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The California Association of Health and Education Linked Professions is excited to introduce you to Fostering Futures℠ a podcast that brings you high-quality, research-based content designed to inspire and educate. Each episode is crafted with care, drawing on the knowledge of credible experts, parents, and community members to ensure both trustworthiness and depth.
Our mission is to engage and expand our audience by delivering thought-provoking material that focuses on key areas crucial to the development and well-being of all youth. Through our discussions, we aim to provide insights that are not only relevant but also transformative.
Join us as we explore innovative approaches in special education, Social Emotional Well-Being, and Community. Be ready to be apart of a community committed to making a positive impact.
Visit us at www.cahelp.org
13 Episodes
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Send us a text In this episode, Iván sits down with Dr. Karina Quezada to unpack what dyslexia is and what it isn’t. They walk through how the brain learns to read, the early signs families and educators can watch for, and why early, explicit instruction matters so much. Dr. Quezada explains California’s new dyslexia-related laws, the difference between screening and full evaluation, and how the “science of reading” is reshaping classroom practice. The conversation closes with concrete guidan...
Send us a text In this insightful and practical episode, host Athena Cordero welcomes Tarron Riley, longtime supervisor and clinician at Desert Mountain Children’s Center (DMCC), for a deep dive into emotional intelligence (EI). What it is, why it matters, and how to use it in real life. Drawing on two decades of clinical work with adolescents, anger management, and family systems, Tarron demystifies EI as a set of learnable abilities: recognizing emotions (in ourselves and others), understan...
Send us a text In this candid and uplifting conversation, host Athena Cordero sits down with Manny Marquez, Superintendent of Bear Valley Unified School District, to explore what servant leadership looks like in a close-knit mountain community. From his start as a paraeducator to 25 years of growing alongside the district he loves, Manny shares how sincerity, accessibility, and emotional intelligence shape every decision he makes. He pulls back the curtain on a superintendent’s day-to-day—bei...
Send us a text In this candid, practical episode, host Athena Cordero sits down with Dr. Kent McIntosh (University of Oregon; Co-Director, National Center on PBIS) and Angie Mgbeke (Project Manager, Prevention & Intervention at CAHELP) to talk about what it really takes to help schools thrive right now. They cut through post-COVID noise, staff turnover, community tensions, initiative overload and focus on a simple formula: relationships first, data always, teams over heroes. Kent shares h...
Send us a text In this inspiring, people-first episode, host Athena Cordero welcomes Jesse Nájera, Superintendent of Silver Valley Unified School District, for an open, practical conversation about leading a small, military-connected district with heart. Together they unpack how relationships, recognition, and student wellness—not just programs or test scores—drive real outcomes for kids. Jesse traces his path from Spanish/ELD teacher to superintendent and shares what makes Silver Valley uniq...
Send us a text In this insightful and heartfelt episode, host Athena Cordero is joined by Crystal Kudrle, Occupational Therapist at Desert Mountain SELPA, for an open and practical conversation about a surprisingly overlooked topic in education — bathroom breaks, pelvic health, and student well-being. Together, they shine a light on how something as simple as restroom routines can profoundly impact focus, behavior, and emotional safety in the classroom. Crystal shares her journey as an OT and...
Send us a text In this powerful episode host Athena Cordero is joined by Naomi Hill, Intervention Specialist at Desert Mountain Children’s Center, for an open and moving conversation about the mental health needs of youth athletes. Through humor, heart, and real-life stories, they shine a light on what student athletes are really carrying on and off the field. Naomi shares her journey from group homes to classrooms to soccer sidelines, and how managing her daughter’s team opened her eyes to t...
Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, host Athena Cordero is joined by Scott Heitman, Executive Director of Special Services at Oro Grande School District, for an honest and insightful conversation about Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Together, they work to demystify what SEL really means moving it out of binders and buzzwords and into everyday human connection. Scott shares real stories from his time as a teacher, principal, and district leader that sho...
Send us a text Dr. Maria Jesus Ampuero is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Ph.D. in Psychology. She currently has been providing Mental Health Services for the past 24 years and has been working at the Desert Mountain Children Center (DMCC) for almost 18 years as a Behavioral Health Counselor. She specializes in working with individuals across the lifespan, with a particular focus on trauma, neuro-developmental disorders, and family dynamics. In this episode of Fostering Future...
Send us a text Anne Smolenski, M.S., CCC-SLP, currently works at CAHELP as a Program Specialist in Communication Disorders. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from California State University, Sacramento, and her Master of Science Degree in Clinical Speech-Language Pathology from Northern Arizona University. Anne has worked as a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) since 2019, specializing in preschool populations with a diverse range of commun...
Send us a text Crystal Aden has been an Occupational Therapist for over ten years. She started her education locally at Victor Valley College (VVC) before then transferring to Loma Linda University where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree and Master of Occupational Therapy. She is a Nationally Board-Certified Occupational Therapist and is licensed to practice in multiple states. As an Occupational Therapist, she has worked for Desert Mountain Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) for over...
Send us a text Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org
Send us a text Fostering Futures℠ is a podcast that brings you high-quality, research-based content designed to inspire and educate. Each episode is crafted with care, drawing on the knowledge of credible experts, parents, and community members to ensure both trustworthiness and depth. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org
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