|
PLC Kick-off Retreat September 7, 2024: All of our school partners’ Family coordinators and their lead admin.
Left to right back row: Emely Nuñez Family and Community Coordinator Cox Academy, Principal Omar Currie- Cox Academy. Francisco Chavez, Family Coordinator at Learning Without Limits. Anttwan Stanberry Director of After School Programing Oakland Unity. Mr. Gregory Nash, Family Liasion at Hoover Elementary. Corey Timpson -PLC Co-Lead FIA Senior Consultant. Madelyn Guzman, Family Liaison Hoover Elementary. Shawna Myers Principal at Achieve Academy. Kathia Osuna Community Engagement Coordinator at Arise High School. John Warren from Arise High School. Dr. Lehi Dickey, Family Engagement Coordinator at Lighthouse. Shraddha Soparawala, Co-Principal at ASCEND Tk-8, Ana Castellanos Family Engagement Lead at Oakland Unity Middle, and Aracely Garcia, Family Engagement Lead at Oakland Unity Middle. Susan Singleton Lead Family Organizer at FIA, Viveca YCoy-Walton Parent Organizer at FIA. Erica (former parent organizer w. FIA). Rocio Gonzalez Family and Community Coordinator at Lazear Charter Academy, Kimi Kean Co-foudner & CEO at FIA. Areli Porras-Pozos ‘Coach Si’ PLC Lead w. FIA. Abigail Nuñez, Chief of School Education For Change. Kaitlin Friedman Principal at Lazear Charter Academy, and lastly bottom right Nikki Fox Principal at Learning Without Limits.
| |
In the vibrant heart of Oakland, a remarkable movement is taking shape—one that transcends traditional education and focuses on building a community where every family is an empowered partner in their child’s education. This movement is embodied by the Oakland Families in Action Family Engagement Professional Learning Community (PLC), a groundbreaking initiative that is redefining family engagement in schools and transforming the way schools and families collaborate. | |
“The first revolution is internal,” a profound belief that encapsulates the essence of the PLC’s journey. From its inception, the PLC recognized that the key to meaningful change lies in transforming our internal perspectives and approaches. With this guiding principle, the PLC embarked on a mission to refine and adopt a shared family engagement framework for each school site, increase the capacity of Family Engagement Coordinators (FECs) by developing their community organizing skills and knowledge, and foster alignment and collaboration among school site family engagement teams.
We extend a heartfelt shoutout to the participating schools—Oakland Unity Middle School, Lighthouse & Lodestar Public Schools, EFC Cox Academy, Learning Without Limits, Achieve Academy, ASCEND TK-8, Lazear Charter Academy, ARISE High School, Hoover Elementary, Acorn Woodland, and Envision Academy—for their unwavering commitment to equal parent partnership and community engagement.
One of the most inspiring successes of the PLC has been the creation of a strong sense of unity, connection, and belonging across district and charter schools. In a city as diverse as Oakland, this collaborative effort with Oakland’s black and brown families has been prioritized and strengthened, paving the way for a truly inclusive and equitable educational environment.
| |
Empowering leadership has been at the heart of the PLC’s transformative journey. Family and community coordinators have expanded their skills and leadership capabilities, courageously embracing discomfort to pursue intentional SMARTIE goals for family partnership in their schools. This breakthrough has fostered stronger relationships and dismantled power dynamics between lead administrators, families, and coordinators, creating a more collaborative and empowered community. | |
|
The PLC’s journey has been marked by several memorable moments that have reinforced its mission and vision. The kick-off retreat, a groundbreaking event in Oakland with a diverse group of leaders, was a testament to the belief that “The first revolution is internal.” Participants connected, laughed, explored, and delved deep, embodying the shared commitment to transformative change.
A particularly successful campaign effort led by Emely C. Nuñez from Cox Academy resulted in securing $28 million in funding for critical repairs to the OUSD building through a Proposition 51 campaign. This collaborative effort, guided by Families in Action Lead Organizer Susan Singleton and the invaluable contributions of dedicated parent leaders, showcased the power of collective action and advocacy.
| |
|
Gregory Nash, or 'Mr. Nash', a devoted grandparent volunteer and now Family Liaison at OUSD’s Hoover Elementary, shared his profound personal journey, driven by his love for his grandchild and his observation of the absence of fathers and male figures on campus. His leadership growth was not only shared with us but also spotlighted in the SF Chronicle, recognizing his invaluable initiative and contributions to the "Lit for Literacy" program at Hoover Elementary. | |
While the PLC has achieved significant successes, the journey has just started. The PLC’s commitment to ongoing work and structural reflection has emphasized the importance of critically assessing and questioning existing structures, asking essential questions about who benefits from maintaining the status quo and who holds the decision-making power that impacts parents.
Engaging authentically with parents has been another crucial learning. The PLC has recognized that true partnership emerges from intentional 1:1 interactions and opportunities, emphasizing that mere invitations to meetings are not enough. Reflecting on our practices, the PLC has continuously questioned when was the last time we engaged in a 1:1 with a parent to inquire about their learning or literacy journey.
The understanding that "power is a product of relationship" has led to initiatives for increased collaboration and skill development among coordinators and parent-led groups. The PLC has initiated parent-led groups across grade levels and sites, leading to increased meetings, facilitation, grounding, skill development, and practice.
|  | | |
|
|
Looking ahead, the vision of the PLC is clear and inspiring. We envision an Oakland where power rests with those it claims to serve, where parents are leaders speaking fearlessly and skillfully in advocacy for all Black & Brown children across Oakland, and where a collective of educators, parents, and community leaders relentlessly organizes to hold accountable the structures that wield power.
We envision community schools in partnership with Families in Action, equipped with the tools, resources, and structures needed to prioritize family partnership as the key to achieving schoolwide goals such as attendance, enrollment, charter renewals, and academic success.
| | |
|
The Oakland Family Engagement Professional Learning Community is not just a program; it’s a movement towards a more inclusive, collaborative, and empowered community. Through shared vision, empowered leadership, and authentic engagement, we are redefining the role of family engagement in education and paving the way for a brighter future for all students in Oakland.
Join us in celebrating our successes, learning from our experiences, and envisioning a future where every family is a valued equal partner in their child’s education. Together, we drive change!
| | | | |
