EPISODE PLAYER
Education Insight: California’s Effort to Teach Soft Skills to Middle Schoolers
About This Episode
Season 5. Episode 15.
In this episode of Education Insight, we’re joined by Jacqui Dobens, founder of Much More Than Mentorship and Prep Team Director for The Amazing Shake, a competition held at San Gorgonio Middle School in Beaumont, CA. The Amazing Shake is an intense two-day event where middle school students compete in various soft skills challenges, such as giving a firm handshake, diffusing angry customers, interviewing for a job, and navigating social situations gracefully.
Jacqui explains how the competition aims to teach kids essential life skills beyond academics, focusing on qualities like public speaking, empathy, and emotional intelligence. With an impressive roster of mentors, from retired fire chiefs to etiquette experts, the program offers students unique opportunities to learn from professionals in a hands-on setting. Jacqui also shares stories of students who have gone from nervous to natural in just a few sessions, showing the transformative impact of these exercises.
Tune in to hear Jacqui’s insights on how The Amazing Shake is reshaping education and mentorship, preparing students for real-world success. You’ll also learn how schools across Southern California can get involved in this powerful program that’s helping students build the confidence and skills they need for the future.
Featured Guest
Jacqui Dobens
Dobens has taken her years of experience in marketing, networking, generating revenue, and holding leadership positions in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors to toggle seamlessly in this project. Her networking skills are at the forefront by way of collaboration with various entities to make this project a success.
Her ability to adapt and pivot enabled her to recognize the benefits of The Amazing Shake through her relationship with San Gorgonio Middle School and the Beaumont Unified School District. Being such an instrumental component of the national durable life skills competition of The Amazing Shake has proven to be life-changing. Not only for the students, but for Dobens herself. To date, She has been asked to fulfill the role as a project manager to bring The Amazing Shake program to life for other schools in surrounding cities and districts. This opportunity will provide a tremendous positive impact to students and communities that will last for decades to come.
When Dobens is not cooking up a new module or thinking up ways to implement creative and fun ways to bring durable life skills to life with the students, you can find her in the kitchen cooking up new and daring culinary concoctions and sharing them with family and friends.
Watch the Episode
Interview Highlights
3:57 – Adrienne describes dual enrollment and its benefits.
7:15 – Adrienne speaks to how recent California mandates and initiatives may have influenced the growth of these new programs.
8:34 – Adrienne explains what research shows about the impact of dual enrollment on a student’s academic achievements or even their future success.
9:24 – Adrienne shares examples of dual enrollment activities that are taking place in our region and what is happening in the IE.
13:11 – Adrienne talks about strategies in place to make sure that equal opportunities are available for all students.
20:18 – Jorge explains how dual enrollment aligns with his role at Riverside County Unified School District.
21:28 – Jorge shares his experiences and thoughts on the current dual enrollment programs that are being offered at Riverside Unified School District.
23:32 – Jorge gives insight into how dual enrollment makes students career ready.
25:58 – Jorge describes what challenges students typically face in dual enrollment programs and how he addresses those issues.
32:43 – Jorge shares what he would like to see be the future of the dual enrollment program in his district and beyond.
36:31 – Special Feature: Avijeet Randhawa, 8th-Grader, Auburndale Intermediate School in the Corona Norco Unified School District.
View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/
Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.
