Recent Events

✨ A Milestone Moment for Community College Leadership! ✨

The Leadership Development Series: Community College Leadership Symposium proved to be an extraordinary gathering of leaders, innovators, and educators committed to strengthening the community college landscape. Hosted by the LFCE Collaborative at the University of La Verne, the event surpassed expectations and delivered a day filled with learning, connection, and renewed purpose.

From the Community College President Panel to dynamic conversations on innovation, stewardship, wellness, and sustainable leadership, every session brought meaningful insight and energy. A special appreciation goes to the outstanding panelists, featured presenters, and keynote speaker, whose message to “find our place, pace, and tribe” resonated deeply with everyone in attendance.

The symposium served as both a source of inspiration and a practical guide for the important leadership work taking place across community colleges each day. Engagement from participants played a vital role in shaping the event’s impact and will continue to inform future programming.

A heartfelt thank-you to all who contributed their time, expertise, and leadership. The LFCE Collaborative looks forward to continuing this partnership and welcoming the community back for another inspiring gathering next year!

The LFCE Collaborative recently hosted an engaging Transitional Kindergarten workshop for teachers from Roynon Elementary School and Gladstone Elementary School in the
Bonita Unified School District, led by Dr.
Cindy Giaimo-Ballard
and Professor
Liz Tomashefsky.The interactive session explored developmentally appropriate practices, how TK children learn best, ways to incorporate play and nature into classrooms, and strategies for aligning instruction with California’s Learning Foundations.It was a great event that brought valuable insights and collaboration for the districts.Thank you to all the dedicated educators who attended to make learning joyful and meaningful for our youngest students!

LFCE is proud to offer a virtual and affordable certificate program for California teachers, expanding access to high quality pre-kindergarten education. This program empowers educators with the opportunity to shape the earliest learning experiences, making a lasting difference in the lives of children as they prepare for kindergarten and beyond.

LaFetra College of Education
Collaborative was honored to host a community conversation to explore bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the East San Gabriel Valley.Participants from across the community came together to discuss the importance of early literacy, share success stories from nearby regions, and explore ways to collaborate in bringing this transformative program to local families. The conversation was filled with energy, passion, and a shared commitment to helping every child develop a lifelong love of reading.Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates lasting impact by providing free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, fostering strong literacy foundations and brighter futures. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who attended, contributed ideas, and shared their enthusiasm.Together, we are building a community where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

The
LaFetra College of Education
Collaborative proudly hosted “An Intimate Conversation with Dr. Juana Bordas,” a remarkable celebration of culture, leadership, and community.Dr. Bordas, an internationally recognized Latina leader, author, and visionary in multicultural leadership, inspired a full audience in the Sara and Michael Abraham Campus Center Ballrooms with her wisdom, warmth, and powerful storytelling. Her insights on The Power of Latino Leadership – ¡Ahora! invited participants to reflect deeply on cultural identity, collective leadership, and the role of community in shaping the future of education and equity.This special event featured vibrant and heartfelt performances by Pomona High School Ballet Folklórico and Westminster High School Ballet Folklórico, whose artistry beautifully set the tone for a morning of cultural pride and joy.Dr. Bordas’s engaging talk, a blend of history, leadership philosophy, and empowering stories, captivated attendees with music, dance, and connection. Guests also had the special opportunity to meet Dr. Bordas personally during a book signing of her latest award-winning title, The Power of Latino Leadership – ¡Ahora!, which was named #1 by Amazon for Hispanic Studies and honored with the International Latino Book Award for Best Leadership Book.

The LFCE Collaborative extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Bordas for sharing her time and wisdom, to our student performers for their inspiring artistry, and to everyone who attended and contributed to this memorable morning. A special thank-you to
Dr. Ursula Estrada-Reveles,
Dr. John (Pablo) Sanchez,
and the IE Chapter of CALSA for your support and partnership!

Together, we celebrated leadership that is inclusive, culturally grounded, and transformative, a true reflection of the values that guide the LaFetra College of Education community.

The
LaFetra College of Education
Collaborative recently hosted a powerful screening of Left Behind, a documentary that illuminates the challenges faced by children with dyslexia and the families and educators who support them. After recognizing the lack of resources available to children with dyslexia, filmmaker Anna Toomey directed Left Behind, an impactful film that continues to inspire meaningful conversations about advocacy, equity, and education.“It was an honor to screen the film for the
University of La Verne
and IDA of California. This film is so deeply personal to me, and my hope is that it can be seen far and wide so we can collectively make a difference in the lives of millions of children.” – Anna Toomey, DirectorWe were thrilled to welcome Anna Toomey, who joined us virtually from New York for a live Q&A session following the screening. Her insights added tremendous value as she shared updates about the families and children featured in the film and discussed her ongoing advocacy work. Anna Toomey encouraged attendees to join the Left Behind Impact Campaign, which is building a nationwide network of advocates working to create change in local schools.This special event also featured a panel discussion with Joan Sutter and Melanie Jones-Moreno, ULV Adjunct Faculty from our Dyslexia Teacher Training Program (DTTP) and Dyslexia Specialists at West Covina Unified School District; Dr. Madeleine Mejia from the International Dyslexia Association (IDA); and Tricia Xaviar, Vice President of IDA Los Angeles. Each shared personal experiences and reflections on the film’s themes.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, contributed, and helped make this gathering a space for learning, connection, and community building.

“It was such a powerful experience to be in community with educators, parents, and advocates for children with neurodiverse learning needs. Many participants are determined to bring the film to their own communities, driven by the urgent need for schools to equip all educators with the training and tools necessary to identify and support every child’s journey to literacy.”

–
Marga Madhuri
, Program Chair, Dyslexia Teaching Training Program and Board Member, International Dyslexia Association Los Angeles Branch

Special thanks to the Los Angeles Branch of the International Dyslexia Association for their partnership and continued dedication to raising awareness and supporting the dyslexia community.

Together, we continue to raise awareness and strengthen our shared commitment to inclusive education.

The University of La Verne is proud to champion dyslexia awareness and advocacy through our Dyslexia Teacher Training Program, a one-year practicum-based course grounded in the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach. This program equips educators with the tools and strategies needed to effectively support students with dyslexia.

This past fall, The Collaborative proudly supported La Verne’s LFCE Faculty through a dynamic series of teaching and learning workshops. The series highlighted cutting-edge educational practices, innovative instructional technologies, and strategies to enhance student engagement.

Faculty explored topics such as:
✨ Leveraging Microsoft Copilot Chat for advanced teaching workflows
✨ Using video and voice tools to deliver meaningful, personalized student feedback
✨ Creating effective, AI-supported rubrics
✨ Implementing best practices in virtual learning environments

Each workshop was held at The Collaborative Center and/or on Zoom and was facilitated by expert educators committed to strengthening teaching excellence across LFCE.

We are grateful to all faculty who participated and contributed to these meaningful conversations and hands-on learning experiences.