SAUSD Better Together / Mejor Juntos en SAUSD
Welcome to SAUSD Better Together / Mejor Juntos en SAUSD, the official podcast of Santa Ana Unified School District's Family and Community Engagement practitioners. Join us as we delve into the heart of our district's vibrant community, fostering meaningful connections between families, schools, and the broader community.
In each episode, we'll explore a range of topics aimed at enhancing family involvement, empowering parents, and strengthening community partnerships. From insightful interviews with educators, parents, and community leaders to discussions on educational resources, events, and initiatives, our podcast offers valuable insights and practical tips for navigating the educational journey together.
Whether you're a parent seeking guidance on supporting your child's learning, a community member interested in contributing to our schools, or an educator looking to enhance family engagement strategies, SAUSD Better Together / Mejor Juntos en SAUSD is your go-to resource. Tune in to discover how we're building bridges, fostering collaboration, and creating a shared vision for success in SAUSD.
Bienvenido a SAUSD Better Together / Mejor Juntos en SAUSD, el podcast oficial de los profesionales de Participación Familiar y Comunitaria del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Santa Ana. Únase a nosotros mientras profundizamos en el corazón de la vibrante comunidad de nuestro distrito, fomentando conexiones significativas entre las familias, las escuelas y la comunidad en general.
En cada episodio, exploraremos una variedad de temas destinados a mejorar la participación familiar, empoderar a los padres y fortalecer las asociaciones comunitarias. Desde entrevistas interesantes con educadores, padres y líderes comunitarios hasta debates sobre recursos, eventos e iniciativas educativas, nuestro podcast ofrece ideas valiosas y consejos prácticos para recorrer juntos el viaje educativo.
Si usted es un padre que busca orientación sobre cómo apoyar el aprendizaje de su hijo, un miembro de la comunidad interesado en contribuir a nuestras escuelas o un educador que busca mejorar las estrategias de participación familiar, SAUSD Better Together / Mejor Juntos en SAUSD es su recurso de referencia. Sintonícese para descubrir cómo estamos construyendo puentes, fomentando la colaboración y creando una visión compartida para el éxito en SAUSD.
SAUSD Better Together / Mejor Juntos en SAUSD
1. Better Together: Uniting Families and Schools for a Thriving Community
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The stories of personal dedication and district-wide initiatives you'll hear today underscore the importance of creating inclusive spaces for all families, embracing the cultural richness that each unique background contributes to our educational tapestry. Lorena's involvement exemplifies the power of parental presence in shaping not just academic outcomes, but the emotional well-being of our children. Meanwhile, Elisa's work in encouraging families to bring their whole selves to the table, with initiatives such as sharing personal narratives and embracing bilingual literature, highlights the district's approach to fostering a nurturing, supportive environment for growth.
Closing the episode, we're reminded that the strength of a community is measured by the collective efforts of its members. Through Lorena's advocacy and Elisa's coordination, we're shown a blueprint for building a better community—one where every student can thrive, supported by the unwavering commitment of their families and schools. Join us as we take the first step on this incredible journey, where the power of collaboration is not just celebrated but ingrained in the very spirit of Santa Ana. Together, we're not just crafting a brighter future for our children; we're weaving a stronger, more connected society.
Visit us at our Buzzsprout site below for more ways to listen, links to our social media sites and any referenced materials, and complete transcripts of our full-length episodes.
Visítenos en nuestro sitio Buzzsprout a continuación para conocer más formas de escuchar, enlaces a nuestros sitios de redes sociales y cualquier material de referencia, y transcripciones completas de nuestros episodios completos.
bit.ly/SAUSDBetterTogether
Fostering Family Engagement in Education
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)Welcome to Better Together , a new podcast from Santa Ana Unified School District , where we believe that together we can create a stronger , more engaged community . I'm your host , lisa Gonzalez-Solomon , and we're thrilled to have you join us today for our first episode . In each episode , we'll invite guests from all corners of our district , community and beyond , including students , parents and educators . Our goal is to shine a light on the amazing programs and services of schools in Santa Ana Unified and how we are all working together to make a positive and successful impact for students . So we'll start in today's topic on the importance of family involvement . I'm excited to introduce our special guests today Lorena Vergara , a dedicated supermom within the Santa Ana community , and Elisa Briseño Sandoval , our family and community engagement coordinator . Welcome and thank you for being here .
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)It's a pleasure to be here today . Thank you so much for having me , Lisa .
Lorena Vergara (AI)Thank you for inviting us and for having us here .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)To start , Lorena , can you tell us a little bit about your experience as a mother here in the Santa Ana district and why you think family engagement is so important to education ?
