Dr. Trudy Tuttle Arriaga is an education trailblazer who served as the first female superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District. She’s now on the faculty at California Lutheran University and has authored books on cultural proficiency and leading while female. She shares her insights on public education with Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, in this edition of Focus on Education.

Find out what it takes to start a career as a teacher and how the Ventura County Office of Education supports teachers on their educational journey. Dr. Joy Springer, a former teacher who is now our Director of Educator Support and Effectiveness, shares the rewards of teaching in this episode.

More info: www.vcoe.org/ese

Find out how multilingual learners are supported in the classroom, learn about Dual Language Immersion programs and why they are in such high demand. Plus, see how some local schools are bringing ethnic studies to the curriculum. Dr. Leticia Ramos, VCOE Director of Instructional Support Services, is this episode’s featured guest.

Today’s public libraries offer programs and services that go well beyond checking out books, and they’re important partners in the educational mission of local schools. Find out all about it as Library Director Nancy Schram sits down with Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools.

More Information:

www.library.venturacounty.gov/

After growing up in a low-income single-parent home in Port Hueneme, Kevin Brannon knew he wanted to help other kids who are struggling. He graduated from VCOE’s Gateway Community School and went on to found Reel Guppy Outdoors, which provides educational fishing programs for local students. Hear Kevin’s inspirational story as he sits down with Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools.

For students who get expelled from school or convicted of crimes, the path to a high school diploma can be a rocky one. VCOE’s Alternative Education schools are designed to help these kids move beyond the mistakes of their past toward a brighter future. VCOE’s Director of Alternative Education, Stefanie Rodriguez, joins Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, to tell us all about it.

More Information:

www.vcoe.org/alt-ed

Students in Ventura County are learning about their civic duty and how to be politically involved. The Ventura County Office of Education is providing new opportunities for students to understand how government works at all levels and how to get involved to make positive change in their communities. Learn more as Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, sits down with James Koenig, Director of Local District Support Services at VCOE.

Foster youth, students experiencing homelessness, and students from migrant families face a host of additional challenges on their educational journey. That’s why the Ventura County Office of Education has programs that give them additional support so they can succeed in school. Learn more as Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, sits down with Mike Winters, VCOE’s Director of Student Services.

More Information:

• www.vcoe.org/migrant
• www.vcoe.org/homeless
• www.vcoe.org/foster-youth