Dr. Stacey Perez-Carrasco

Community Leadership (CAPE 19, 20)

 

The role of a leader is to establish community partnerships that promote and support student progress. Community leadership is the ability to advocate and involve others to work towards the school’s vision, mission, and goals. Working with the community, principals must set the expectations for students to graduate and be college and career ready. As a charter school principal, advocate, and public speaker, it is my role to disseminate information to the community, stakeholders, and the public.

 

In Administration 541, exploration of family and community expectations were incorporated with decision-making. The stakeholders include the surrounding community, businesses, institutional partnership and local supporters. Administration should include these stakeholders on key issues, including the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), school successes, and the organizational vision and goals. As the LCAP facilitator for the Classical Academy organization, I oversee the goal setting, implementation, funding allocation, and follow up of three charter school LCAPs. Included in the goal setting is communicating and meeting with all stakeholders, such as parents, teachers, and community members. In order to bring the stakeholders into the discussions, the information must be disseminated and explained. Community resources can be valuable to the development of programs, building relationships, and helping to coordinate school and community facilities. Perez (2018) stated, “A parent empowerment academy can provide support, resources, and information, while allowing families to be part of the school growth process. The components of a parent group include collaborative forums, support, and a focus on intervention for student success. This type of parent group can also help provide insight into certain subgroups or underserved students that need a voice.” The value of the LCAP goals and funding is to serve nonduplicated populations of students enrolled in the schools and programs. Students who are identified as meeting low income levels, foster youth, English Language Learners, and homeless are the primary funding reasons that schools receive additional funding. In turn the LCAP is a way to communicate the amount of funds being received, by the school, the goals that they set to assist these students, and then the progress they made towards meeting the goals. This report happens on a three year rolling average. Having specific funding for underserved students provides them with additional money for books, summer school, and resources that were previously undefined in school budgets. Providing these groups with additional resources, ultimately helps raise student achievement towards college and career readiness.

 

The Community Resource Infographic, created in Administration 541, is an excellent resource that can be used in the current school setting. The infographic outlines organizations, contact names, addresses and phone numbers for resources in the immediate community. Additionally, the list breaks down the multiple ways that the organizations can help. When completing the project, I reached out to each site, to introduce myself and explore the ways the different organizations can help public schools in the area. From leadership to sports facilities to additional programming, each organization was informative and helpful for future contacts.

 

The Escondido Chamber of Commerce is an excellent resource for Classical Academy Online. Through the development of this project, I was able to meet the Commerce President, Rorie Levine, and build a relationship that led to the school being involved in the STAR Student Program. Eight times a year, we are able to provide a Senior student name and description to the Chamber of Commerce. A breakfast and awards ceremony is then held to honor this student of the month and provide them with an application for a college scholarship. I was able to nominate and honor eight seniors, this year, and two won $1,000 scholarships. The scholarship ceremony was held at our downtown street fair, which brought additional attention to our high school and how we partner with the community. Showcasing students and offering scholarship opportunities provide a great impact on student success. Many of these students had incredible stories to share of their journey, struggles, and successes. These stories might not have been heard if we hadn’t reached out to the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and made those connections and community relations.

 

CAPE 19: Representing and Promoting the School’s Accomplishments and Needs to

the LEA and the Public

ADMIN 541 Leadership IV: Community

Evidence: Parent Empowerment Academy

 

CAPE 20: Involving the Community in Helping Achieve the School’s Vision and

Goals

ADMIN 541 Community Leadership

Evidence: Community Resource Infographic