Delila Vasquez, President of the San Bernardino Catholic Elementary Schools (SBCES), led the panel. It also included Diocesan Vice Chancellor Maria Echeverria, who spoke of the well vested sacrifices of carrying your children through Catholic Education; Resurrection Academy Principal Madeleine Thomas, who spoke of her school and their success in educating minority children who move on to successfull high school graduation and college entry; Robert Villaseñor, Vice President of ProAmerica Bank, and a graduate of Catholic schools himself, who has provided Catholic education for his children because it supports his family values; and Carla Ford-Bruner, Chair of the SBCES Board, who as a Christian mother believes that the opportunity of Catholic education needs to be available and obtainable.
“In order to promote growth in San Bernardino we need to keep our Catholic Schools open and accessible as an option for our children,” said Vasquez, whose position oversees Our Lady of the Assumption School and Holy Rosary Academy in San Bernardino.”
It was the first time the LEAD Summit had Catholic Schools present as one of the avenues for quality education. The conference was streamed live, televised, recorded and reached an audience measurement/market share of 206 million.
The Panel shared personal stories and made a case to keep Catholic Schools as a viable option for children in San Bernardino, the state and beyond. Villaseñor expressed that he attributes the commitment of being married for over 30 years to his Catholic education.
Catholic Schools educate with values and contributes to the formation of people who have good study habits, contribute to society and are civically engaged. Preceding the Catholic Schools Panel, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed attendees and in his speech about the importance of education, he credited Catholic schools for his education.