Creating Generational Change in San Bernardino County Schools

For the second year in a row, several schools in San Bernardino County, Calif., have been recognized among America’s Healthiest Schools for excellence in family and community engagement. Cecilia Holguin, Parent & Family/Community Engagement Content Manager for San Bernadino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS), says, “This award is a testament to the dedication of our entire team and our commitment to empowering families to thrive and transform lives through education. We’re passionate about supporting the whole child, which includes the whole family, and this recognition motivates us to continue our work with even greater enthusiasm.” 

With support through Kaiser Permanente, several schools in SBCSS have been working with the Thriving Schools Integrated Assessment (TSIA) tool to identify and reach their goals. They look forward to continuing their stellar family and community engagement strategies and excelling in other areas of whole child health. We recently joined Back-to-School Jams at three SBCSS schools to see firsthand how they work to connect with students and their families.

“It feels like a home.”

SBCSS educators work hard to build relationships so that students feel safe at school. Many of this year’s awardees are alternative schools for students who need more focused support to succeed. Teachers here set boundaries and high expectations for students, without dwelling on the behaviors that brought them to the alternative school environment. “I don’t ask students what they ‘did,’” said one teacher. “We don’t judge them,” said another. Instead, they focus on checking in with each other, showing care, and making sure their students get the academic and health resources they need. For instance, SBCSS provides mental health services with licensed clinicians to every student in its schools, going above and beyond state standards.

Students benefit from a learning environment rooted in belonging and emotional safety. One student said, “It’s like a home; I don’t feel like anyone judges me here,” to which other students nodded their agreement. Another student noted that teachers and staff “care about me as a person,” and check in with him about his life and family. Since he started attending Bob Murphy Community School last year, he can tell that teachers want him to learn, not just pass assignments. When a teacher took the time to work with him until he understood tricky concepts, “That’s when I found out I’m good at math!”

“[The teachers] care about me as a person.” - High School Student

“We wanted our kids to have a safe place to go.” 

“Any time we get recognized for a program, it acknowledges the commitment of our staff to make changes in children’s lives, and not just make changes but transform their lives,” said Dr. Scott Wyatt, SBCSS area director and school board member. The schools’ response to recent wildfires exemplifies this commitment. “We kept our schools open in cities where other schools shut down. We wanted our kids to have a safe place to go during these fires. We wanted them to have a place that was cool because a lot of our kids don’t have air conditioning. And we wanted to make sure they had food.” The feedback principals received from families was resoundingly grateful for the effort to provide safety and consistency during a time of distress.

“We need to meet the students where they’re at.”

“Research clearly shows that students, especially those that are struggling academically and in other areas of life, typically do a lot better when a concerned and caring adult is involved,” said Dr. Christopher Hauck, principal of Bob Murphy Community School, explaining SBCSS’s approach to family engagement. “Now, if you look at our schools and our families and the particular situations they’re challenged with all the time, involving the parent is likely going to result in much better outcomes, whether it be attendance, academics, social-emotional health, or physical health.”

He shared an example of a newly enrolled student whose family had received an eviction notice, making it hard for their mother to participate in academic goal-setting. “So, I reached out to some of our clinicians and family engagement team, and they got her rapid rehousing assistance… I’m the academic leader of my school, but if you don’t know where you’re going to be living next week, what should really be the focus of my efforts and our efforts?” Dr. Hauck has concluded, “To be the most effective, we’ve learned that we need to meet the students where they’re at – meet the families where they’re at.”

SBCSS staff recognize that this requires a customized approach. “Through personalized engagement initiatives, we’ve learned that every family has unique strengths and needs. Counselor-family meetings have revealed the resilience and resourcefulness of our community. These interactions have helped us tailor our support to better meet the specific needs of each family, whether it’s through academic support, mental health resources, or community connections,” Ms. Holguin explained. Families also provide feedback through surveys, focus groups, and organizations like the local African American Parent Advisory Council, District Advisory Council, and District English Learner Advisory Committee.

“We are always looking to build and strengthen our community partnerships.”

SBCSS encourages community organizations to take an active role in students’ success. At the Back-to-School Jams, several local and regional partners were on site to connect with families – from a credit union offering savings accounts to youth in foster care, to housing connection counselors ready to rehouse families, to a barber academy that provided complimentary haircuts in a classroom usually used for shop classes. Some events bring medical and dental services to campus to treat students free of charge. 

Ms. Holguin and the team work diligently to identify and engage these partners. “We are always looking to build and strengthen our community partnerships,” she said. “Support from more community partners in areas such as increasing food support, job training programs, and extracurricular activities after school would be incredibly beneficial.”

“You could be the one who creates generational change.”

These accomplishments are hard won. Dr. Wyatt noted that the schools lose students to violence, substance misuse, and self-harm every year. So, they encourage students to create change for their families. “We teach our kids that, ‘You could be the one that creates generational change for your kids, your grandkids, your great grandkids,’” said Dr. Wyatt. The staff will even connect alumni to resources years after they graduate or leave the school.

Although alternative schools are often seen as a temporary step in a student’s education, SBCSS has found that many students want to stay in an environment where they have the support of a caring community. In 2015, after decades of Dr. Wyatt, Dr. Hauck, and other educators advocating for their students, the schools celebrated their first graduation ceremony. “I look forward to graduation every year. It’s the highlight of my year,” said Dr. Hauck. For Dr. Wyatt and colleagues, graduation is the culmination of their hard work for students and their families. He said, “I get excited every year for our graduation to see new generations of high school graduates getting ready to go out and conquer the world, be responsible adults, and change generations to come.”

Explore resources for culturally responsive family and community engagement:

• Access our 5-Week Guides for Creating a Caring School Community to co-create a caring, supportive school environment with students, staff, and families.
• Enhancing Student Success Through Family Engagement: Develop trauma-informed family and community engagement practices in this interactive e-learning.
• Welcome Families to School with family networking events, community resources, and whole child, whole family support from Kohl’s Healthy at Home.

Does your school or district excel at Increasing Family & Community Engagement and whole child health? Complete the America's Healthiest Schools Award application!