Tim Johnson knows what it means to show up for students. He’s a product of West Contra Costa public schools and a 1996 graduate of El Cerrito High, and he has spent his career working with youth in the district. Today, he’s a special education paraeducator at Pinole Middle School and the head football coach at his alma mater, El Cerrito High.
But for years, there was a barrier standing between him and his goal of leading his own classroom: he needed a bachelor’s degree, and the path to earning one while working full-time felt out of reach.
Johnson first heard about Rivet School years ago, but wasn’t ready to return to school until colleagues brought it to his attention again in 2023. The opportunity to work at his own pace while balancing work, coaching, and family life was exactly what he needed.
Johnson earned his associate’s degree in two semesters and his bachelor’s in two more. He’s now applying to Cal State East Bay to start a special education credential program this spring.
Johnson’s story is one of many emerging from a partnership between Rivet School, West Contra Costa Unified School District, and the Chamberlin Education Foundation. Launched in 2023, the collaboration creates a pathway for classified staff to earn their degrees and take the critical next step into teaching.
The model pairs a flexible, competency-based degree program through Southern New Hampshire University with personalized coaching and financial support from Rivet School, backed by the Chamberlin Education Foundation. The result has been a steady pipeline of aspiring teachers who are already deeply invested in the community.
So far, 11 WCCUSD employees have graduated with a BA through the partnership, and eight of them, 73 percent, are either planning to apply or are currently enrolled in a teaching credential program. Importantly, 100 percent of alumni who graduated at least nine months ago are still working in WCCUSD, keeping their experience and community connections in local classrooms.
The impact extends beyond the classroom, too. Graduates saw an average salary increase of $10,512 from intake to post-graduation, a 22 percent average increase that represents life-changing financial stability for them and their families. Another nine students are actively enrolled, working toward their own degrees.
The Coach Going for His Credential
Johnson’s Rivet School coach, Logan Perkins, saw his determination from their very first interaction.
“Building trust takes time, and strong coaching relationships are usually developed through consistency and shared experiences,” Perkins said. “But with Tim, things were different. He was ambitious and clear about his goal: he wanted to finish his degree as quickly as possible. There was no confusion about his why.”
During his time at Rivet School, Johnson was also taking over the football program at El Cerrito High. Leading young athletes, setting a vision for a program, managing staff, and building culture are not small tasks, Perkins noted.
“To do that while completing a degree speaks to his time management, resilience, and commitment to excellence,” Perkins said. “I can only imagine the long days and even longer nights he put in, not just to succeed on the football field, but to succeed academically as well.”
For Johnson, 2025 was a year he’ll never forget. He earned his degree, led El Cerrito High to its first-ever state football championship, married the love of his life, and watched his mother beat cancer. Now he’s looking ahead to his own classroom.
“I’m just excited about what’s going to happen next,” he said.
From School Parent to School Teacher
Nicole Burrell is one of those nine students currently enrolled in the WCCUSD Rivet School program. A teacher’s aide for a transitional kindergarten class at Olinda Elementary in El Sobrante, Burrell has been part of the school community for years. Both of her children attended Olinda, and she started as a volunteer before becoming a yard duty supervisor and eventually a teaching assistant.
It was her principal, Dr. Amandeep Randhawa, who saw her potential and encouraged her to pursue teaching.
“She chased me around for two weeks,” Burrell said, telling her she needed to be a teacher. When Burrell learned about Rivet School through her principal, she decided to take the leap despite her fears.
With support from her academic coach and the flexibility to work at her own pace, she is now well on her way to earning her degree.
The financial support from the partnership has been a huge relief, she said, “lifting a burden off my shoulders.”
For Burrell, teaching in the community where she lives, right down the street, means everything.
“When you’re a familiar face, it’s easier to earn the trust of families and connect with them,” she said. “I live here. It just makes sense.”
Building the Pipeline
Dorothy Gray, Senior Partnerships Lead at Rivet School, has watched the WCCUSD partnership grow from a handful of initial enrollments. She credits much of the success to district liaison Kristyn Loy, whose institutional knowledge and advocacy for staff have been instrumental.
Rivet School’s program works best when three things come together: a district partner who believes in the mission, funder support to remove financial barriers, and Rivet School’s hands-on coaching from application to graduation.
The Chamberlin Education Foundation funding has also been key, helping potential students overcome the uncertainty of cost before they even apply. Knowing there’s support available opens the door.
“The partnership is really blossoming,” Gray said.
Reaching the Finish Line
Maria Poblano’s journey illustrates what’s possible at the end of this path. She enrolled in the program in May 2019, but just a few months later, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Her coach told her simply, “We’ll wait for you here.”
When Poblano was ready to restart, still dealing with significant brain fog, her coach helped her set small goals and work at her own pace. By the end of the year, she completed her bachelor’s degree, was accepted into the Alder GSE teacher residency, and was on her way to earning her teaching credential and master’s degree.
“I never thought I was going to get a master’s in education,” Poblano said. “Rivet was a big part of that. I don’t think I would have been able to go back to school without going through Rivet.”
Now in her fourth year as a second-grade teacher at Richmond College Prep, she brings that experience of being supported through hardship into her classroom every day. She sees students who arrive with heavy backpacks, and she wants to make school a safe haven for them.
“I tell them, no, you’ve got this,” she said. “Let’s try it this way. If that doesn’t work for you, let’s try it another way.”
Johnson, Burrell, and Poblano were already showing up for students every day. Rivet School helped them take the next step so their students get to see someone who looks like them, who lives near them, who understands them, standing at the front of the classroom.
