California Safe and Supportive Schools

Engaging the School Community in the Transformation Process (Horace Mann Middle School)

Audiocast

Engaging the School Community in the Transformation Process (Horace Mann Middle School)

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The perspectives of diverse school community members are integral to school climate improvement efforts and ensure that a shared vision for safe and supportive learning environments is authentic and effective. In this audiocast, you’ll hear how San Diego Unified’s Horace Mann Middle School has engaged in team-based climate and connectedness improvement work to promote supportive student-staff relationships.

Featured Speakers:

  • Dr. Nea Hearn, District–level Instructional Coordinator San Diego Unified School District
  • Sarah Schulte, Site–level instructional coordinator at Horace–Mann Middle School
  • Nate Leboff, Math teacher at Horace–Mann Middle School
  • Catherine Fox–Copeland, English teacher at Horace–Mann Middle School
  • Gladys, 7th grade student
  • Ahn, 8th grade student 

View the transcript for this audiocast.

Download the Horace Mann brief.

Co-Designing Culturally Responsive Pedagogy with Tribal Partners (Shasta County Office of Education)

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Culturally responsive and sustaining curricula that are by and about historically marginalized ethnic or racial groups are a powerful tool to engage students of color while combating deficit narratives found in mainstream curricula. School leaders can work with local community members in developing learning materials and sharing decision-making to improve school climate while affirming the value of all school community members. In this audiocast, you’ll hear about how Shasta County Office of Education has worked with local tribal members to form an American Indian Advisory group that co-creates lesson plans that celebrate and honor the history, culture, and continuing contributions of Native Americans.

Featured Speakers:

  • Judy Flores, Superintendent of Schools
  • Kelly Rizzi, Director of School & District Support
  • Cindy Hogue, Wintu of Northern California Tribal Member and American Indian Advisory Cultural Consultant, Happy Valley School District 8th Grade Teacher

View the transcript for this audiocast.

Download the Shasta County Office of Education brief.

A Community-Based Approach to Student and Family Well-Being (Pajaro Valley Unified School District)

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School districts that implement whole-community supports incorporate the needs of families and caregivers in their approach to student well-being. In this audiocast, you’ll hear about how Pajaro Valley Unified School District prioritizes community voice to provide responsive supports that promote multi-generational wellness through their Family Engagement and Wellness Center.

Featured Speakers:

  • Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent
  • Christine (Christy) MacLane, Coordinator of Counseling Programs and Coordinator of PVUSD Family Engagement and Wellness Center

View the transcript for this audiocast.

Download the Pajaro Valley brief.

Post-Disaster Mobilization Toward Healing & Recovery (Paradise Unified School District)

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School districts and county offices of education are crucial in responding to the numerous, fluctuating needs that appear in communities experiencing trauma. In this audiocast, you’ll hear about district and countywide response efforts to the tragic wildfire that devastated the small town of Paradise in 2018. These efforts were grounded in a multi-tiered system of support approach to ensure that all school community members had access to counseling and other essential recovery services.

Featured Speakers:

  • Carrie Dawes, Administrator on Special Assignment
  • Scott Lindstrom, Trauma Response & Recovery Coordinator

View the transcript for this audiocast.

Download the Paradise brief.

Centering Community Engagement in Collaborative School Design (EnCompass Academy)

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Family members play a crucial role in supporting positive school experiences for students. In this audiocast, you will hear how EnCompass Academy recruited parents to be active contributors of a school design process that sought to represent perspectives throughout the East Oakland community. This collaborative process led to the development of whole-child strategies that create a caring, supportive school climate while honoring cultural and community strengths.

Featured Speakers:

  • Ms. Amelia Rico, Student–Family Connections Coordinator
  • Brianna, 4th Grade Student
  • Minh–Tram Nguyen, Principal

View the transcript for this audiocast.

Download the EnCompass Brief.