Together We…Take Thinkers to the Next Level

Showing up with a smile and positive attitude is the way Rochelle Pollard, Program Trainer, Quality & Compliance, believes she is making the biggest difference in students’ lives. Rochelle strives to enrich her Riverside Northeast community with her love for education, her caring approach to students, and always persevering attitude. Read below to learn more about Rochelle.

What is your Think Together “why?” What inspired you to work at Think Together?

What inspires me is my community. I have lived and worked here since 1997 and like to have a hands-on approach and be a part of the changes and connections happening in my neighborhood. My need to enrich my community started before Think Together and inspired me to work for the City of Moreno Valley for 16 years, where I held different supervisory roles such as the S.T.A.R.S. afterschool fun club program coordinator and Time for Tots pre-school coordinator.

What is one song that can lift your mood instantly?

“Happy” by Pharrell! The goal is to always see smiling faces on staff, students, friends and family. It instantly makes me walk around with a smile.

What is your favorite part of being a Program Trainer, Quality & Compliance?

Taking folks to the next level and being able to share my knowledge, true stories, experiences and to teach new skills. I love being able to connect with my co-workers and build capacities and competences that help make our team stronger.

What is your version of the perfect day off?

Being at home by myself just relaxing, ordering food deliveries, spring cleaning the inside of my house or starting a DIY home project (like painting, sanding wood furniture or rearranging furniture).

What are the professional goals you are hoping to accomplish this year?

I want to execute on my deliverables with quality and in a timely manner. I wish to continue my growth on this new learning path with ease and contribute to a culture of values, understanding, and togetherness.

Besides necessities, what is one thing in your life that you cannot live without?

I would have to say my kids. I lost my daughter in 2021 from COVID and hold her twin sister, my other daughter and son very close to my heart. We are especially close because I adopted the twins and had my other two children all in a four-year span.

Do you have a student story that has stuck with you?

I have always wanted to be a paragraph in a student’s life that I helped impact. I have a few student stories but the one I love to share is about a Program Leader who was once a student of Think Together. One day at the Hub office, this former student of mine stopped me and asked if I knew why he was there. He told me that he was a student of mine in Program and remembered my happiness and kindness. He also reminded me that my words “you matter, and your voice deserves to be heard” created a huge impact in his life. When he was my student, he was living with his grandmother, and he said the way I went out of my way to consistently check up on him meant the world to him and was extremely needed at the time. He gave me a huge compliment about how lucky my son was to have me. I was so happy he shared this with me.

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?  

I love spending the day making my backyard beautiful and enjoy creating gifts and decorations for events and parties. My love language is giving, and it keeps me busy. I like to treat myself to a monthly facial and massage and you can also find me spending a few hours at the casino!