FOUNDATION NEWS WINTER 2026
EDUCATION EDITION CBC’s School of Education equips graduates to spark lifelong learning in every child. Offering certificates, associate and bachelor’s degree options, the program provides a supportive pathway to launch or advance meaningful careers in education.
CBC FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CBC NEWS
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FROM CLASSROOM CBC’S BACHELOR’S IN T O C A R E E R TEACHER EDUCATION
Whitney LaMarche, Secretary Hadron Intrinsic Consulting, LLC
Paraeducator and CBC student Adriana was a bundle of nerves as she stepped into Jessica Cannard’s second-grade classroom this fall at Kennewick School District’s Cottonwood Elementary.
Douglas Christensen, Board Development Chair HMIS
It was the first day of her 12-week teaching residency as part of CBC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education program. Although Adriana works with children, co-teaching in a new environment felt like a big step.
Rebekah Dobbs, Gift, Estate and Planned Giving Chair Premier Mortgage Resources Lynn Tegeler, Scholarship Chair Central Plateau Cleanup Company Rebekah Woods Columbia Basin College President Matt Backlund Community First Bank David Billetdeaux Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Andrew Chung Gesa Credit Union Maggie Esquivel Gravis Law Marsha Halverson Educator, Retired Ann Harper Artist Jack Janezic Trios & Lourdes Health Moses Jaraysi
CBC’s program uses a cohort model to build on previous degrees in early childhood education or closely related fields, pairing higher-level coursework with hands-on classroom experience to prepare future teachers for pre-K through 3rd grade in Washington public schools. For Adriana, that guidance has been invaluable. “Jessica has been an amazing mentor,” she said. “She’s given me strategies and ideas along the way, and her feedback allows me to implement new teaching methods and reflect on what I can do better or change to improve.” The program’s impact is far-reaching. “When student teachers have hands-on time in the classroom and the opportunity to be a part of a professional learning community, it builds better teachers for our future students and our entire community,” said Jessica. Adriana anticipates graduating this summer and feels ready for the next phase in her career. “Gaining more experience in development practices, lesson planning, class management and how to connect with students will help me as I take on my own classroom,” she added.
LEARN MORE AT COLU MBI ABAS IN.E DU/E DUCAT ION
Michelle Loera Kadlec Regional Medical Center Leanna Nighswonger Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure Mitch Peterson CompuNet Misty Prigent CBC Faculty Representative Edgardo Quiroz-Moreno Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Michelle Smith Columbia Basin College Trustee Adan Tijerina Columbia Basin College Educator, Retired Tayler Welch Monte Nail, CPA Paige Wyatt Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
STAFF
Erin Fishburn Executive Director Devon Holze Sarah Murphy Timmy Song
Kennewick School District teacher Jessica Cannard (right) mentoring CBC student Adriana.
Program Highlights CBC’S EDUCATION
CERTIFICATES, ASSOCIATE & BACHELOR’S DEGREE OPTIONS STUDENTS ARE SERVED 70% OF CURRENT 80% OF 668 STUDENTS BILINGUAL, INCLUDING IN 2024–25 STUDENTS IDENTIFY SCHOOL YEAR
AS HISPANIC
ENGLISH, SPANISH, VIETNAMESE, RUSSIAN AND NAHUATL
85% COURSE SUCCESS RATE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM CBC’S SCHOOL OF EDUCATION’S
STRENGTH IS ITS DIVERSITY Strength in Diversity
Sức mạnh trong sự đa dạng
Fortaleza en la diversidad
Сила в разнообразии
(English)
(Spanish)
(Vietnamese) (Russian)
S
Elevating Teacher Preparation
CBC & SISTER CITY UNIVERSITY EXPLORE COLLABORATION Since 2019, Pasco and the state of Colima, Mexico, have been “sister cities,” fostering cultural ties, sharing resources and exchanging ideas to strengthen both communities.
CBC’s Constantino Montes (wearing tan) with a delegation from Colima, Mexico
In October, a 15-member delegation of instructors and students from National Pedagogical University Unit 061 (UPN) in Colima visited Pasco for a weeklong educational exchange. Organized by the Colima-Pasco Friendship & Collaboration Association (COPA), the delegation spent a day at CBC, where they explored campus programs, delivered a traditional performance and participated in discussions on collaborative research to enhance teaching practices and improve student learning outcomes. “The collaboration between CBC and UPN will be highly beneficial,” said Roberto A. Melitón, a UPN professor and head of its Planning Department. “We aim to exchange successful teaching practices, conduct joint research and facilitate future academic exchanges between students and faculty.”
National Pedagogical University’s Roberto A. Melitón (third from right) leads a traditional performance at CBC.
The biggest challenge is the distance. The partnership is still in the early stages. Initial concepts include co-teaching online courses, allowing students to earn credit for participating in the collaboration. “It’s an exploration,” said Constantino Montes, CBC’s Director for Education Programs. “We both recognize that there’s always room for growth. By sharing ideas, we hope to better prepare future teachers and put our heads together on strategies that will enhance our programs for the benefit of all our students.” Reflecting on the significance of this work, Roberto emphasized, “Education is the best investment a society can make. The support it provides will yield significant returns in the development of both our people and our nations.”
Why I Give! “It’s very important to me to give part of the required minimum distribution from my retirement account to the CBC Foundation. Supporting the path for local students to become educators is vital to our future. My donation helps develop the next generation of teachers and is my way of giving back to the community that supported me during my years as a public educator.”
DOTTIE STEVENS | Retired Educator, Kennewick
2600 N. 20th Ave. Pasco, WA 99301
F O U N DAT I O N
“I’m grateful to people who donate to help students continue classes. You inspire me to give back to the community and help others succeed.”
PUNTIPA
Early Childhood Education
TEACHING STARTS HERE
PREPARING THE NEXT-GENERATION OF EDUCATORS When CBC student Brisi graduated from high school, college was not an option. “I couldn’t afford to go, but I always held onto my dream of an education,” she said. “Receiving a scholarship changed everything for me.” Brisi discovered her love of teaching in Sunday school, and now she is the first in her family to pursue higher education. “I remember coming to the United States, not speaking English and knowing no one,” she said. “My teachers were the backbone of my life, and I want to help students in the same way.” Balancing full-time work with the program’s evening classes, Brisi will graduate this spring with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Education. CBC’s program offers practical training and mentorship, and coursework builds skills for a wide range of early-education settings. Initial classes are conducted in both English and Spanish, allowing Spanish-speaking students to learn foundational materials in their native language. The curriculum features stackable certificates that lead to an AAS degree or a bachelor’s in applied science in Teacher Education. Graduates go on to become preschool to 12th-grade teachers, paraeducators, preschool leads or directors, home-based childcare providers, curriculum developers and more.
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