CJUSD Appoints Retired Educator to Fill Vacant Board Seat by Breeanna Jent - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events
directory

CJUSD Appoints Retired Educator to Fill Vacant Board Seat

By Breeanna Jent, Staff Writer
December 18, 2013 at 10:02am. Views: 130

A retired educator was appointed to fill a vacant school board seat during a regular board meeting on Dec. 10 and was sworn in to the post the following Thursday. Grand Terrace resident, Joanne Thoring-Ojeda, was appointed by the Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD) Board to fill the seat left vacant by former board member Laura Morales, who left the post in late October after accepting a position with the League of California Cities. Up against three additional candidates for the seat, Thoring-Ojeda garnered five of the six votes placed by CJUSD board members during the Dec. 10 meeting. Board Member Randall Ceniceros placed his vote for candidate R. Lamont Dusseau. Thoring-Ojeda brings with her 41 years experience in education and service in California public schools. She spent 16 years as an elementary school administrator, two years as an assistant principal and 14 as principal, where she worked with various departments within the Fontana Unified School District and concurrently served as a member of the Ontario Montclair School District board from 1987 to 1991. "I made public education my life's work and am knowledgeable in the challenges facing us," Thoring-Ojeda told the board in her closing statement last Tuesday. "I have worked with the issues before you. I have a depth of understanding that could assist this board in leading the district to meeting these challenges. I embrace the opportunity to be a part of Colton's governance team to make the decisions that will build a bridge from our past into their futures." Thoring-Ojeda has served in various educational and community-based capacities, including having been a member of the Joe Baca Scholarship Committee, where she reviewed applications, interviewed and selected recipients over five years. She serves as the ASES Oversight Committee Chairperson, where she visits school programs, collects data and chairs all committee meetings in the Fontana Unified School District since 2012; and she is a board member with the ACSA Region and attended Legislative Action Days in Sacramento to speak with state legislators about local schools and districts. "I am passionate about providing the best possible educational experiences to all kids, to prepare them for tomorrow's workforce," she said in her application for the seat. As a former board member in a neighboring district, she said, "I know the importance of a board member's role to a district." Since 2000 she has supported many of her grandchildren who attended and still attend CJUSD schools by attending various events and PTA meetings. "I understand the roles committed adults play in the lives of students," she told the board. "Though having children and grandchildren who have been in the district was the forefront for me, it's important to remember that every student in the district is someone's child or grandchild and they're trusting us to provide what needs to be provided." Thoring-Ojeda told City News that she was looking forward to seeking out career technical education opportunities for students. "In the current economy, we need to prepare students to be successful and give them the skills to be prepared for whatever path they choose, whether that be college, vocational or trade schools, or jobs." She closed, "I am ... not ready to walk away from making a difference in the lives of kids."

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: BBOP Center

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 505

BBOP Information Session The Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center, an Inland Empire economic and workforce development hub and a project of Time for Change Foundation, has launched Pathways to Prosperity, its Employment Training Pathway Program (ETPP), a comprehensive workforce initiative designed to connect residents facing barriers to employment with the skills, credentials, hands-on experience and employer relationships needed to enter and advance in high-demand careers.

Photo Courtesy of: San Bernardino's California Theatre from 1930

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 370

Nearly a century after opening its doors, the downtown landmark remains an important connection between the city's entertainment history and its cultural future. In downtown San Bernardino, the California Theatre of the Performing Arts stands as a reminder of a time when attending a movie or live performance was one of the most anticipated social occasions in a growing Southern California city.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 365

With winter approaching, emergency officials are coordinating flood prevention, roadway maintenance and public alerts to help residents prepare for dangerous weather. A heavy rainstorm can change the landscape of San Bernardino in a matter of hours. Streets that ordinarily carry commuters and school buses can become difficult to navigate, drainage channels can fill rapidly, and neighborhoods near foothills may face increased risks from flooding and debris.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 314

A sweeping decision involving California's most serious criminal sentences has drawn strong opposition from San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, placing the county's chief prosecutor at the center of a statewide debate over justice, victims' rights and executive authority.

Photo Courtesy of: West Valley Water District

By Socorro Pantaleon, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:14am. Views: 224

Group photos of WVWD Board Members and winning students of the 2026 Poster Contest

Photo Courtesy of: CalKIDS

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:13am. Views: 376

During National Scholarship Month, families are encouraged to check their eligibility for scholarships supporting college and career training.

Photo Courtesy of: Khouri Evans-Dangerfield

By Mike Hoover. President, Inland Empire Civil War Round Table, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 243

University of Redlands student Khouri Evans-Dangerfield will examine slavery, constitutional law and the decisions that divided a nation during a free November 15 presentation at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 241

November 11 screening of acclaimed film “All We Imagine as Light” invites students and community members to experience international cinema and discussion. Films can transport audiences to places they have never visited, introduce them to unfamiliar experiences and encourage them to consider how people in different parts of the world navigate relationships, work and personal challenges.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Willam Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 247

A decision announced in Sacramento could change the sentences of hundreds of California prisoners, bringing renewed attention to the death penalty and the future of criminal punishment across the state. Governor Gavin Newsom announced November 5 that he intends to commute the death sentences of all 548 people currently sentenced to death in California.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 288

November 21 event at Olive Avenue Market will introduce residents to drought-tolerant landscaping, city rebates and the benefits of native plants. A beautiful garden does not have to depend on a large lawn or plants that require frequent watering.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:17am. Views: 181

A school announcement can contain information that changes a family's entire afternoon. A reminder about an upcoming meeting, a schedule adjustment or a message from a teacher may determine when a parent leaves work, arranges transportation or helps a child prepare for the next school day.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 247

Cosme Córdova and Eduvina pose in front of the Division 9 Gallery booth, where visitors had the opportunity to purchase commemorative souvenirs and keepsakes celebrating Riverside's Día de los Muertos Festival.

--> -->