Barriers to Bridges Dana Baron, Melissa Bako

In this episode we learn the story of how a paraeducator, Lisa Emfeld, grew up to become very passionate about helping students feel connected and able to learn social emotional skills.  She currently serves the Corona Norco Unified School District as a resource paraeducator, climate and culture site coach, and community building/restorative practice facilitator.  In this episode, Lisa describes her struggles with growing up and never feeling connected. She shares how this led her to the work she is so passionate about now: restorative circles, community building with staff and students, and building relationships.

In this episode we learn the story of how a teacher on special assignment, Dana Baron, grew up on what her friends would later call a farm in Norco. She joined the FFA in high school, was determined to finish college on her own and became a teacher. She lost her way and left the profession only to be drawn back in through working with kids while coaching cheer. She reflects on growing up with loved ones who struggled with addiction and finds her way back to teaching. This eventually led her to being a teacher on assignment in Science and STEM.

In this episode we sit down with Dr.Shelly Yarbrough. Shelly talks about how we need to think about a structure of multi-tiered support for not only ur students, but the adults in education as well. She was raised in many different places as she comes from a multi-cultural military family. These experiences lead her to be an empathetic leader for her school and community.

In this episode we learn the story of how a high school counselor, Josh Godinez, grew up to become an inclusive educator who developed into an advocate for school counselors and student mental health. He currently serves the Corona Norco Unified School District as a high school counselor and the California Association of School Conselors (CASC) as president. In this episode, Josh brings along a surprise guest, Alexis Goddard, a co-counselor and director in the CASC to talk about Student Mental Health Week May 10-14, 2021.

In this episode we learn the story of how Dr.Reggie Thompkins grew up experiencing poverty in the projects. Anger fueled his success, but it was sports and education that truly served as a restorative function in his life. He currently serves Corona Norco Unified School District as the Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Support.

In this episode we learn the story of how LeAnn Southward grew up in Corona with high expectations to succeed and a strong spiritual faith in God. She currently serves Corona Norco Unified School District as a Virtual High School History Teacher.