Michelle Pemberton: “We really focus on connection and relationships before academics"

At MPUSD Educational Options, Michelle Pemberton is the Education Specialist for the Building Futures Program and she's doing more than teaching academics. She’s helping students rediscover a sense of safety, belonging, and possibility.

Building Futures is an in-person independent study program serving students in grades 9–12. Designed for students who need a smaller, more personalized environment, the program supports both general education and special education students who have struggled in traditional school settings.

Pemberton’s path to the classroom began later in life. A single mother working full time, she made the decision to return to college at age 35 after a friend asked her about her goals.

“I wanted to show my daughter that education is really important for anybody, but especially for girls,” she said.

She enrolled at Monterey Peninsula College, earning her associate degree in psychology in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She went on to complete her bachelor’s degree in sociology through Chico State’s online program in 2022. Just two days after graduating, she began summer coursework in the Alder Teacher Residency program.

Through Alder, Pemberton completed her co-teaching placement at Seaside High School in an Essentials English class alongside special education teacher Olivia Castro. The experience solidified her passion for working with high school students and supporting learners with diverse needs.

When district leaders asked her to help launch a new program, she stepped in to build what is now Building Futures.

Building Futures is a self-contained classroom, meaning students receive all of their instruction in one supportive space. Many have faced significant challenges, including truancy, housing or food insecurity, trauma, or difficulty transitioning back to school after the pandemic.

“We really focus on connection and relationships before academics,” Pemberton said.

For some students, simply being in a classroom with peers can feel overwhelming. The program’s small class size and consistent, calm environment allow students to “dip their toes back into school,” rebuilding confidence and routine at their own pace.

Once students feel secure, they gradually begin accessing additional campus resources and opportunities.

At its core, Building Futures is about creating a safe, predictable environment where students can heal, re-engage and move forward.

By prioritizing relationships, individualized instruction and stability, Pemberton is helping students not only earn credits toward graduation, but also rebuild trust in themselves and in school.

Through Building Futures, MPUSD continues its commitment to meeting students where they are and ensuring every student has a path forward.