Focus on Education

Find out how Amgen is providing equipment and training so high school science teachers can bring state-of-the-art biotechnology lessons to their classrooms in Ventura County and around the world. Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, interviews Oak Park High School biology teacher Winnie Sloan about this remarkable program.

Students bring courtroom drama to life at VCOE’s annual Mock Trial competition. Get the inside story on what makes this event so valuable for students and how it all comes together from Superior Court Judge Gilbert Romero.

Isaac Jean-Paul is an American Paralympic athlete who has won both silver and bronze in the long jump and is now striving to become the first-ever Paralympian to win gold at the LA28 Olympics Games. Isaac visited Ventura County to speak with students about mental health, confidence, and perseverance. In this episode of Focus on Education, he shares his inspirational story with our host, Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. 

Supporting students’ social and emotional well-being is a critical part of helping them succeed in school. In this episode, get strategies for strengthening your social-emotional “muscle” from author and educator Lori Woodley-Langendorff, the CEO and founder of All It Takes. She will be presenting a free social-emotional learning workshop in Camarillo on January 28, 2026, for educators and families to help us all create healthier relationships. Sign up at https://vcoe.link/SEL1-28-26

Take a tour of the new Welding & Testing Facility at the Ventura County Office of Education’s Career Education Center in Camarillo. It’s Ventura County’s first and only testing facility accredited by the American Welding Society, and the perfect place for high school students and adults to take courses that will prepare them for rewarding careers in welding.

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

Students and adults can get prepared for rewarding careers in healthcare, manufacturing, auto repair, welding and more at the Ventura County Office of Education’s Career Education Center in Camarillo. Find out how to launch your future career in this episode of Focus on Education.   Career Education Center Home Page Career Education Instagram CEC High School Programs  Career Training for Adults CEC Grants

Discover local resources for Ventura County families searching for childcare and preschool for young kids. Find out how the Ventura County Office of Education is working to increase access and affordability of early childhood programs. Join Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, as he interviews Alicia McFarland, the Director of Early Childhood Programs at VCOE.   Resources referenced:  Early Childhood Programs webpage  Transitional Kindergarten webpage  Teaching Stars Local Planning Council webpage Child Care Resource and Referral  My Child Care Plan

Today’s school libraries are more than places to check out books. Libraries and librarians play a key role in promoting literacy and helping kids navigate our confusing media landscape. Learn all about Ventura County’s school libraries from VCOE’s resident librarian Ashlee Nishiya.   Resources mentioned in this episode: VCOE Library Services VCOE Media Literacy Battle of the Books Batalla de los Libros  

If you’ve ever wondered about the role the Ventura County Office of Education plays in our school system, we’ve got you covered. In this second episode of the Focus on Education podcast, Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, and Communications Director Dave Schermer dive deep into the many ways VCOE supports local schools and students.

If you’ve ever wondered about the role the Ventura County Office of Education plays in our school system, we’ve got you covered. In the debut episode of the Focus on Education podcast, Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, and Communications Director Dave Schermer dive deep into the many ways VCOE supports local schools and students.

Welcome to the new Focus on Education Podcast from the Ventura County Office of Education. Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, is excited to announce this new way to connect our schools and community.