings: Transitional Kindergarten in Hacienda La Puente Unified

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. 

12/16/21 Ambassadors to the Community: Parent Mentor Program in Whittier Union

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. 

12/9/21 The Sky is the Limit – TV Production in Fontana Unified

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. 

12/2/21 Get Your Kicks on Route 66: Vintage Auto Restoration at Bonita Unified

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.

11/18/21 Fun and Games: A New Approach to Math in El Monte Union

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. 

11/11/21 Pipeline to a New Career: Adult Education in Whittier

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.

11/2/21 A Landscape of Learning: Video Production at El Monte Union

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. 

10/28/21 Breaking Barriers: C-STEM in Hacienda La Puente

Hacienda-La Puente Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Dr. Judy Fancher, Valinda School of Academics Principal Elizabeth Bermejo and Valinda School math teacher Wendy Wilson discuss the District’s implementation of C-STEM math instruction, its partnership with UC Davis and the enthusiastic student response to the new curriculum.

10/21/21 Different Paths, Same Destination: Student Board Representatives in Monrovia

Monrovia High School senior Alexia Holt and Mountain Park Independent Study School senior Brianna Campbell discuss being Monrovia Unified student Board of Education representatives, the differences between traditional and non-traditional study and their plans for college and career. 

10/7/21 The Future is Now: Entrepreneur Camp at Río Hondo College

Río Hondo College business professor Ivan Leon discusses Entrepreneur Camp Río, a two-week online summer camp for high school students that teaches students to hone their management skills and creative thinking abilities, with a chance to win cash prizes for the best business pitch. 

10/07/21 Community Building: Vaccination Clinics in Whittier Union

Whittier Union Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Monica Oviedo discusses the District’s weekly vaccination clinics, the benefits of partnering with an independent pharmacy, and communicating with neighboring school districts to ensure that the entire community has access to vaccinations. 

09/30/21 Without Borders: Art and Culture in Lynwood, Toronto and Istanbul

Lynwood High School teacher Luis Vega, Bishop Strachan School teacher Paul Toth and Robert College teacher Narciso Argüelles discuss the online art exhibit, Without Borders Without Fears, how art is a prism for interpreting current events, and the importance of art education and cross-cultural collaborations.

09/22/21 Fontana Unified School District: Board of Education Student Representative Miranda Ordoñez

09/16/21 Focus on Early Childhood Education: Cindy O'Neill, Rio Hondo College Child Development Center Director

06/24/21 Looking Forward: New Superintendent at Monrovia Unified

Monrovia Unified School District Incoming Superintendent Dr. Ryan Smith discusses the excitement and challenges of assuming the top administrative post in Monrovia, meeting with stakeholders, welcoming students back to campus, and continuing the District’s tradition of academic excellence.

06/17/21 On the Road to Sustainability: Clean Mobility in El Monte Union

El Monte Union High School District Facility and Energy Manager Lena Luna discusses the District’s $9.8 million California Air Resources Board grant and the implementation of the Clean Mobility in Schools pilot program.  

06/04/21 Leveling the Playing Field: Digital Equity in Lynwood

Lynwood Unified Assistant Superintendent of Technology and Innovation Dr. Patrick Gittingriboongul discusses the District effort to provide digital equity to the Lynwood community, which includes high-speed connectivity, technical support and strengthening technological skills.  

05/28/21 Celebrating Excellence: California Distinguished Schools in Whittier

La Serna High School Principal Griselda Castro and Pioneer High School Principal Lilia Bozigian discuss the Whittier Union High School District school’s designations at 2021 California Distinguished Schools.  

05/20/21 Determined to Succeed: AVID Scholarships in Fontana

Fontana High School seniors Fatima Kamara and Michelle Navarrete Vega discuss how Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) helped to prepare them for college, receiving scholarship opportunities, and the highlights of their senior year in high school.    

05/13/21 Listen and Learn: Psychology Club at Whittier Union

Santa Fe High School AP Psychology teacher Michele Jones and seniors Elizabeth Serna and Jessika Suos discuss the Santa Fe Psychology Club, providing safe spaces for students, reaching out to teachers and first responders and the importance of listening.    

05/06/21 Moving on: Forensics Speech and Debate at Rio Hondo College

Rio Hondo College forensics coordinator Grant Tovmasian and speech instructor Patricia Hughes discuss the school’s Speech and Debate Team, which has a transfer rate of more than 90% for students moving on to a four-year university, with students entering such schools as UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC and Concordia.    

04/29/21 Life Skills: Mechatronics and Cyber Security in Fontana

Summit High School career technical education teachers Bruce Tuttle and Marco Torres discuss the Fontana Unified school’s mechatronics class, ethical hacking pathway and CTE students who have advanced to the SkillsUSA national finals in June.    

04/22/21 Something’s Brewing: Fermentation Technology at Rio Hondo College

Rio Hondo College biotech professor Robert Bethel discusses the school’s Fermentation Technology course, which explores the science behind brewing beer with the goal of training the next generation of microbrewers.    

04/15/21The Future is Now: Inspiring Students in Buena Park

Buena Park School District Career Technical Education Coordinator Shelley Andros discusses encouraging students to pursue STEM careers as coders, engineers, and horticulturists, developing a drone program for middle school students, sustainable agriculture, and inclusivity in education.

