Zoo Development Coordinator Mara Rodriguez was titled the 2022 Classified Employee of the Year for the Ventura County Community College District and Moorpark College.

America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College reigned in the new year with many new additions, including eight new animals and the reopening of the zoo. The zoo closed in December due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. Recently, the zoo was cleared to open back up to the public.

With COVID-19 cases slowly going down, the Exotic Animal Training and Management program officially reopened America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College on Feb. 6, the same day as the seventh birthday of Ira the lion.