When Kateryna Shkil moved to the United States from Ukraine in 2021, she didn’t expect her new life in California to become permanent. Her family had won the green card lottery and planned to stay just long enough for her to finish ninth grade. Then, everything changed when Russia launched its attack against Ukraine.“In February of 2022, the full-scale invasion started, and we’re like, okay, we’re staying here,” Kateryna explained. “The war was not the reason ...

About halfway through his first year of high school, Yandel Zarate was struggling. He was having difficulty adapting to the large campus of more than 2,000 students and lacked the confidence to express what was wrong or ask for help. He was skipping class so frequently that it became clear he needed a change of scene. That’s exactly what he found at Phoenix School in Camarillo, which is operated by the Ventura County Office of Education and Ventura County Behavioral Health. With just ...

As she prepares to graduate from Royal High School in Simi Valley, Lola Forbes-Black has already built an impressive record of advocating for issues she believes in, even when it’s far from easy. Born and raised in Ventura County to parents who moved from the UK to work in the entertainment industry, Lola has been a Girl Scout for 13 years.

Imagine trying to make it through high school without knowing where you’ll be sleeping each night, without access to the internet, and without an easy way to get to campus. That was the reality for Isabelle Tiscareno, who is about to graduate from Rio Mesa High School in Oxnard, despite the tremendous roadblocks she had to overcome. On many days, Isabelle had to travel five miles on a public bus to get to school from her cousin’s house, where she would sleep for a couple of nigh...

For Elias Garcia, success has always started at home. As the son of Mexican immigrants, he grew up in a family of six where hard work and determination were everyday values.“When I was 12 or 13, I would go to work with my dad,” Elias said. “He works at an auto body shop and has lots of tools, and I would always be playing and messing around with them.” That’s where his love for engineering really began.It was a freshman-year course at Santa Paula High School on the ...

The students graduating from Ventura County’s high schools in 2025 are entering a world full of uncertainty. Our nation’s political divisions seem to be at an all-time high, the economy is experiencing wild fluctuations, and the relentless march of artificial intelligence is reshaping the job market in ways we’re only beginning to understand. At the same time, our educational institutions from preschool to higher education are facing threats to their funding like never before.&...

Moving to a new school can be difficult for any student, but it was especially challenging for Rawan Abboud, who started her freshman year at a school on the other side of the world. Rawan had immigrated with her family to Ventura County from Syria, which had been engulfed in a brutal civil war for more than a decade. “Step by step, we adjusted, and my family stuck together to try to build a new life,” she said. As a new student at Buena High School in Ventura, who barely spoke Engli...

Defending Public Education in a Time of Uncertainty • Equity Conference Supports Expansion of Educational Opportunities • Students Honored at Mock Trial Awards • Civic Engagement is Topic of New Podcast • Student Civic Action Project Expo • Math Whizzes Compete at the Ventura County Mathlete Challenge • Science Fair Showcases Student Talent • VCOE Teacher of the Year - Dallas Ipach • Channel Islands HS Wins State Honor • Migrant Speech & Debate Tournament • Annual VCOE Prevention Conf...

Dallas Ipach, who has dedicated his career to teaching students who face significant social, emotional, and behavioral challenges, has been named the 2025 Teacher of the Year for schools operated by the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE). Mr. Ipach will now have the opportunity to compete for the Ventura County Teacher of the Year award, which is accepting nominations until May 2. Mr. Ipach found out he was being honored this morning during a surprise visit to VCOE’s Gateway Co...

Public education is facing an unprecedented challenge. As political rhetoric intensifies, the U.S. Department of Education has come under attack, with calls for its elimination shaking the foundation of our nation’s commitment to equitable learning opportunities. Yet, despite these challenges, the focus of Ventura County educators remains clear: ensuring the well-being and success of students.