04/08/21 Raising Spirits: Supporting Families in Fontana

Canyon Crest Elementary School Principal Dr. Kelly Wilbert joined with fifth-grade student Noah Walker and his mother Candis Walker to discuss a fundraising drive initiated by Noah that raised over $650 to pay for gift cards given to families in need during the Fontana Unified school’s weekly meal distribution.    

03/31/21 Enduring Legacies – Elderly Outreach in Baldwin Park

Sierra Vista High School NAMI Club adviser Melanie Graf and Kaiser Permanente EOP psychiatric social worker Ruth Padilla-King discuss the Intergenerational Pilot Project, a Baldwin Park Unified internship program where students provide comfort and open lines of communication with older adults through weekly phone calls.

03/25/21 A Level Playing Field – Equitable Education in Lynwood

Lynwood Unified Director of Equity Services Patricia Brent-Sanco discusses the academic benefits of allowing students to find their own voice, the importance of parent engagement, what part equity plays in the reopening of schools, and how the District has assisted families hit hard by the pandemic.

03/18/21 Leading the Way: Model Continuation School at Bonita Unified

Chaparral High School Principal Christine Black discusses the Bonita Unified school’s designation as a 2021 Model Continuation School, the importance of providing social-emotional learning to its students, preparing students for college and career, and Chaparral’s annual Thanksgiving Olympics and holiday meal.

03/11/21 Care Bears: Hugs and Comfort in Fontana Unified

Eduardo Valencia, a counselor for Redwood and Primrose elementary schools in the Fontana Unified School District, discusses an outreach effort that provided teddy bears and care packages to every Redwood student, and the importance of school districts providing social-emotional support to students and families.

03/04/21 Medals of Honor: Academic Decathlon in Whittier Union

Whittier High School economics teacher Kele Perkins and Santa Fe High School English teacher Annette Snow discuss the 2021 LACOE Academic Decathlon, where the Whittier and Santa Fe teams finished first and second in Division III, and the challenges of preparing for an online tournament.

02/25/21 Compassion and Caring: Student Well-Being in Whittier

California High School Assistant Principal Shana Jones and Counselor Rosanne Atilano discuss Cal Cares, the Whittier Union school’s program to support the socio-emotional well-being of its students through the distribution of care packages filled with positive messaging, school supplies and mental health resources.

02/18/21 Launch Pad to Success: Dual Enrollment in El Monte Union

El Monte Union High School District Director of Curriculum and Instruction Hillary Wolfe discusses the District’s commitment to college dual enrollment, new partnerships with Pasadena City College and Los Angeles Trade Tech College, and the future of career technical education.  

02/11/21 Coding for the Future: AP Computer Science in Fontana

A.B. Miller High School AP computer science teacher Jay Windley and Summit High School STEM coordinator Jaime Perez discuss Fontana Unified’s Advanced Placement program, equity in education, and the importance of females and other underrepresented groups enrolling in AP computer science courses.

02/04/21 The Future of Gaming: App Design in Monrovia Unified

Monrovia High School CTE teacher Anthony Carlson and senior Charlie Heatherly discuss the student-created gaming app Red Dungeon, the school’s game development team Forge Interactive, the importance of inclusivity in game design, and the opportunities for students in the burgeoning game development field.

01/28/21 Making It Work: Holiday Choral Music in Baldwin Park

Sierra Vista High School Choral Director Suzanne Brookey and Sierra Vista Class of 2010 alumni and piano accompanist Kevin Phan discuss the challenges in putting together a virtual holiday choir performance, how students managed to record their parts at home, and the tradition of music at Baldwin Park Unified.

01/21/21Building a New Life: Perseverance and Leadership in Whittier Union

Whittier High School senior Ashley Perdomo discusses coming to the United States from El Salvador at 10 years old after her parents were granted political asylum, finding a second home at Whittier High, becoming an academic mentor, creating her own Instagram page for young women and following in the footsteps of her mother.

01/14/20 Crossed Paths: Art Education and Post-Secondary Success in Lynwood

Lynwood High School art teacher Luis Vega joins Class of 2007 graduate and Doña Ana Community College history professor Dr. Daniel Santana to discuss the Lynwood High art program, how art education prepares students for a range of career opportunities, and the importance of former students returning to school to share their success stories.

01/07/21 The Art of Communication: Reading Revolution in Fontana

Almond Elementary School principal Tim McCaffrey and library specialist Kayla Markoff discuss the Fontana Unified school’s commitment to literacy, the Almond mobile library, which brings books directly to the community, and the school’s Reading Revolution competition, which inspires students to become lifelong readers. 

01/07/21 The Art of Communication: Dual Language Immersion in Fontana

Redwood Elementary School principal Eduardo Gomez and Teacher on Special Assignment Isela Ortega discuss the Fontana Unified school’s Spanish dual-language immersion program, the benefits of using a 90/10 Spanish/English model for incoming kindergarten students and importance of parent participation and leadership.

12/17/20 The Season of Giving: Student Tutoring in Lynwood

Lynwood High School senior Alexa Escamilla and Firebaugh High School senior Richard Reynoso discuss Lynwood Unified’s after-school tutoring program, which provides one-on-one tutoring assistance to elementary, middle and high school students, the challenges of distance learning for students and their post-secondary education plans.