Strengthening Funding Resilience for Educator Preparation Program Grantees: Lessons from Program Leaders

Dr. Adriana Cervantes-González, Program Manager for Residency Programs at the Tulare County Office of Education’s California Center on Teaching Careers
With 25 years in education, Adriana has supported faculty, students, families, and communities in both TK-12 and higher education. Before her current role at the Tulare County Office of Education, Dr. Cervantes-González led the Teacher Residency for Rural Education (TRRE) program at California State University, Bakersfield, supported by a Teacher Quality Partnership grant, and can speak to TRRE’s funding sustainability efforts as their TQP grant concluded in 2024. In 2020, she was part of a workgroup revising California’s Standards for the Teaching Profession. At Tulare COE, she oversees the expansion of various residency programs, offering expert advice to local education agencies on launching and sustaining these initiatives. 

Brooke Berrios, Residency Program Coordinator, Tulare County Office of Education  
Brooke is a dedicated educator with over 20 years of experience in teaching, consulting, and program coordination across P-16 systems. Brooke develops and supports inclusive programs in strengthening California’s teaching pipeline and address systemic challenges. As a Central Region Hub Lead for the Statewide Residency Technical Assistance Center (SRTAC), Berrios drives innovative pathways to recruit, prepare, and retain teachers in rural and underserved communities. Her efforts focus on creating sustainable residency models and fostering educators who empower their communities.  

Dr. Colby Smart, Deputy Superintendent, Humboldt County Office of Education 
Dr. Colby Smart is Deputy Superintendent at the Humboldt County Office of Education and Adjunct Faculty at Humboldt State University, and support the Cal Poly Humboldt Teacher Residency Program. As part of his role, Dr. Smart helped to develop a sustainable model for funding the residency program, which operates as a consortium to support multiple Local Education Agencies to prepare educators in rural Northern California. Colby has taught at Ferndale and Clear Lake High Schools and served as a national digital coach for NCTAF. He has worked with universities like UT, UNC, Georgia State, and CU, specializing in transformative learning through technology. Colby holds a Master’s in Educational Technology and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. 

Dr. Heather Kirkpatrick, President and Chief Executive Officer at, Alder Graduate School of Education 
Dr. Heather Kirkpatrick is President and Chief Executive Officer at Alder Graduate School of Education, which offers the Masters & Credential Teacher Residency Program. In several of their partnerships, districts utilize Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) funds for some expenses, including a ‘split-funded’ residency director role that Alder developed as a foundational component of their residency program. Heather holds a PhD in Education Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford, a Master’s from Harvard, and a BA from Barnard College. Heather’s career includes nonprofit work with adults with mental illness and teaching high school in Brooklyn. She previously served as Chief People Officer at Aspire Public Schools, where she helped grow the organization from two schools to 40 schools in 2000. 

Joe Edelheit Ross, President and Chief Executive Officer, Reach University 
Joe E. Ross is President and Chief Executive Officer of Reach University, a nonprofit university advancing groundbreaking on-the-job degrees and credentials, known as Apprenticeship Degrees. Under President Ross’ leadership, Reach maintains teacher preparation quality and rigor while creatively braiding funding, streamlining program costs, and maximizing affordability and sustainability through a degree program that is offered to learners for $75/month, without student loan debt. In his first two years, Reach saw a 900% enrollment increase, secured over $30 million in grants, and established the university as a national leader in Apprenticeship Degrees through its Reach Method. Previously, Joe led the California County Boards of Education, served as a trustee for the San Mateo County Board of Education, and spent eight years in the United States Navy. Joe holds a BA from Yale College and a JD from Stanford Law School.

Moderators

Jason Willis is a Senior Fellow with the Strategic Resource Allocation and Systems Planning Team at WestEd. Willis has advised states, national education organizations, and commissions on the formation of funding, governance, and integrated service delivery for children, youth, and families, and is a former Assistant Superintendent and Chief Business Official for San Jose Unified School District, Stockton Unified School District, and Oakland Unified School District. 

Lupita Cortez Alcalá is Director of Education Policy and Outcomes within the Strategic Resource Allocation and Systems Planning team, with more than 25 years of experience in advocacy, policy, project development, and executive and administrative leadership. Cortez Alcalá formerly served as the Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission, becoming a prominent voice in the statewide discussion on college affordability and financial aid reform, and recently co-developed a suite of educator preparation program affordability and sustainability resources for aspiring teachers and program providers in California.  

John Diaz’s research focuses on education policy, critical approaches to school finance, and systems development. Diaz co-led the development of educator preparation program affordability and sustainability resources for aspiring teachers and program providers in California, and currently leads WestEd’s funding and sustainability technical assistance and coaching for the Educator Registered Apprenticeship industry intermediary project, supporting programs across the country in improving affordability and fiscal sustainability. 

Dana Grayson is a national expert in teacher workforce issues, and directs WestEd’s teacher workforce program, where she oversees a portfolio of projects primarily focused on state and regional teacher workforce strategic planning and improving access to and affordability of high-quality teacher preparation pathways.