Community Schools with Jennifer Gateley and Yvonne Molles

Today's episode is focusing on a transformational opportunity for whole child education by jumping into all things California Community Schools. With us to share more about how these programs are transforming schools into community hubs is Jennifer Gateley the Director of Learning Systems and Support and one of her Community Schools Coordinators, Yvonne Molles.

Early Education and Development webpage:
https://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/index.php/en/ess-2019/early-education-and-development

Music by lemonmusicstudio from Pixabay - Where the Light Is

Transcript

Early Education and Developments - Tomorrows Readiness Starts Today-Jenn&Yvonne_mixdown

Wed, May 22, 2024 1:23PM • 28:16

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

schools, community, work, opportunity, students, partnerships, education, early, families, story, support, district, jennifer, journey, lean, engaging, share, heard, california, exciting

SPEAKERS

Nancy, Jennifer, Ana, Yvonne M.

Ana  00:07

Thanks for joining us for another episode of tomorrow's readiness starts today, a space where we share with you how the early education and development team is working alongside programs and initiatives that are shaping the future of childhood education. I'm Ana Garcia. And

Nancy  00:21

I'm Nancy Sherod. Today's episode is focusing on a transformational opportunity for whole child education by jumping into all things California community schools, with us to share more about how these programs are transforming schools into community hubs. is Jennifer Gateley, the director of learning systems and support and one of her community schools coordinators, Yvonne Molles, thank you, both of you for joining us today.

Yvonne M.  00:45

Morning

Ana  00:46

So ladies, we know both of you have been working for the county for quite some time. Can each of you take a quick moment to introduce yourselves and share a little bit about yourself and how that how you came about in your journey and your current role? 

Jennifer  00:56

Sure, I can go ahead and lean in. As you said, my name is Jennifer Gately, I'm the director of learning systems and supports here at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. And as we talk about whole child teaching and learning in the Community Schools Initiative, I'm also the regional lead for the southern inland region Technical Assistance Center for Community Schools. This is my dream, my dream opportunity right now everything is we talk about our journey and what's led us to this point, everything I've done has brought me to this opportunity to create the most amazing team and lean into this transformational opportunity to really look at how we do school, who we do school with and for including our youngest learners all the way to our oldest learners. And really reimagine the way that we service and support and engage them in that process. So parts and highlights of my journey that have brought me to this point, whether it's being a principal at what would now be considered a community school, whether it's leaning into early education, after school programs, MTSS PBIS, it all comes together in a journey to really lean in and do things differently with it with an incredible team, like I said, so we're happy to share some of those highlights with all of you today.

Yvonne M.  02:14

All right, and I'll jump in, as you said, Yvonne Molles, Community Schools coordinator, I really have to go back to my why. And it's my mom. It's my dad. It's the journey that they both took. It's you know them both as immigrants in this country, it was my family, trying to navigate the school system. And the good and the bad of that. And my mom was always a fighter for the kids who didn't have a voice. And yeah, and, you know, when she was teaching, she was a community school in her classroom, right? She had a pantry, she had a food closet. But she always taught me to fight for those that didn't have a voice. And I take that into everything I've done with county schools, I've always advocated, whether it's working with students with disabilities, or alternative education students, just ensuring that, you know, their voices heard, and their needs are being met. I always say, you know, you can have the most enriching academic environment, but if you haven't addressed the food issues, the housing insecurities, you know, those things, then you're building a shaky house, so to speak. So, but my journey with county schools, you know, I've been everything from a sub para, to a para educator to a teacher, curriculum specialists. And then this work came along and this fabulous lady sitting next to me, was like, you gotta get on this bus. Because this is this is the work that needs to be done. So I'm just really excited, you know, to be a part of the not just the the learning systems and support team but the southern inland region, RTAC, it's a huge footprint, and we're not just touching one county, we're touching multiple counties. So it's exciting work.

Nancy  04:00

I love it. This is why I love doing because we get to hear pieces. And again, we work alongside all of these teams at the county. And we get to see pieces and we get to see those glimpses. But to dig in and find out the whys behind both your work. We see those pieces, but again, to share it with everybody. So we're gonna jump into a big question. Community Schools is a new focus for the county. So let's talk about what that came from. Because like early ed, we're new we started January of last year.  You guys are right there alongside us with being a new department. So where where did this get brought to life?

