Education Matters

As college graduates enter one of the most competitive job markets in recent years, many are facing uncertainty about their future careers. In Part 1 of our three-part Education Matters series, we explore how artificial intelligence, workforce trends, and changing employer demands are reshaping the path from college to career.

Discover how Fresno Pacific University is inspiring the next generation of outdoor leaders through its Wilderness Club program at Washington Intermediate School in Dinuba. After six weeks of hands-on learning about environmental stewardship, outdoor survival skills, Yosemite history, wildlife, and conservation, students traveled to Yosemite National Park to experience these lessons firsthand.

Fresno Pacific University’s Degree Completion Program is helping working adults return to college and pursue their career goals through flexible online and evening classes. In this Education Matters story, hear how former professional gamer Rigoberto Padilla and mother of two Cecilia Cruz are balancing family, work, and higher education while building brighter futures in healthcare and special education.

High school students from across California’s Central Valley are taking STEM education to new heights through the “Skies of Dreams” aviation program at Sierra Sky Park in Fresno. In this hands-on aircraft build program, students are learning engineering, aviation, and teamwork by constructing an experimental airplane alongside experienced pilots and mentors from the Experimental Aircraft Association.

More than 2,000 students from across Fresno County came together for a special day of inclusion, learning, and fun at Kids Day at the Zoo, hosted by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. This unique event, themed “Sensory Safari,” created a safe, judgment-free environment for students with moderate to severe disabilities to explore hands-on STEM activities, sensory play stations, and interactive exhibits designed to engage all five senses.

Selma High School’s Marine Corps Junior ROTC program is helping students build discipline, leadership, and confidence through precision drills, marksmanship training, and community service. In this Education Matters story, cadets share how the JROTC program provides structure, purpose, and valuable life skills that prepare them for success after high school, whether they pursue military service, college, or future careers.

Students at Edison High School in Fresno Unified are learning real-world financial literacy through a hands-on personal finance class that teaches budgeting, credit, banking, taxes, insurance, and entrepreneurship. In this Education Matters segment on KSEE 24, students pitch business ideas like custom phone case companies while learning profit margins and the true cost of running a business. Fresno Unified’s program is already preparing students for California’s upcoming statewide personal finance graduation requirement set for 2027.

A Sanger High School student is gaining national attention after winning the top prize at the Fresno County Science Fair. Junior Julie Luna developed a biosorbent material designed to remove pollutants from water, an innovative environmental engineering project aimed at improving water remediation and water quality in agricultural communities.

High school students from across the region put their skills to the test at the Central California Builders Exchange Design Build Competition at the Caruthers Fairgrounds. Career Technical Education (CTE) and Regional Occupational Program (ROP) students work alongside industry partners to design and build an 8x12 structure in less than four days, meeting real construction standards and safety practices while gaining valuable hands-on experience.

Fresno County Superintendent of Schools is expanding access to critical hearing services for students with the opening of the first county-operated audiology sound booth. Located at Beth Ramacher School, this state-of-the-art facility helps students who are deaf or hard of hearing receive faster evaluations, hearing aids and ongoing care without long delays.

The *Dolly Parton Imagination Library* is helping spark a love of reading for thousands of young children in **Fresno County**. The early literacy program sends **free books every month to children under age five**, helping families build reading habits at home and preparing kids for future academic success.

Experience the excitement of the CIF Central Section Girls Basketball Finals at Selland Arena in Fresno, where the Valley’s top high school teams compete for a championship. But the spotlight isn’t only on the athletes on the court. Young players from the Young Nalas girls basketball club* are part of the action as **ball girls and court sweepers**, getting a behind-the-scenes look at high-level competition.

At Central High School, a 9th grade English class is redefining what literacy looks like in the classroom. Through the Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC), students are actively debating, analyzing non-fiction texts, and strengthening their academic writing skills in real time.

Discover how math and creativity come together at the AIMS Center for Math and Science Education at Fresno Pacific University. In this Education Matters story, we take you inside the new AIMS Maker Studio, a hands-on STEAM learning lab where students, future teachers, and the community use tools like laser cutters and 3D printers to bring ideas to life.

