A school administrator has joined the San Bernardino Community College District board.
Cherina Betters, who works for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, was sworn in Thursday, July 11, after being appointed in June to replace Anne Viricel, who said in May she would leave the board June 30 after nine years.
Betters will represent Trustee Area 7, which includes Highland, Lake Arrowhead, nearby mountain communities and neighborhoods near San Bernardino International Airport.
She’ll finish the term for Viricel’s seat, which will be up for election in November.
“The purpose of community colleges is to influence and impact the trajectory of the lives, careers, and opportunities of the students they serve,” Betters said in a district news release.
Betters was honored in 2021 by state Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh as the 2021 Woman of the Year in the 23rd Senate District. Ochoa Bogh gave her the oath of office.
Since 2020, Betters has been the chief of equity and access for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, where she created the Student Voice Advisory Council, the release states. She is also an adjunct professor at Cal State San Bernardino.
“Dr. Betters brings a wealth of experience and a heartfelt commitment to educational equity that aligns perfectly with our district’s goals,” board Chair Stephanie Houston said in the release. “We are excited about the fresh perspectives she will bring to our efforts in enhancing educational opportunities and outcomes for all our students.”
Betters previously was an administrator in the San Jacinto Unified School District and a teacher in the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District.
The board’s Trustee Area 5 is vacant after the retirement of Trustee Gloria Macias Harrison, who stepped down June 30 after 12 years.
The district includes Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College, serving nearly 20,000 students.