Jennifer  04:33

Sure, so I'll give you a little history lesson here on community schools, because even though it feels like this is a new initiative in the state of California, historically, it's actually been on the horizon since the early 1800s. Community Schools was a democratic movement. It's a movement of looking at schools as a social change agent. So the foundations of community schools has been long established. It's just Coming into California as an opportunity to redesign, especially post COVID. The realities of how we serve as students and realizing that when we serve as students that there's families and communities behind them and around them, that have the opportunity to be included in them in those same services, the same supports and the same opportunities as well. So when we look historically, and see, wow, this has actually been happening for hundreds of years. Right? Now, we're just in this opportunity, where we're optimizing the potential of looking at how we do school reimagining and redesigning, not just to be responsive to the needs of students today, but to be forward thinking, and how we support and serve students for the future that lies ahead for them. So after that historical foundation, we know that there is a federally funded community schools initiative that really hit the ground in 2011. So that's when nationwide community schools started to spark up particularly on the east coast and in the south, where they were looking at, we have urban schools, we've got impacted areas, and we have to look at how we resource serve and engage students differently. And then comes COVID. And now California is on the stage. So once California came in, in July 2021, with the California Community Schools partnership program, a historic the highest educational investment ever in California for this $4.1 billion investment in education, really looking at the idea of transformation, but putting legislation and funding behind it. And that's when we really all eyes came to California to say there is going to be something truly transformational happening with all initiatives aligning legislative support fiscal allocations to district schools and county offices to say, it truly is time to redesign and reimagine the way we do school. And that's where we are today.

Yvonne M.  06:57

No, and that's a she is she does it so eloquently. I think the only thing I would add is is you know, when you look at investments into education, right? Oftentimes, you know, there'll be initiatives put forward, and then the money kind of ceased to exist, right. But I think you're even seeing this now. And this may revise right, with the budget, that the governor and the legislators are still committed to it. And that's, that's exciting. I was, I'm a nerd, Jennifer knows this. And so I was reading the ACSA May revise analysis and reading the Eleos. And, you know, all these things from this day, and you're continuing to see the investment and the, you know, the dedication to this initiative. And, and that's exciting for us, especially doing the work, because it's, you know, one thing to be excited about the work, but then to have that back bone of the state is like, okay, yes.

Nancy  07:54

To be able to make it come to life, right? It's not just principals knocking on doors anymore. There's a whole group, it's a family visit now. And there's no more carrying a banner by yourself. So that's, it's a community's really excited.

Yvonne M.  08:08

Sorry, I jumped on that. We'll make it happen.

Ana  08:12

So ladies, you've talked about community schools in San Bernardino County. So tell us how are schools in San Bernardino County engaging with involving the local community? 

Yvonne M.  08:21

This is like my love.

Nancy  08:26

Like just smiling a glow? You can't see it, but I'm sure you can hear her voice.

Yvonne M.  08:30

I think this is the whole premise. When you say community, right? It's engaging its community at its very best. And so we just recently held a spring convening in April at Garner Holt. And that's what we talked about was unlocking the power of partnerships, how are we bringing the community into our classrooms, and it's exciting to see the work that's already being done. I'm going to use Hesperia High for instance, I mean, they're partnering with one of their local nonprofits, the high desert second chance, and not only are they providing a CTE pathway, the students get to go work there, right. But they also are providing and they're no longer calling it a pantry. They're calling it a market. So families can come shop, right. And so there's that connection that they're making. They have a set of a clothing closet, it's a clothing store, so students can come shop it so it's all those little things. But Garner Holt is a perfect example. And that's why we were very intentional about going there because they too are providing those pathways. They're working with Fontana, they're working with Hesperia, Rialto and creating these makerspaces in in these districts and allowing the students to come into their facility and see that you know, you don't have to just, you know, go from high school to college. You can come to ours, we can train you while you're in high school, and then we can continue to train you and then eventually send you back to school, you know, so there's all these different opportunities. That's just, you know, a couple examples. But but we are very being very intentional with our grantees in trying to make those connections within the local district. So who is who are the businesses that serve Upland? Who are the businesses that are serving Ontario, and making those connections working with our workforce development partners? And seeing what opportunities are out there? What is the workforce need from our students? And what do our students need from the workforce? So that was the power of partnerships? And I don't know.

Jennifer  10:42

Yeah, I think you did an amazing job. In sharing really what is our purpose with Community Schools and partnerships is part of our purpose. It's part of our, our vision for community schools is elevating a collective impact approach. It's raising the village, really, it's raising the village, and creating schools as as that hub of the community and so much of that is creating opportunities to build relationships, to build connections. And to see that we're really all working together for the same the same outcome, we really all want to see our children thrive, we want to see our families thrive, we want to see our communities, reaping the benefits of students and families who want to live work, stay in play, where they've gone to school and reinvest in that community long term and see gains that that go from the home to the education sector to the economic sector, right, we want to see everyone thrive and working together in that. And that really does come down to relationships. So we're proud on our team to have the opportunity to lean in with our schools, to guide them and to create those opportunities where we're linking together, education partners, and cross sector partners, workforce partners, people who don't often come to the same table, but we're having the same conversation in different tables, and really working alongside them to bridge those relationships and bridge those gaps. So that we can really have those shared conversations together.

Nancy  12:16

When you've got lots of success, lots of impact happening. So can one or both of you share an example share an example of this one piece and you've given a little bit with the Hesperia piece, but what's one that if you had to tell a story of the magic that's happening in community schools, this is the story you want everyone to hear.

Yvonne M.  12:37

Gosh, there's so many. I think as we're, you know, we're getting out in the field, and we're engaging more with our grantees. Like, there's just so many and I'm like, I don't want to leave one district out, and that none including other, um, you know, I'll spotlight Rialto, and just some of the work that is being done, you know, around family engagement, you know, they have a center that is a parent center, right. And it's, it's literally their center, you know, they help run it. They have parent volunteers that are greeters at the door. They're holding their meetings there. So they're different advisory groups for parents, but it's also a place for parents to come. You know, perhaps there's a dispute at the school site, right. And the parents feeling like I'm not being heard, they can come there. And it's almost like a restorative center, right. And so the parent gets to be heard, they get their voice heard. And, you know, the outcome may still be what it was going to be at the school site, but at least there's a place for them to be heard. And, you know, it's with that intentionality of trying to build that bridge back for the parent and the school site. So that's just, that's an example of family and community engagement. Right. But I could go back, you know, even to the high desert, the Silverwood project, that construction that's been done. The builder, you know, the architect, they're very been very intentional about using our students in the high desert to do the work because like Jennifer said, they're putting that investment back into the community. And so they're working with MD, MDP mountain desert pathways, I had to get all my acronyms correct. And using students from the local high schools, you know, and some of them are our grantees, and some of them, you know, are coming on board next year. So, it's just exciting to see, like, what else am I there? I had the gift of gab to Jennifer knows that. But, um, but it's just, you know, and I'm sure more stories are gonna come but it's even reframing like, you know, instead of calling it a pantry or closets you know, it's a market where families can come and shop. It's those little things are making those communities. 

Nancy  14:45

Yeah, absolutely. I love that. Thank you for sharing all of this. Okay, Let's shift this and turn it it to an early ed lens. Right? We know early education, Jen mentioned it in the very beginning. So let's shift and reframe and let's start talking through community schools and how early education is impacted and how that partnership is working with the with the two departments. Sure.

Jennifer  15:17

I think we have to acknowledge first that when we explore what what is community schools, and as Yvonne just shared, what are successful models of community schools, looking historically, Headstart is one of the first right models of community schools and reminding ourselves that it's not inviting early education to the Community Schools conversation, it's recognizing that again, you are part of the community schools conversation. So when we look at the models, for example, around Headstart, seeing that wraparound model that that approach, where we're servicing the whole child, the whole family, and oftentimes the whole community as those early education programs are bridging into our K 12 programs, that is a successful community schools model. So the work is not how do we develop early education and community schools, it's how do we continue to elevate success of Early Education and Community Schools, universal pre kindergarten gives us a wonderful opportunity to do that, as we look at early headstart, and now we're again inviting state preschool, transitional kindergarten, or early child care programs and service providers to be part of that approach of leveraging the whole child, and the whole family and the whole community together and really wrapping around them together, not just in their birth to age five moments, their cradle to classroom window of time, but really intentionally transitioning that successfully into the TK 12 pipeline. So as we look at that opportunity, we're excited to recognize that we already have a lot of success in that area through our partnerships. It allows us to work together to elevate some shared priorities. So in those conversations, we are all looking at a wraparound approach of students and families. How can we do that together through sharing resources by community providers, and opening doors early in the T K 12 system to recognize these little ones are on the way they're in the parking lot, they're at the park, they're across the street, we don't need to wait to invite them into our TK 12 system, when they're already so supported in their early ed system, we just need to link and leverage the transition between the two. We need to optimize school readiness indicators. We need to point all arrows towards prevention and early intervention supports that ultimately give us the gains and the skills and the proficiencies that students need in early literacy that sets that trajectory for long term success. So as we work together, we know that we already have some amazing partnerships, whether it's through our vision to read collaborative, whether it's through quality start San Bernardino partnership, that are poised and ready to lean in to this together. It's just continuing the work that's already in place for us.  And I love what you said about recognizing it's not that we're creating, it's recognizing it. And I think that's one of my favorite things with UPK. And I think I've said it on this podcast a few times that UPK gives us that through line, we've been working in these silos in communities. And now there's going to be this community, that bridge is even bigger, that we're supporting from birth all the way up, instead of saying you're now mine, when you walk onto this campus into this district, we're gonna go further deeper through, which is exciting about the partnerships as we move forward. 

Yvonne M.  18:36

And imagine if you're a parent, and you get that engagement at birth, right. And you feel like you're part of the community, the minute that that baby's born right in this county, and we create that true intentional through line. You know, I would love the nerd in me would love to measure that right? But like, I mean, like, how amazing is that, that you're not waiting until your student is going into preschool to be engaged, but you're being engaged. You know, as soon as that baby comes into this county, and, and you're, you know, being offered, you know, here's where diapers are, here's where you can utilize food service, or parent engagement. You know, nobody gives you guys a handbook. And I'm saying that as the Thea and the ante, right? But nobody gives moms a handbook or dads and say here, this is how you do it all. And this is where you get all the services, right? Nobody does that. And even if they did, I've told this to Jennifer before that document would be consistently changing. Right? It would have to depending on the factors that go into that. So I just think it's so exciting because the work is now we're doing that intentionality of connecting. So now you will see that through line if we do it right.

Ana  19:47

Awesome. So ladies, how does Community Schools measure success and impact

Jennifer  19:52

A s we look at community schools, that is a complex question. Well, there's no there's no silver bullet. There's no one answer to that. Because truly the vision of community schools, it's student centered, it's community connected. And it's responsive. So so it's a living and breathing process. So when we look at how we measure success, we're looking ultimately at students and families. And our ultimate goal is to see everyone thriving, right? Developmentally, academically, health and wellness and, and all indicators thriving together. So there's voice there, right? There's, there's emotion there. And so getting into the store into the communities and really starting with, what's your story, right? Like, what is the story of this community? What is what is the narrative of the families and the children that you're serving together? And then, and then what are your aspirations, right. And that often takes us to growth and measurement and of course, educator, former administrator lens, we're reaching for outcomes, we know that we know that there is skin in the game, we need to see things like early literacy rates improve high school graduation rates improve, we need to see chronic absenteeism, improve, but when you service the needs of students and families, they want to come to school, they know that that's where their resources are, they know that that's where their opportunities are, that's where their support system is long game that will improve chronic absenteeism, right? When you create a school that students want to be at, they feel seen, valued and heard, they feel supported and wanted, they will come and when they are there. Then it goes to our classroom teachers to create instruction that is connected to their lives, current their their culture, and their opportunities in the future. That's when it comes into the classroom to say now, now that you're here, let's talk about elevating, teaching and learning, right for today's children for tomorrow's future. And again, there's those those measurement impacts there. But I truly think that it's not about starting with indicators of success and outcomes and all the things right. It really is about starting with a story and a vision for where are we and where do we want to be? We'll measure the journey along the way. But let's start with the story first.

Yvonne M.  22:33

And when did you even say, Jennifer? And sorry, I'm not trying to hijack the podcast. But what did you even say? It's gonna vary depending on district to district, right? Because every district and I think even every school has a different story. And it's going to have different outcomes. You know, I think that's one thing to be mindful, as we're trying to measure this success is that Needles story is going to be very different than Ontario-Montclair right? then Hesperia than Rialto, you know, so. And then within those districts in the school sites, it's going to be a different story, you know, and that students story and family story is going to change as that kiddo goes through, you know, their academic, his or her academic career. So, I love that, that we're telling the story first. And I agree, we, you know, we talk about data all the time. And like, yes, we're gonna measure those those outcomes. But at first, it's really sharing stories. 

Nancy  23:27

Which is such a good place to be seeing the people before the numbers always feels better. So it's a great era of education that we're entering into. Well, I we love that you guys have been sharing things. Is there anything else you want to make sure our listeners hear about your work about your passions? Just about the vision and the future of community schools, early education, that workforce piece?

Jennifer  23:50

I, I would say what I would leave everybody with that call to action is is join us join us in the journey. This is, like I said, historic in California and opportunity that we certainly don't want to pass up as far as engaging not just our local communities are districts and schools statewide, but also a larger national and international conversation about how are we servicing students? How are we doing education? And yes, there is a program California Community Schools partnership program. It is a grant funded program. And yet every school is a community school, whether you have funding, whether you're a grantee or not, whether you're implementing this initiative or that initiative. This truly is when we look at the Community Schools movement, and I'm air quoting for those who can't see, this truly is an inclusive call to innovate how we do school, every school, early learning programs after school programs, T K 12 programs, partnering with higher ed, this is a call to action for everyone who is an educator who is around education, who is in the community who benefits from the students that we give you in the workforce. This is an all call for everyone. And so I think that's what I would leave you with is just, it is time to come to the party, it is time to really put your passion with your purpose, and lean in. And we don't always know the answers, but leaning in, will elevate the opportunities that we can explore together. And I think that's where it starts with is just join us at the table, lean in, ask the questions. And let's see where the answers emerge together.

Yvonne M.  25:41

I think for me, I mean, that I mean, that's powerful, right there, I think the only thing I would just tag on to that is, you know, fall of 2024 We have an exciting fall convening coming all around, you know, creating that through line between early childhood and community schools. And so, you know, be on the lookout listeners for that, because we will have a save the date coming out. But that is really we will have a save the date coming out. And we're excited to get to work with our early ed department, and we're bringing first five on CCRC is coming on, Helped Me Grow. These are all community based organizations that you're gonna see us all come together and that true spirit of what community schools is, through line that through lines are being you know, so, you know, be on the lookout for that and just excited to be able to partner with our teams. 

Nancy  26:43

Well and if okay, you mentioned to save the date coming and you've got this event coming? Is there a place that if our listeners aren't like, oh, I want to know more? I want to see what you're doing. They can go online and find more information. 

Yvonne M.  26:54

Yes it is ccsppsirtac.org

Nancy  27:02

And that will be in our notes. Yes. Because that was a lot about on this podcast, we have taught them that acronyms are way of life. So we will make sure we put that in our notes. If you want to know more about community schools, head to the website, because it's a great place and a great resource with videos and all sorts of fun stuff. 

Yvonne M.  27:19

And the Save the date information will be on there by July 1. So let me just make sure I put that in there. But you also have an opportunity to look at some of just the partners that we currently have ones that we're bringing on, and then our past convenience that we had. So just to get a taste of what is to come. So So fall, September 2024. Be there everybody? Yes.

Nancy  27:42

Well, we want to thank you both for being here and taking time out to share your work with us and our early education listeners. We know this work will continue. We're excited to see where it grows. And we know this partnership is going to continue and we're excited for the continued convenience along with you guys.

Ana  27:59

That's another episode from our team. 

Nancy  28:01

Thank you for joining us and we hope you tune in next month where we will once again share how tomorrow's readiness starts today.