High school students from across Fresno County took center stage at the first-ever Rooted to Rise Conference, an event focused on empowering student voice, leadership development, and real-world skills. Hosted by the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, the conference brought more than 200 students from 38 schools to the California State University, Fresno campus, intentionally placing students in a college environment to reinforce that they belong in spaces of opportunity.

Student leadership and college readiness take center stage in this Education Matters report from Fresno County. Meet Central High West student body president Karai Paige, who says her involvement with the Fresno County Youth Advisory Board helped her find her voice, build leadership skills, and become a confident public speaker.

A simulated 9-1-1 call sets the stage for a unique hands-on learning experience for high school students in Fresno County. In this episode of Education Matters, we take you inside a mobile dispatch training trailer designed to prepare students for careers as emergency dispatchers.

Fresno County Superintendent of Schools board members are making a lasting impact through community projects that support students, families, and neighborhoods across Fresno County. In this Education Matters story, we visit the Family Wellness and Resource Center at Addams Elementary School in southwest Fresno, a vital hub created through the Community Schools Initiative that provides families with access to food, clothing, household items, and critical resources.

From the Special Olympics Unified Sports program to backpacks, bikes, and food giveaways, Fresno County students are receiving meaningful support that makes a real difference. In this Education Matters report on KSEE 24, we take you to El Capitan Middle School for a Special Olympics Unified Sports cornhole tournament, where students with and without disabilities come together to build friendships, confidence, and inclusion.

Competitive video gaming is transforming college athletics. At Fresno Pacific University, e-sports is more than just gaming, it’s a growing collegiate sport offering teamwork, competition, and scholarship opportunities. In this Education Matters story on KSEE 24, we take you inside FPU’s e-sports program, where students compete in games like Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. through the National Esports Collegiate Conference.

For the past decade, Education Matters has been telling the positive, powerful stories happening every day in classrooms across Fresno County. What started as a passion project has grown into a trusted weekly segment on KSEE 24, highlighting outstanding teachers, inspiring students, and innovative programs that strengthen our schools and communities.

A beloved holiday tradition takes on powerful new meaning as Break the Barriers presents an inclusive and unforgettable performance of The Nutcracker. This one-of-a-kind production brings together performers of all abilities, featuring dancers in wheelchairs, aerialists, acrobatics, hip-hop, gymnastics, and classical ballet all sharing the same stage.

Christmas came early for the Cornejo family of Mendota thanks to the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Migrant Education Department. This heartwarming Education Matters story highlights how a long-running holiday tradition is uplifting migrant families facing hardship, while celebrating the power of education, community support, and perseverance. As the Cornejo family navigates serious health and financial challenges, a holiday celebration brings hope, joy, and encouragement.

Fresno County’s “Count, Play, Explore” early math initiative has been recognized with the prestigious Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association. For the past decade, the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools has worked to transform how young children learn math by engaging families, supporting teachers, and building strong community partnerships. In this Education Matters story, learn how hands-on learning, playful exploration, and early family engagement are changing math mindsets for students from birth through third grade.

Fresno County special needs students are showcasing their creativity at the K-Jewel Art Gallery in a powerful celebration of art, inclusion, and self-expression. This Education Matters story highlights a unique program from the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools that brings high-quality arts instruction directly to classrooms, giving students with disabilities the same creative opportunities as their peers.

Fresno County has officially named its first-ever Youth Poet Laureate, marking a powerful moment for young voices in the Central Valley. This year’s title goes to Evy Singh, a Central High sophomore whose moving poetry rose above four outstanding finalists in a historic competition years in the making.

Clovis Unified is launching a groundbreaking visual and performing arts program for preschoolers, giving four-year-olds a hands-on, immersive creative experience like never before. Inside a transformed classroom on the Buchanan High School campus, students explore a farm-themed art center filled with music, movement, dramatic play, and interactive learning. Thanks to state funding from Proposition 28, preschoolers from across the district are bused in to participate in this innovative approach to early childhood education.