California School News Radio

La Serna High School teacher and OASIS director Ken LaVigne discusses his new book, "Coach the Soul", a series of essays on the students, teachers and coaches that have had a profound impact on his life. After retiring as a football coach, LaVigne, a 2012 California State Teacher of the Year, created the OASIS program to help at-risk students regain their joy of learning. LaVigne discusses the process of authoring the book, the OASIS program and his most inspirational student.

Bonita Unified School District has seen steady increases in its math and English language arts test scores over the last four years, and is celebrating the recognition of 11 BUSD 2018 graduates as National AP Scholars. Superintendent Carl J. Coles discusses the Bonita Unified mission of equity, mastery and focus on results, the District’s wide variety of career technical education opportunities, and the importance of student collaboration and camaraderie.

Rio Hondo College recently staged their tenth performance of “The Nutcracker,” an annual fundraiser that combines the efforts of Rio Hondo dance students and students from several local schools and dance programs, many of them led by Rio Hondo alumni. Rio Hondo Director of Dance Dr. Alyson Cartagena discusses what makes “The Nutcracker” a special event for the community, and the newly-instituted Rio Promise, which provides free tuition for two years to qualifying students.

Wild Rose Elementary, a community fixture in the Monrovia Unified School District since 1921, was recently renamed the Wild Rose School of Creative Arts. Principal Dr. Leslie Miller and Intervention Specialist Sharon Naugle discuss the school’s commitment to integrating VAPA into the school’s core curriculum, the Center Theater Group grant for Disney Musicals in Schools, and Wild Rose’s new Spanish language dual immersion program.

Dr. Robert LewisEl Monte City School District Nutrition Services Chief Dr. Robert Lewis was recognized as 2018 Director of the Year by California School Nutrition Association for enacting programs to fight childhood obesity. Dr. Lewis discusses healthy eating, working with local vendors, listening to the advice of students and his lifelong passion in the field of child nutrition.

El Monte Union High School District’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction Hillary Wolfe discusses the growth of Career Technical Education in the district this year and what is to come in 2019. Wolfe discusses the District’s upcoming CTE Fair, introducing El Monte students to local businesses and entrepreneurs, and introducing students to the realities of financial planning.

Football fever has returned to Fontana Unified School District. Henry J. Kaiser High School defeated Rialto Eisenhower 48-40 in a CIF State Division 3-A semi-final game to advance to their first state championship game. Kaiser Principal Terry Abernathy discusses the team’s “We Not Me” philosophy, the heroics of star running back Christian Hunter, and the grand tradition of Fontana football and what their success means for the community.

Southridge Middle School in the Fontana Unified School District was named a Microsoft Showcase School in August, just one of 40 schools in the United States to receive this honor. Southridge Principal Dr. Roy Rogers, math teacher and Microsoft Innovation Educator Elsbeth Seymour and eighth-grader Sebastian Castro discuss the school’s commitment to technology in the classroom, professional development and the school’s first Digital Footprint showcase.

Van Wig Elementary School Principal Andrew Candelaria learned to play drums at an early age and has long recognized the value of using music as a teaching aid. In September, Candelaria started an after school drum class, and he discusses the positive effects on his Bassett Unified students, along with the expanding role of computers in the classroom, PBIS, and his desire to give back to the local community.

Durfee School teacher Cynthia Diaz helped launch El Monte City School District’s robotics program in January, and the results have been exceptional, with 80 students from El Monte City’s GATE program currently enrolled, and plans to double the number of teams in the next year. Diaz, El Monte City’s lead GATE teacher, discusses the robotics program, and is joined by Durfee School seventh-grader Oscar Vasquez.

Pioneer High School math teacher and education tech lead Lisa Ceja was recently accepted into Google for Education’s prestigious Certified Innovator Program. Ceja talks about meeting her fellow educators during a three-day Innovation Academy held at the Google Campus in Venice, California; working with experienced teachers in the Whittier Union High School District to bring technological solutions into the classroom, and how technology in the classroom has evolved in her 25 years as an educator.

Fontana Unified School District school counselor Julie Bello was recently recognized as a 2018 Educator of the Year by 52nd District Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez, largely for her success in bringing modern technology into her elementary school classrooms – including using mini-robots to teach students leadership skills and instill college and career readiness. Bello discusses how over 20 years of experience has shaped her curriculum, and the student leaders who help teach her class.

Dr. Patricia Brent-Sanco, Lynwood Unified’s Equity Services Director, is inspiring underserved students and their families while fostering equity and cultural proficiency throughout the community. Dr. Sanco discusses the District’s three-year plan in raising the bar of achievement for minority students, as well as the department’s high-level events and conferences that expose young people to new paths of success.

Baldwin Park Unified School District Director of Student Services William Avila. Baldwin Park Unified takes a proactive stance against bullying, using Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), socio-emotional learning components and peer role models to establish communication lines that lead to increased student achievement. Avila discusses the commitment of District personnel to combat bullying through outreach and a supportive environment.

Gabrielino High School Speech and Debate students Starlee Hoc, Brandon Du and Kenny Le. Gabrielino’s acclaimed Speech and Debate team has won 21 straight Southern California Debate League Championships, making the team one of the top Debate teams in the nation. On Election Day 2018, three Gabrielino students share their thoughts on the political process, the importance of voting and what they feel are the most compelling issues facing students today.

The Paramount High School Green Club has been serving the school and the community for 12 years, providing students an opportunity to experience the outdoors and take leadership roles in the restoration of the environment. Green Club adviser Daniel Hasheminejad and student members Christopher Shokunbi and Brian Rodriguez discuss recycling, community gardens and field trips to Bolsa Chica Wetlands and Yosemite National Park.

Rio Hondo College Police Academy Director Walter Allen III discusses the rigorous training process that awaits new recruits, the fearlessness of first responders, the influence the Police Academy has had throughout police departments across California, and how the academy has adapted to the changing needs of law enforcement.

Kenmore Elementary School in the Baldwin Park Unified School District is a California Distinguished School that recently received recognition as a 2018 America’s Best Urban School. Kenmore Principal Jane Sattari and sixth-grade teacher Jennifer Lopez discuss Thinking Maps and other instructional techniques, and what they love the most about their jobs.

Rio Hondo College Fire Academy Coordinator Tracy Rickman and Cadet Josh Morris discuss the school’s 50-year anniversary celebration, fire safety, the myriad challenges of preparing a Wildland firefighting force, and the special qualities needed to be a firefighter or EMT.

Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education School Senior Director Dr. John Kerr discusses the myriad ways the adult school provides services for the Baldwin Park community, the success stories of graduates and the generous support for adult school education by the BPUSD Board of Education.