Lorena Vergara (AI)Yes . Well , my personal experience as a mother in the Santa Ana district is very satisfying . I believe and can speak about the importance of family engagement in education . Family engagement is crucial because it provides a supportive and motivating environment for our children , which can improve their academic performance and emotional well-being . Involved parents can help establish study habits , foster a love of learning and collaborate with teachers to address children's individual needs . In short , family engagement strengthens students' academic success and holistic development .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)Lorena , can you tell us what committees you've served on and how you've been involved here in the Santa Ana district ?
Lorena Vergara (AI)The committees that I have served on and that have impacted me have been school site council , elac , dac , student profile , district level , vision and mission and values , and other organizations such as SAILI and COFE . The participation of these committees has impacted me , provided me with the opportunity to actively contribute to the improvement of school education and to be involved in decision making that directly affects students .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)Thank you so much for sharing . It is wonderful to hear the impact she has not only had on her own children , but also on all the students at Santa Ana . Now , elisa Briseño Sandoval , our Family and Community Engagement Coordinator , could you share with us some of the initiatives and programs implemented to foster family engagement within our district ?
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)Definitely , lisa . We're actually working on improving the engagement of our families in the Santa Ana district and we really want to make it a practice across the district for our families and our students to feel like they're part of the schools . Our students are actually that secret ingredient to our success , but also with that comes family , and for us , we want to actually have a district wide culture where we build relational trust and where our families feel empowered to actually be able to express their thoughts , their opinions . For us , families are an integral part of our students' educational experience and we want them to feel like they belong in our schools and that they can approach us at any time . It's really about setting up closer environments for us and it's really about families feeling part of our schools and that their voice matters .
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)And this year we have also focused a lot on the knowledge , wealth and also all the cultural richness that our families bring . We are recognizing that the culture , traditions , values and experiences that our families bring to the table are so important and that they are so valuable to us and to the students as well . This year , our team of 54 family and community liaisons are receiving training on the importance of recognizing all this cultural richness and we want them also , in each school , to be able to provide opportunities for families to share their traditions and experiences in schools . And for all of this , what we've started to do this year , which is super exciting , is we're modeling two initiatives . One of them is reading with the family . We know how important reading is for our children at an early age and that the more we expose them to reading at home and reading with family , the better they will be academically . So for our first book , we actually chose and we were very intentional in selecting the book by Efrain Divided , and this is written by one of his own teachers , ernesto Cisneros , who is a teacher at Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School , and for us it was so important to choose him because he shared the story . In this book we are able to see their experiences over the years , seeing over the years the students , the teachers , and actually sharing all the cultural richness that there is here in the city of Santa Ana and also difficult aspects that sometimes we have to endure , such as deportation . So through this book club that we had with the families , our students and our parents were able to share their experiences , their wealth , sayings that have grown all their lives . Our students actually had questions to our parents about everything they bring and everything they bring educationally to our students . It was a beautiful experience actually to reflect and connect with our families , with the students , and for everyone to share their experiences that they have .
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)Another initiative we have also tried this year is Share Our Stories . This project is super exciting because what we're trying to do here is make every family feel empowered to share their experiences , where they come from , where they grew up , what are the most important impactful things that have happened in their life , and also some of our students are sharing those reflections , and that is to give value to the experiences of our families and that they have so much to contribute . And the most exciting thing about this project definitely is going to be that at the end of it all , we're going to create a book and we're going to share this book across the district so that we can really start to focus our voices on the importance of sharing our stories , our culture , our values and everything that makes us unique as a person and a community .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)It's amazing to hear about these initiatives that are focused on that cultural richness that we have here in Santa Ana , and especially the focus on the voices of parents and students . I look forward to seeing this book when it is published . Lorena , from your perspective , can you share any personal experiences or benefits you have observed from being involved in your children's education within the Santa Ana district ?
Lorena Vergara (AI)Sure . My experience being involved in my children's education within the Santa Ana district has given me the benefit of a greater understanding of the educational process and a stronger relationship with teachers and school staff , and greater satisfaction in seeing the academic process and my children's staff . In addition , my active participation has contributed to the social , emotional and academic development of my children , as well as creating a sense of community within the school , and that makes me feel very happy .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)Lorena , your dedication to our community here in Santa Ana is seen . You can see that her work has not only impacted your own children , but all students . Elisa , what advice would you give to parents who are hesitant to get involved with the school community or feel unsure about how to get involved in schools or take on leadership positions ?
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)First of all , I think we have to really understand what exactly the experience that the family has had in the past and understand where it is that they are asking the questions from , perhaps to really figure out how we can support each other , get more involved in the schools . A lot of the reason is that we sometimes hear or know that families don't want to be involved in schools is because maybe they've had negative experiences before , and this can be anything to . Maybe they came to the office and the person who was there attending was very busy doing other things and could not immediately answer their questions or help them at that time . Or it could have been maybe an experience with a teacher or someone else in the schools and those negative experiences cause sometimes families to not want to come back to schools because they've had that kind of experience . Other things that we have seen that actually also affect us is that sometimes our families feel insecure about their own educational experiences , of their education , and they feel that maybe they have nothing to contribute .
