WEST CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Building a school- and community-driven
transformational movement
Presentation and Discussion Overview
● Working Together Towards a New Vision of Student Success ~ Dr. Kenneth Chris Hurst, WCCUSD
● Furthering a Strategy of Community-Based Transformation ~ Supervisor John Gioia, Contra Costa County
● What Is a Community School?
~ Jora Atienza Washington, City of San Pablo
● Why Community Schools in West Contra Costa?
~ Francisco Ortiz, United Teachers of Richmond
● Where Are We Now And Where Are We Going?
~ Martine Blake, WCCUSD
● Towards a Systems Approach
~ Glen Price, GPG
● Next Steps for the West County Mayors and Supervisors Association ~ Dr. Hurst and Supervisor Gioia
Working Together Towards a New Vision
of Student Success
Our vision is to be the model
of excellence for distinction in
education:
● Research-based practices
● Strong partnerships with family, community, and
public/private sector
● Globally competitive student outcomes
Furthering a Strategy of Community-Driven
Transformation
A community school strategy transforms a school
into a place where educators, local community
members, families, and students work together to
strengthen conditions for student learning and
healthy development. As partners, they organize
in-and-out of school resources, supports, and
opportunities so that young people thrive.
~ Community Schools Forward, 2023
Community schools is a strategy, not a program.
What Is a Community School?
A whole child, whole-community
approach to learning, with students and
families at the heart, surrounded by caring
adults, supported by compassionate
systems.
~ Community Schools Learning Exchange
Why Community Schools in West Contra Costa?
Community schools build on our strengths and address
deep-seated inequities. They:
● Provide a whole child approach to education that addresses the social, emotional, and academic needs of students, especially those who are furthest from opportunity.
● Create partnerships between schools, families, and community organizations to address the root causes of academic disparities and promote opportunities for all students to succeed.
● Offer a range of support services, such as health care, mental health counseling, and academic tutoring, which are essential for meeting the needs of diverse student populations.
● Prioritize family and community engagement, recognizing that parents and community members are essential partners in promoting student success and creating a supportive school environment.
Where Are We Now And Where Are We Going?
Emerging (2007 - 2010): establishment of health and wellness centers at each of our comprehensive high schools and mobile health vans at our middle and high schools.
Maturing (2011 - present): alignment of health and wellness initiatives across West Contra Costa County - Contra Costa Health Services & City of San Pablo
Transforming: the community school creates sustainable practices, relationships, and policies with the entire school community, and braiding and blending of funding supports growth and long-term planning for collective impact.
*NCCS
WCC
Towards a Systems
Approach
Strategic Systems Building
"You do not rise to the level of
your goals, you fall to the level of
your systems."
~ James Clear
(Per WCCUSD-UTR Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 53) The Systems Change Collaborative
Proposal:
Convene the Systems Change Collaborative as a committee of the West County Mayor’s and Supervisors Association, comprised initially of one elected official and one staff person from each member of the WCMSA.
Next Steps for the West County Mayors and
Supervisors Association
1. Approve the formation of a community schools
subcommittee: Systems Change Collaborative
2. Each city/County recruits:
a. One elected official with interest in this area, and b. One staff team member
3. Convene in late summer/early fall with facilitation and logistical support from the WCCUSD/GPG
4. Identify focus areas for immediate planning and action
5. Regularly report to WCMSA and bring action items to
WCMSA as necessary
Thank you!
Questions, Dialogue, Action