California School News Radio

Baldwin Park Unified Senior Director of Adult and Community Education Dr. John Kerr is retiring after a distinguished career at the District that spanned 39 years. Kerr discusses the changing nature of adult education, the value of providing personalized student services, the importance of a well-trained staff and District partners, and the joy of serving the community he grew up in.

Rio Hondo College’s RioSource Room serves as a campus food pantry and resource hub, helping students struggling with food insecurity and homelessness. Rio Hondo Director of Student Life Shaina Phillips discusses the changing nature of student services in the 21st century and partnering with local organizations for food donations.

Buena Park School District’s Kid Connection offers child development and early learning options that include two field trips a week throughout the summer. Corey School Kid Connection lead teacher Merilee Perini discusses why the program remains popular after more than 30 years and the social and educational benefits of field trips.

La Verne Heights Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Lauren Barnes and Bonita High School junior Spencer Gardner were among the celebrants as students and alumni recently dug up a time capsule buried at the Bonita Unified campus in 1994. Barnes and Gardner discuss what surprised them the most about the contents, what items should go in the next time capsule and the restoration of a historic oak tree slab in front of the school.

Turnaround Arts California President and co-founder Malissa Shriver discusses partnering with renowned architect Frank Gehry to create an arts education advocacy organization, the importance of arts integration in classrooms, how art therapy heals cognitive functions of the brain, pairing celebrity influencers with regional arts organizations and making art a foundational part of school curriculum.

El Monte City School District Ed Tech Coordinator Jessica Pardini discusses the District’s inaugural Tech Fair, the rollout of Lego Robotics curriculum, training students to become tech leaders in the classroom through Generation YES and the coalition of district personnel, administrators, faculty, tech specialists and community volunteers helping El Monte City students realize their potential in tech.

Warren Lane Academy of the Arts Music Director Claudia Zuniga discusses the Inglewood Unified school’s transition from TK-6 to TK-8, equitable access to music programs for every student, the value of building and maintaining a library of musical instruments and the importance of District partners in arts education.

Sunkist Elementary School Education Specialist Ryann Mora – Bassett Unified’s 2018-19 Teacher of the Year – helped coordinate the second annual Best of Bassett showcase in May. She discusses Mora’s Kids, students with disabilities who have a 100 percent high school graduation rate, and the thrill of watching her students become scholars.

Monrovia Unified celebrated its visual and performing arts program during Monrovia Days, a three-day annual festival. Director of Performing Arts Patrick Garcia discusses the importance of immersing students and their families in the arts, local partnerships with music and theater companies, and the District’s five-year plan to expand arts curriculum.

Buena Park Junior High STEM teacher Shelley Andros has helped develop a strong robotics and coding program, with beginning and advanced classes for all grade levels. Joined by Buena Park students Veronica Diaz and Edwin Martinez, Andros discusses project-based learning, funding challenges, hosting Robot Nation competitions and preparing students for the jobs of the future.

Buena Park School District Superintendent Dr. Ramon Miramontes discusses learning and literacy, the new Buena Park mission and vision, 1:1 iPad technology rollout, International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, Advanced Placement courses at Buena Park Junior High and the Disney Musical Elementary School program.

Inglewood Unified School District is restructuring four campuses into K-8 schools, with facilities upgrades that include new classrooms, playgrounds and libraries. Executive Director of Elementary Education Ugema Hosea James discusses the District commitment to STEAM curriculum, the benefits of community feedback and reflects on her 26 years as a District teacher and administrator.

Bonita Unified School District culinary arts students found the recipe for success during the 2019 California Restaurant Association ProStart Cup, winning awards and scholarships for their innovation, management and culinary skills. Bonita Unified teachers Nick and Laurie Brandler discuss what compelled them to leave jobs in the restaurant industry to become educators, and Bonita and San Dimas High students talk about the ProStart competition.

Kaiser High School senior Kelly Bouslaiby loves theater and has worked hard to perfect her craft. The Fontana Unified senior made a name for herself at the 2019 ESU National Shakespeare Competition in New York with a third-place finish and $500 cash prize. Bouslaiby discusses her first audition, her dream roles and the thrill of performing at the Lincoln Center.

El Monte Union’s inaugural Cooking Showdown was a huge success, with students from Mountain View, Rosemead and Arroyo high schools competing to see who could make the best gourmet dish. Culinary arts teachers Patricia Sahagun and Genevieve Wobrock join student chefs to discuss the fast-paced career technical education pathway.

In April, Pioneer High School senior Ana Cortez received $60,000 in scholarships from Southern California Edison and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. Cortez credits the college-prep program Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, for helping her to acquire the skills to pursue higher education. Pioneer High Principal Lilia Bozigian and AVID tutors Jennifer DeBaca Sandoval and Dyan Acevedo join Cortez to discuss the Whittier Union High School District school’s commitment to first-generation students and Pioneer’s designation as an AVID National Demonstration Site.

El Monte Union High School District’s South El Monte High School will provide a modern take on Shakespearian tragedy when it stages “The Punk Rock Story of Romeo and Juliet” on May 8-10. The production will feature a student band playing live punk rock music, and will challenge gender norms by casting a female in the role of Romeo. South El Monte drama teacher Nicole Wessel and members of the cast discuss the challenges of performing the Elizabethan-era drama.

04/23/19 West Covina Unified has established a TK-12 International Baccalaureate Continuum where families can enroll their child in one of three IB programs – Primary, Middle Years or Diploma – that will guide them on the path to being engaged, lifelong learners. Edgewood Schools Principal Dr. Roni Maddox discusses IB curriculum, Edgewood Diploma Candidates’ 100 percent acceptance rate into 4-year universities, and being an IB parent. Lifelong Learners in West Covina

Paramount High School held its annual Unity Day on March 30, a day of music, dance and straight talk on issues of importance for LGBT students. Paramount counselor and Unity Day co-founder Ariana Bates joins Paramount sophomore Eneles Vega to discuss the origins of Unity Day, the importance of providing resources for the LGBT community, standing up to bullies, and the joys of silent disco.

For nearly 15 years, Monrovia Unified School District has staged the Monrovia Elementary Olympics, a one-day track and field competition that features 150 fourth- and fifth-grade students from all five District elementary schools. Wild Rose School of Creative Arts teacher and event founder Dana Elliott joins Wild Rose students Joshua Menlove and Amirah Sorra to discuss school spirit and how physical education brings out the best in students.