Family Engagement in Santa Ana District
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)It is really important to understand what is the root of the doubt , or maybe not knowing how to participate or what to participate in , in order to be able to establish that relationship little by little . I would actually ask first what your experience at the school has been , if you've ever connected with the liaison that's at your school , because in this district of Santa Ana we have the great fortune that every school has a person who is dedicated five days a week , more than 40 hours sometimes a week , to build those relationships with our families and also provide training and resources . I would ask if they previously connected with this person and this one . If they haven't been able to connect , actually try to establish that relationship .
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)We know all relationships take a lot of work right the relationship with the spouse , the relationship with the child . Likewise , this relationship with our families takes time and we have to take it step by step , starting with every time our families come to our schools . We need to have a smile and be glad that they are there in that moment and help us and focus on really what are the questions that they have or why they're coming to school . It starts with that making that personal connection with our families and inviting them personally . For example , if Mrs Lorena is at school , do you know what ? Mrs Lorena , I'm very happy to see you . Today we are going to have a workshop on how to get better at conversations and dialogues with our children . I want you to be there with us today . Making this personal invitation and connection is so important in our schools , so that our families feel part of the school environment , that they have a place to belong in schools and that we all need to work together for the success of our students academically and socio-emotionally .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)Thank you for sharing your ideas and experiences . Before we conclude , is there anything else you would like our listeners to know about the importance of family engagement in the Santa Ana district , lorena ?
Lorena Vergara (AI)Well , I want to share with parents that family engagement in the Santa Ana District , just like in any other school district , is critical to students' academic and personal success . Some things I would like to share about the importance of family engagement in the Santa Ana District include improving academic achievement , supporting social-emotional development , strengthening the school community , school-home collaboration . Family engagement fosters effective collaboration when parents and teachers work together in the best interest of the student . In summary , family engagement in the Santa Ana district is essential to creating a nurturing and supportive educational environment that allows all students to reach their full potential .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)Elisa, are there any ideas or experiences that you would like to share ?
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)So to me , actually , family and community engagement is a personally transformative thing for the community , for the schools , and it's extremely important work in our Santa Ana district and we've seen that throughout the trajectory of the experiences that we've had with our families in Santa Ana , we've seen some . Really the trajectory of the experiences that we've had with our families in Santa Ana , we've seen some really good changes in our students , in our families , really in the whole school environment . For me , what I've seen is , for example , experiences of parents who felt that maybe they didn't have a voice in the schools , that maybe they couldn't participate in the schools , that maybe they felt that they didn't have a place in the school where they could participate . They could actively be there and participate and through years and experiences and contacts with principals and teachers and family liaisons and even our superintendent , through those experiences that they've had , they feel that now they're part of our school communities and that they have a place in our schools and that they also have that voice and that they can be part of programs or projects or initiatives , such as creating the mission , vision and values of the district . Or , for example , being a participant in the superintendent's advisory board , which are monthly meetings where the superintendent seeks to create spaces for the community and families to be an active part of the district's development and long-term and future plans . So we've seen those experiences as well .
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)I have seen , for example , students who are having difficulties academically , or perhaps we are having problems with absenteeism in schools and thanks to being able to establish that communication , that relationship with the families , we have been able to find the root of the problems and the difficulties that our students are having , give them the support that is necessary and we start to see the improvement academically and we also start to see that students are present in the schools and they are there every day learning . Also , other experiences that we have seen is , for example , we have a large community here in Santa Ana of immigrants and we have lately , those last few years , we have seen more immigrants who have recently arrived from other countries and we know that sometimes when we arrive as an immigrant , we don't have basic things like food , like furniture , like other things in the house and we're trying to create that stability for the students and the family and we've been able to , thanks to a lot of agencies that were not involved and thanks to being able to have that connection with our families . We've been able to provide those basic things for families who need to feel more stable in this country , and that also helps our students a lot so that they can focus on school and do their best academically . So we've actually , through all these years and experiences , seen the power and the transformation that that family involvement does , and we've actually I can tell you that I've developed relationships with super moms who have so much to bring to the table that it actually starts to feel like a second family . It starts to feel like you're seeing friends , people who really value you , value them .
