News
UC Riverside partnering with Coachella Valley Unified School District to tackle teacher shortage
With more schools suffering from a shortage of educators, working as a teacher isn’t the draw it used to be.
Students like Liliana Marcelo, however, are trying to change that and change their communities.
“I want to go back to CVUSD (Coachella Valley Unified School District),” she said. “That’s where I grew up. So, I want to become a teacher there and serve the students in my community.”
Marcelo is one of six students enrolled in the University of California, Riverside’s new teacher education program known as STEP — or Supporting Teacher Education through Partnerships.
Students in the STEP program study at UC Riverside’s Palm Desert campus and collaborate with the Coachella Valley Unified School District. The goal: educate future teachers who are connected to the areas where they’ll be working.
“What we are trying to do is to ensure that we create critical thinkers who are part of the community and who will stay in the community,” said Frances Valdovinos, Ed.D., UCR’s assistant dean and director of teacher education.
From large class sizes to low pay, Valdovinos and other educational leaders say there are several reasons for this teacher shortage.
“It’s not enough to pay the bills. It’s not enough to pay off student debt. And it’s not enough to be able to afford to live in the community that you teach in,” said Leslie Littman, vice president of the California Teachers Association.
Littman says during the 2021-2022 school year, the average salary for beginning teachers in California was between $47,000 and $55,000 depending on districts.
“I’m hoping we’ll turn things around,” she said. “I think we need to make the investment in our future and that future is always our students.”
At the UCR Palm Desert campus, Marcelo and her STEP co-eds are preparing to graduate with their teaching credentials in June and start working next school year in the communities that they call home.
“It’s a very full circle moment to be able to go back to the district where I grew up and become a teacher there,” she said.
This story was written and reported by Kai Beech.
By: Pristine Villarreal
December 12, 2023
Latest Instagram Posts
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry! Two weeks until Thanksgiving. What are your plans?
Where do you stand on how cities should handle public notification for neighborhood changes? #therogginreport #laquinta #localnews #explore #nbcpalmsprings
We have all the coverage on today’s Veterans Day Parade in Palm Springs on nbcpalmsprings.com. #nbcpalmsprings #veteransday #fyp #veterans #usa
80 years later, their stories still matter. These remarkable World War II Veterans were featured in our Emmy-winning special report, “80 Years Later: The Coachella Valley’s WWII Legacy.” As a small thank you for sharing their stories, we surprised them with the Emmy. It was an honor to recognize these heroes, all over 100 years old, for their service and sacrifice. To them, and to all who have served, Happy Veteran’s Day.
Chef Richard Blais sets out to cook what he loves to eat. From fast food to working in Michelin star restaurants, he creates traditional dishes with his own unique twist. He’s taken that same approach with his new book: Sauce Life. The book combines his culinary journey with over 70 sauces that range from simple yet delicious to complex crowd pleasers. Signed Copies of Sauce Life are available now at @kestrelkitchenindianwells inside the Indian Wells Golf Resort.
So, Madonna in the Dance Tent… were you expecting that? And who else on this lineup has your attention? 👀 #Coachella2027 #Coachella #Indio #coachellavalley
Who has the BEST cell service in the Coachella Valley? 👀 Which carrier do YOU use, and how’s your service?👇 #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #fyp #nbcpalmsprings
Breakfast for just $1 while helping local families this holiday season! Starting Thursday, Spencer’s Restaurant in Palm Springs is offering ANY breakfast menu item for just $1, with proceeds benefiting DAP Health’s Winter Fest. The annual effort provides food, blankets and toys to families in need across the eastern Coachella Valley. Want to give a little more? The restaurant’s owner will match additional donations up to $10,000! The deal runs from 7:30–10 a.m. through November 22. Reservations are required through OpenTable. Would you take advantage of a $1 breakfast to support a great local cause? #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #DAPHealth #SpencersRestaurant #WinterFest #SupportLocal
☕️Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. Are you a veteran?
Firefighters, furry friends and a great cause! Palm Springs Life magazine has teamed up with the Palm Springs Fire Department and Animal Samaritans for a new charity calendar featuring local firefighters and adorable adoptable animals. Calendars are $20, with a portion of sales benefiting the Animal Samaritans Rescue Fund and the restoration of El Diablo, a historic 1931 American fire engine. It's a great way to support two local organizations while bringing a little extra cuteness to your wall! #PalmSprings #AnimalSamaritans #PalmSpringsFireDepartment #AdoptDontShop #CoachellaValley #NBCPalmSprings