GIA Together

During the 2023 Toward a Shared Vision Summit, GIA welcomed a panel of local Inland Empire college students who fearlessly shared their firsthand experiences and insights regarding their education in the Inland Empire. Their candid feedback shed light on the strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement within the region’s educational landscape. Attendees were captivated by the students’ stories, which showcased both the triumphs and struggles they faced in their pursuit of higher education.

Dr. Louie Rodriguez, Interim Dean and Professor, UCR Graduate School of Education, talks about their FIERCE Scholars Program and the impact it will have on the teacher and educator workforce in the Inland Empire.

In this session titled "Recovering from Racial Inequities," listeners get tips and tools for practical application and facilitation of equity work in education from one of the nation's leading experts in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Shaun Harper

Provost Professor of Management and Organization; Clifford and Betty Allen Chair in Urban Leadership; USC Race and Equity Center Executive Director.

Part IV of the Building Better from Disruption webinar series. A virtual series designed to build upon lessons learned from districts’ responses to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on schools and school systems. This series is designed to provide education partners, particularly administrators and teacher leaders working at the school site level, with best practices and resources that support students’ successful return to in-person instruction. This five-part virtual series will focus on the essential areas of social-emotional learning, accelerated learning, and community partnerships. During each session, participants will have the opportunity to learn, connect, and interact with expert practitioners and session participants. Support for Building Better from Disruption provided by the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation.

About the Session

In this session, educators engage in educational equity work by taking a deep dive into concepts that support the development of an authentic commitment to redefining student success with an equity lens. Participants learn how to move from theory to practice through utilizing numerous tools for practical application and facilitation of equity work. Content focuses on mindsets and beliefs while creating a parallel between adaptive and technical work in the school system to interrupt inequitable practices and close equity gaps for marginalized student groups. Topics and outcomes include:

• Develop common language, define equity, diversity, and inclusion to guide the facilitation of conversations and the work
• Develop an understanding of research around the 4 indicators of equity to address instructional practices and academic achievement
• Develop an understanding of collecting, analyzing, and monitoring qualitative and quantitative data to drive equity work in the classroom
• Recognize and respond to the barriers to equity and cultural proficiency (i.e. history of public education, implicit bias, stereotypes, and institutional racism)
• Reflect on the role of educators in perpetuating or ending educational gaps
• Understand a system’s approach to interrupting patterns of inequities within the school system

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Nicole Anderson, Founder and CEO of Nicole Anderson and Associates Consulting LLC

This session was recorded on November 17, 2021, as part of the Building Better from Disruption webinar series presented by the Riverside County Office of Education, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, and Growing Inland Achievement.  

About the Session: 

Supporting the social-emotional needs of the adults in schools is necessary for student success.  In this webinar, teachers, school leaders, and district leaders will share best practices and strategies that have been implemented to strengthen the capacity of adults and provide the support needed for staff and student success.  

Panelists: 

• Yvonne Molles, President, San Bernardino County Teacher Association 
• Dr. Charles Fischer, Executive Director, Riverside County Office of Education 
• Adele Thomas, Director, Professional Development and Teacher Support, Fontana Unified School District 
• Robert Brough, Assistant Superintendent, Education Services, Perris Union High School District

This candid conversation looks at the current enrollment challenges facing the K-12 segment in the Inland Empire. Featuring Mariana Torres and Jorge Perez.

This candid conversation looks at the current enrollment challenges facing the 4-year university segment. Featured guests include Rachel Beech and Emily Engelschall.

This candid conversation looks at the current enrollment challenges facing the community college segment. Featured guests include Olivia Rosas and Matthew Morin.

This session was recorded on October 27, 2021, as part of the Building Better from Disruption webinar series presented by the Riverside County Office of Education, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, and Growing Inland Achievement.

About the Session
Listening and understanding the voice of students are essential aspects of social-emotional learning.  In this podcast, listeners will hear from school leaders that are implementing innovative strategies that capture and utilize the student voice to create positive and equitable learning environments.

Featured Panelists
Dr. Kimberly MacKinney, Assistant Superintendent, Oro Grande Unified School District
Dr. Henry Herreras, Principal, Excelsior Charter Schools (Corona-Norco)
Pat Schlosser, Assistant Superintendent, Apple Valley Unified School District
Mark Lenoir, Assistant Superintendent, Val Verde Unified School District

Building Better from Disruption is a virtual series designed to build upon lessons learned from districts’ responses to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on schools and school systems.  This series is designed to provide education partners, particularly administrators and teacher leaders working at the school site level, with best practices and resources that support students’ successful return to in-person instruction.  This five-part virtual series will focus on the essential areas of social-emotional learning, accelerated learning, and community partnerships.  During each session, participants will have the opportunity to learn, connect, and interact with expert practitioners and session participants. Support for Building Better from Disruption provided by the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation.