Dr. Cherina Betters, Trustee
Area 7 Map
Dr. Cherina Betters was appointed to fill the vacancy of Trustee Area 7 in June 2024. Cherina Betters is the Chief of Equity and Access for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. A lifelong learner, she has served in the field of K12 education for over 20 years in the capacity of teacher and administrator serving the students, families and communities of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in Southern California. Raised primarily in a single-parent home with severe economic challenges, Dr. Betters has always viewed education as the means to overcome. The first in her family to graduate from college, Dr. Betters has a deep appreciation for education and the educational process. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Fullerton. She also earned her master’s degree in educational technology from National University and her Doctorate in the field of Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Social Justice from California State University, San Bernardino where she also serves in the capacity of adjunct professor in both the Teacher Education & Foundations and Educational Leadership & Technology departments for the College of Education at California State University, San Bernardino.
Dr. Betters has been recognized for her contributions to the educational community
by several organizations including being named by Cal State San Bernardino as the
Doctoral Student of the year, and as the CSUSB Transformational Change Leader. The
Association of California School Administrators named Dr. Betters their 2021-2022
Valuing Diversity Administrator of the year for region 12; 2022-2023 Outstanding Faculty
Lecturer in the James R. Watson & Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education for CSUSB.
The Inland Valley News honored Dr. Betters with their inaugural, 2023 Publisher’s
Emeritus Award. The Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement (CEEM) named Dr. Betters
their 2022-2023 Outstanding Educator of the year for her role as an “Equity, Access,
and Impact Champion” an example of excellence for her positive impact on education
in the Inland Empire. CEEM is a cooperative organization based in the Inland Empire
whose mission is to promote parity in the community by developing, implementing, and
partnering with programs that provide equal opportunities for success to everyone.
Dr. Betters has also been recognized by the Honorable Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
as the state of California 23rd Senate District’s 2021 Woman of the Year.
In addition, Dr. Betters serves as an advisory committee member for First 5 of San
Bernardino, and CSUSB’s Project Impact; and a board member for the nonprofit Santa
Claus Inc. whose mission is to provide critical services to youth
in the Inland Empire by empowering families through year-round and seasonal programs.
Dr. Betters is committed to advocating for students and educational excellence through
equity and further serves in the capacity of Director for the Association of California
School Administrators (ACSA) Academy as well as serving on ACSA’s Legislative Policy
Committee and ACSA Region 12’s 2024 President-elect. Passed roles for Dr. Betters
include ACSA’s Region 12 Equity
Representative for the region and the State of California. Dr. Betters is the proud
parent of 6 children and one grandchild. Dr. Betters firmly believes that the common
thread to all her endeavors is that of giving back and helping to amplify the voices
to those who may otherwise not have one.