Mikki Cichocki Talks About School Board Achievements On Inland Empire Alive

SAN BERNARDINO, CA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 14, 2024 / SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.— Mikki Cichocki, board member of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, discusses her long tenure with San Bernardino schools, her family’s long legacy of teaching, and her priorities for students and campuses. Watch the interview at: https://youtu.be/4vAfc7EbLTU?si=x2-BwQy64pfDKt6m

“All San Bernardino education community members, including parents, must have their voices heard. Decisions about funding and setting priorities need to be aired and discussed openly to reach a consensus on actions to take,” Cichocki said.

Cichocki’s interest in education can be traced back to her parents, both teachers in San Bernardino. She grew up in the area and attended public schools until the 10th grade at San Bernardino High School, where her mother taught, which caused some awkward moments! She graduated from Aquinas High School. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Cal Poly Pomona. After working for Xerox for three years, she attempted to return to Cal Poly but couldn’t get all the classes she wanted. She was working as a teacher’s aide and signed up to be a substitute teacher. “After one day in the classroom, I was hooked,” she told IE Live host David Brady.

During her career with the district, she taught elementary and middle school classes at several San Bernardino schools and loved it. Cichocki transitioned from teaching to working in Youth Services  because she saw it “...as the way to continue helping students by having the resources they need for success.”

Asked what challenges today’s students face that her generation never had to deal with, Cichocki immediately said social media. “It never turns off. Kids today are under constant pressure. It’s addictive and easy to hide behind. It leads to bullying and other problems. Kids feel they need to grow up faster.”

Cichocki points out that today’s children need the opportunity to be children, play, and make friends. “It’s important to teach our students that relationships matter,” Cichocki says. They need the skills to build strong relationships with colleagues, peers, and adults.”

Two years ago, she retired from the district’s Positive Youth Development department, where she led efforts to work with at-risk students, helping them develop positive attitudes and keeping them from becoming involved with law enforcement and subsequently stigmatized. 

She also serves on the California Association of Youth Courts board and previously served as Secretary-Treasurer of the California Teachers Association. In that position, she built coalitions with educational programs and resources.

Learn more about the district, schools, and initiatives at https://www.sbcusd.com. For more information on Mikki Cichocki, visit https://www.facebook.com/Mikki4SBCUSD.

About Mikki Cichocki 

Mikki Cichocki's interest in education can be traced back to her parents, both of whom were teachers in San Bernardino. She was born and raised in the city and attended public K-12 schools. She earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Cal Poly Pomona. Since 1989, she has taught and worked with various San Bernardino City Unified School District programs. She retired from Youth Services for the District, where she led the effort to work with at-risk students and "outliers," helping students to develop positive attitudes and keep them from becoming involved with and subsequently stigmatized by law enforcement. 

Additionally, she currently serves as a Board Member for the District. She was also Secretary-Treasurer for the California Teachers Association, a position that allowed her to build coalitions with educational programs and resources.

For more information on Mikki Cichocki, visit https://www.facebook.com/Mikki4SBCUSD.