Overview: Dr. Cherina Betters has been appointed to the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) Board of Trustees to fill a vacant seat left by Dr. Ann Viricel. Betters will represent Area 7, which includes the areas of Highland, Lake Arrowhead, surrounding mountain communities, and neighborhoods around the San Bernardino International Airport. She has served as the Chief of Equity and Access at the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools since 2020 and is an adjunct professor in both the Teacher Education & Foundations and Educational Leadership & Technology departments at the College of Education at Cal State San Bernardino.
Ellen Perrault
On Thursday, July 11, after being appointed by the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) board on June 13, Dr. Cherina Betters was sworn in as the newest member of its Board of Trustees.
She was appointed to complete the term vacated by Dr. Ann Viricel, who served on the board for nine years until June 30. The seat is up for election on the November 5, 2024, ballot.
Betters will represent Area 7, which includes the areas of Highland, Lake Arrowhead, surrounding mountain communities, and neighborhoods around the San Bernardino International Airport.
The trustees oversee the educational mission and set policy for the district, which serves nearly 20,000 students through Crafton Hills College, San Bernardino Valley College, KVCR Public Media, and the Economic Development & Corporate Training Center.
Dr. Better has served as the Chief of Equity and Access at the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools since 2020, where she created the Student Voice Advisory Council, an initiative supporting alternative education students who are potential community college or vocational school attendees post-graduation. She is also an adjunct professor in both the Teacher Education & Foundations and Educational Leadership & Technology departments at the College of Education at Cal State San Bernardino.
Importantly, Dr. Betters has strong ties to the community. She is set to become the president of the Association of California School Administrators Region 12 and serves on the board of Santa Claus Incorporated, a nonprofit that has supported vulnerable children in the Inland Empire for over 68 years.
She is also involved with Project Impact, a CSUSB advisory committee focused on diversifying the teaching profession and is an advisory committee member for First 5 of San Bernardino and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s NextGen Information Exchange Committee.
Commenting on the appointment of Dr. Betters, Board Chair Dr. Stephanie Houston expressed her support and enthusiasm. “Dr. Betters brings a wealth of experience and a heartfelt commitment to educational equity that aligns perfectly with our district’s goals, she stated. “We are excited about the fresh perspectives she will bring to our efforts in enhancing educational opportunities and outcomes for all our students.”
Sharing her vision for the community college district Dr. Better stated, “The purpose of community colleges is to influence and impact the trajectory of the lives, careers, and opportunities of the students they serve.” She views her role on the board as an extension of her lifelong commitment to education, aiming to be a change agent in the lives of students and the broader college community.
SBCCD Trustee Area 5 remains vacant following the retirement of long-serving Trustee Gloria Macias Harrison, who stepped down on June 30.