About This Episode

Season 2. Episode 3.

In this special episode of Achieving the Vision, we explore how to create safe and equitable learning environments for immigrant and mixed-status families. Facilitated by Ida Hermosillo, this conversation features Marcelino “Mars” Serna, Family and Community Engagement Specialist at SBCSS, who shares valuable insights on the rights, resources, and support available to students and families, regardless of immigration status.

Together, we discuss how schools and communities can foster welcoming spaces, provide essential resources, and empower families to navigate the education system with confidence.

Featured Guests

Marcelino “Mars” Serna
Family and Community Engagement Program Specialist. 
Biography

Marcelino “Mars” Serna is in his 39th year as a public servant in the areas of Education, Recreation, and Human Services. For the past 17 years, Mars has served the districts of San Bernardino City Unified School District (2006 to 2014), Fontana Unified School District (2015-2016), and currently the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools as the Family/Community Engagement Program Specialist supporting the 33 districts throughout the county with their respective family and community engagement initiatives. He also has served as an Adjunct Professor at San Bernardino Valley College in the Human Services Department where he taught Cultural Proficiency and Cross-Cultural Communication. Mars also serves on a variety of community boards. He currently serves as president of the Governing Board of Education at Fontana Unified School District. He also serves on the Executive Board of the San Bernardino County Gangs & Drugs Taskforce, the Inland Empire Fatherhood Involvement Coalition, the San Bernardino County Mentoring Advisory Committee, and the Loma Linda University Health’s Community Benefit Advisory Council (CBAC). Along with serving on these boards, he was the co-founder of the Inland Empire Family Resource Center Coalition, where he served as Chairperson from 2008 to 2014. Mars received an associate degree from Riverside Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Public
Administration from California State University, San Bernardino, and his master’s degree from University
of Redlands in Management. He is happily married to his wonderful wife Marissa and has (4) children and (5) grandchildren. He’s also rearing his 15 year old niece.

Specialties: Community Organizing; Officiating Youth & Adult Sports; Disc Jockey and Notary Public

Watch the Episode 

View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://inlandempiregia.org/gia-podcasts/

Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) created the Achieving the Vision video series to discuss important projects and initiatives that are driving regional educational transformation and student success in the Inland Empire region of Southern California–the 12th largest MSA in the U.S. with over 4.7 million residents and over one-million K-16 students. Learn more at https://inlandempiregia.org.

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