Strong schools are built through strong partnerships.
Every stakeholder deserves a seat at the table, including students, families, principals, teachers, classified staff, central office workers, community organizations, and local residents who care about public education.
Families should not have to fight to be heard. Community engagement must be intentional, transparent, and ongoing–not limited to public comment at board meetings.
I believe meaningful engagement creates better decisions, stronger schools, and greater trust between the district and the communities it serves.
In my professional capacity, I have held parent cafes related to the needs that parents with special needs children have, including with Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and resources within and outside of the school district. Earlier, I served as a community liaison for Oakland Promise where I helped parents understand how to obtain services.
I am currently and plan to continue to be a part of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at Burckhalter Elementary, where I helped to fundraise money to provide academic enrichment activities, field trips, and supplies that teachers and kids need.
Currently, I am meeting with District 6 school principals, families, and other community stakeholders to better understand the challenges our schools and families face and the improvements that can be made from their perspectives.
I look forward to learning more from our stakeholders and invite you to contact me at leana@leanaforoaklandschools.com if you would like to discuss, or if you have ideas for who else I should reach out to.