Oxnard Leadership 2025 Goes Back to School for Education Day

On April 25, Oxnard Leadership Program's 2025 cohort experienced Education Day, to better understand how Oxnard’s education system creates learning environments for students (our future leaders and workforce) to understand their potential, achieve their goals, and succeed in careers that are, hopefully, in the community. Thanks to the generosity of Pegasus Transit, sponsor of Education Day, the group traveled by charter bus for visits to Rio Del Sol K-8 STEAM School, Channel Islands High School, and Oxnard College. 

The day began in the boardroom at Oxnard Union High School District’s (OUHSD) headquarters where they engaged in a panel discussion of education hot topics moderated by Aaron Ferguson, Coordinator of Distance Learning, OUHSD. The panelists were Dr. Tom McCoy (OUHSD Superintendent), Genevieve Flores-Haro (OUHSD Board President), Eleanor Torres (Board Member, Rio School District), and Rafael Gaeta, Ed.D (Rio School District Assistant Superintendent, Business Services). Among the topics were school funding, declining enrollment, disaster preparedness, how to reflect the community in school curriculum, and the role of AI. 
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After boarding Pegasus Transit's 20-person shuttle bus, the  group traveled to Rio Del Sol K-8 STEAM School, part of the Rio School District.  Principal Ryan Emery led a tour of the innovative learning facility.  

Channel Islands High School was the next stop where lunch was catered by students in the culinary/hospitality career program. Everyone enjoyed mozzarella chicken pesto sandwiches with avocado, mixed greens salad with strawberries and parmesan, rosemary lemonade, and grande cinnamon cookies. After lunch, Leadership '25 toured the school's Career Technical Education programs, including Welding, Dance Performance, Marine Science Academy, and Medical. 

The final stop was Oxnard College where cohort member and college President Dr. Roberto Gonzalez and his team got to show off some of their top career education programs. They toured the Dental Clinic, which in Fall 2025 will launch the school's  first-ever bachelor's degree program that will focus on Dental Hygiene. They also were treated to a chocolate tasting crafted by students in the Culinary Arts, Restaurant Management, & Hospitality Management Program. A visit to the McNish Gallery highlighted incredible work created by students in the Art Program. 

"Everyone we met was passionate about their work and I felt hopeful," says cohort member Claudia Lozano, Manager of Community Services for Community Action of Ventura County. "The need is great and, yes, there are many new programs helping make a difference, but we need more, and we need to promote the ones that exist."