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)Yes , it's a beautiful culture and it's a very nice thing to be part of this work and I feel very , very blessed to be really happy with my leadership team in face , and you know who you are . It is a super dynamic team , a team with passion , dedication , love and dedication to the work , and we also have beautiful families who have a big heart , are kind . They are part of everything that we call them for . We're going to have an event where we need them to come and then they come , or we need their help because we're going to prepare for the Day of the Dead , and there they are with us , or when they also need something from us , we're there for them too . It's such a relationship , such a beautiful connection that we have , and I actually think this proves from the title of this podcast that we're better together .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)Thank you , elisa , for reminding our families that you have so much to offer , that you have so much value to us and that you are also so important to our work . It's always , like you said , better together . In closing , I want to ask you who is a person who has really motivated or inspired you in your life . I'm going to start with Elisa . Thank
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI)To me it's two people it's my mom and dad , and for me , my mom is that voice . Every time I've had a difficulty , every time I feel like I can't do something , it's those words of give it a go , you can , you're successful , you're brilliant . You've done so much in your life . I'm so proud of you and all your work that for me , to have my mom and to have that strong , powerful voice in my life has been able to help me all this time to overcome obstacles
Family, Education, and Motivation
Elisa Briseño-Sandoval (AI). Being first generation , being the first to go to college in my family , that voice from my mom always helped me overcome all the obstacles . And my daddy my dad has a love of reading and every time I came home from work after working 10 hours , there would always be a book and in me that actually inspired that love of education , that reading mentality , that mindset of growth that we can always be better and we can always learn something from other people or from books and we have to always move forward with that open mind .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)Thank you and Lorena , who is someone who has inspired . You .
Lorena Vergara (AI)Hey , to be honest , I never really had anyone to motivate me , just my mom's advice , like any mom does , right . But when I felt that motivation was when I got married and started having my children . They became my motivation , my engine to put my heart into my life . Children have a unique power to bring joy , love , meaning to our lives and it's only natural that their presence and accomplishments push me to strive and be a better person . The love and bond I share with my children can be an inexhaustible source of my inspiration and motivation to face challenges , pursue my dreams and cultivate a sense of purpose in life .
Lorena Vergara (AI)I take advantage of that inspiration to continue growing as a mother thanks to my children . They have motivated me to go back to school . In fact it was something that took many years for me to go back again . But seeing with my daughters they also struggled that it is not easy to study , but with all the support that we have in the district , right , we have . I say we have because I have been part of this . So my dedication and experiences that I have had have helped me to understand that it is not easy but that , yes , it is possible . Yes , it is possible and , as my colleagues , mrs Lisa and Elisa , said here together we can do it right . We can do it together . So I think that , yes , that has been my motivation for me , my children , because , in spite of everything , I have had many difficulties and I have always believed that I am a strong mother , but in reality I have not felt that way . They are the ones who give me strength to continue , to continue , and if I had that support from my parents , I would have been a very different person now . But I really want to thank my mom , my dad more than anything , my dad for having been that man with that character and well , although he didn't let me study , I am dedicated to the education of my children , and not only of my children , of many students , because , as we mentioned before , I have been part of the committees in my school and the truth is , english learners have been my motor , has been something , because I'm an English learner as well .
Lorena Vergara (AI)I came to this country when I was 11 years old and I didn't speak English . So over time , over the years , I learned and now I learn more because my children correct me and my children tell me no , you can . They motivate me . Because of that , in fact I say my children have been my motivation and I have two other younger children in school . I have three grown daughters , adults . But my motivation is the same because if they're okay , I'm going to be fine . Even if they say , today you are very strong , you are very strong , it doesn't matter . I'm going to be strong because they're making me strong for me to continue , because my grandchildren are coming . My grandchildren are coming , I also have grandchildren and I think that's also going to give me more motivation . So , not from the district , I'm not going to leave anytime soon , I think .
Lorena Vergara (AI)But also another thing that motivated me was the graduate profile when I was here in the district with the district staff , the superintendent . That motivated me that they have that interest in those students and that's why we have to get involved as parents of to be here to see what happens , not to believe other people , oh no , it doesn't do anything for our students . No , they do . It's just that we don't get involved enough to know what the district is really giving us , offering us , and they are interested being part of the graduate profile .
Lorena Vergara (AI)It was during the pandemic . It was during the pandemic when I was at home . I mean , everybody was right , all locked up with that depression . In fact , I had my daughter , this one , and , yes , with that problem . But the graduate profile motivated me more and I told her there are people who care about you . There are people you have to seek help so that you get out of this and be a successful person , because the graduate profile prepares students to be informed , competent citizens and committed to their personal and professional development for a good , better future .
Building a Better Community Together
Lorena Vergara (AI)And that is what I want for my children and as long as they continue to invite me and be part of those committees , I think there is Lorena for more . Thanks a lot .
Lisa Gonzales-Solomon (AI)Thank you so much , Lorena , for opening your heart , being a good example for me and everyone else , and also for inspiring us with your words . Lorena and Elisa , I'm so grateful that you were part of our first Better Together podcast . Thank you to everyone who's listening today . We look forward to bringing you more stories , insights , cultural wealth and voices from the Santa Ana community in our future episodes . Until then , remember, we are always better together .
