California School News Radio
California School News Radio is a weekly podcast focused on education issues at public school districts hosted by Kevin Ausmus and Drew Schlosberg. Peruse our library of clips from past shows.
A Perfect Fit – Golden Bell Award Winning Thrift Store in Covina-Valley Unified
Released March 13, 2025
Covina High School math teachers and Interact Club advisors Jason Saleh and Sheri Prado join Covina High School senior and Interact Club president Gianna Herrera to discuss Colt Outfitters, a student-run thrift store which offers affordable access to clothing and school supplies and is staffed by students in Covina High’s Life Skills Education Advancement Program (LEAP). Colt Outfitters recently won a 2025 Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association (CSBA).
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Season 7 Podcasts
Listen to our older podcasts from this season:
| Date | Episode | Description | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 27, 2025 | Be the One – Exploring CalECSE’s Early Childhood Education Network | CalECSE Co-Executive Director Melanie Hertig, Northern California Program Specialist Carrie Rodrigues and Southern California Program Specialist Laura Clarke discuss the importance of providing early education for children with special needs, what families and school districts need to know to be compliant with California regulations, CalECSE online training seminars and other resources for early childhood providers, and the third annual CalECSE “Reaching New Heights” Symposium in October. | 1:01:48 |
| February 20, 2025 | Go CAT Go! – STEAM and Engineering Pathways in Whittier Union | Whittier High School’s Cardinal Academy of Technology (CAT) is a three-year STEAM pathway with a mission to inspire high school students to pursue careers in tech and engineering. CAT teachers Daniel Oliver and Steve Swanson are joined by Whittier High senior and CAT president Wendy Carcamo and Whittier High alum and current Cal Poly Pomona architect student Gershwin Mason to discuss what makes the pathway so fun for students, senior projects that include building a replica R2D2 droid and an electric guitar, and how CAT students acquired prestigious Gates and Edison scholarships during the 2023–24 school year. | 1:01:32 |
| February 13, 2025 | Brand New Day: Award-Winning School Spirit in Fontana Unified | Chaparral Academy of Technology (CAT) principal Tim McCaffrey and kindergarten teacher Shawna Corona discuss winning the Josten’s Renaissance Epic School Revamp contest, which netted the school a prize package worth up to $150,000 to rebrand the school and pay for campus improvements; CAT’s epic first day of school; the importance of incorporating technology into class lessons; and creating a nurturing environment that allows all students to excel. | 59:28 |
| January 30, 2025 | Winning Pitch: Bonita Unified Graduate Establishes Legacy in Women’s Soccer | San Dimas High School Class of 2021 graduate Ally Lemos has won championships at the state, college, and pro levels, all before turning 21 years old. On California School News Radio, Lemos discusses her career, how the pandemic inadvertently paved the way for her to play for her high school team, what female high school athletes should know about pursuing their college dreams, the future of women’s sports, and how she relaxes when not in league play or training. | 54:02 |
| January 23, 2025 | Band of Brothers: Establishing a Legacy of Excellence in El Monte Union | Since immigrating to El Monte from Mexico in the 1970’s as schoolchildren, Freddy and Bernie Arteaga have established a legacy of excellence at El Monte Union High School District, helping turn a struggling alternative school into a model continuation school. Now serving as principal and counselor of Fernando R. Ledesma High School, respectively, the Arteaga brothers discuss their journey from English learners to educators, and how their legacy has been preserved on campus with the naming of the Freddy and Bernie Arteaga & Frank Ogaz Center. | 1:05:34 |
| December 7, 2024 | The Future of Public Education Services? – Outcomes-Based Contracting in Lynwood | Lynwood Unified Asst. Superintendent of Technology & Innovation Dr. Patrick Gittisriboongul and Jasmine Walker, Director of District Engagement at the Center for Outcomes-Based Contracting (OBC) at the Southern Education Foundation discuss how OBC is poised to become the future of public education services, how OBC vendor contracts work, and how school districts can set up an OBC program. | 56:32 |
| November 21, 2024 | With a Song in Their Hearts – Choral Music in Bonita Unified | Bonita High School Director of Choral Music Ryan Yoder is joined by senior Reese Gonzales, senior Nathaniel Kisaka, and sophomore Erik Hernholm to discuss the school’s successful choral music program, which saw 21 students selected to the Southern California Vocal Association 2024 Honor Choirs. Yoder and his students discuss what brought them into choral music, the intricacies of performing in a choir, the camaraderie found at Choir Camp, and the honor of performing at Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional and other prestigious events. | 59:19 |
| November 6, 2024 | Education for the Greater Good – Social Emotional Learning in California | UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center Community Education Manager Dr. Margaret Golden and Greater Good Lead Facilitator Salina Mae Espinoza discuss the state of social-emotional learning (SEL) in California; how Greater Good provides workshops, resources and communities of practice for educators throughout the state; the need to provide SEL for both students and teachers; the role CalHOPE plays in supporting school districts and offices of education; and how mindfulness exercises can relieve stress and help keep teachers from burning out and leaving the profession. | 1:11:05 |
| October 29, 2024 | Preserving a Pioneer’s Legacy – Social Justice in Fontana Unified | Southridge Tech Middle School seventh-grader Cyrus Moss discusses the petition drive he initiated that led to the Fontana Unified Board of Education approving the renaming of Randall Pepper Elementary School to O’Day Short Elementary School, honoring the legacy of the pioneering African American family who originally owned the property. Joining Moss is his mother, Taneka Moss, and Dolores Huerta International Academy Spanish Dual Language Immersion teacher Ashley Silva. | 1:00:32 |
| October 23, 2024 | To Protect and Serve—Public Service Pathway in Hacienda La Puente Unified | La Puente High School public safety pathway instructor Toni Ramirez and La Puente High senior Nathan Tadeo discuss the school’s public safety pathway, what it takes to become a certified dispatcher, how to handle a crisis situation calmly, talking to classmates about domestic violence, and the importance of being able to communicate clearly and effectively. | 1:00:00 |
| October 2, 2024 | Silver Surfin’ U.S.A. – Students and Seniors Bond Over Tech Help in Bonita Unified | San Dimas High School senior Emily Moore and her grandmother Kris Mendolia discuss the Silver Surfers Tech Club, a service club devoted to student volunteers helping San Dimas-area senior citizens better understand modern technology, the cross-country road trip and tech glitch that inspired the formation of the club, and the special role music has played in bringing the pair closer together. | 57:02 |
| September 27, 2024 | Engineering a Brighter Future: Middle School Computer Science in Fontana | Wayne Ruble Middle School computer science and math teacher Zahra Razi discusses being named an Amazon Future Engineer Ambassador, her advocacy of computer science education in Fontana Unified and beyond, introducing computer science concepts to middle-schoolers, bridging the generation gap in technology, ensuring her students learn the ethics of computer coding, and the power of algorithms. | 56:34 |