Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1491904
In 2021, MTA received a $75,000 grant from NEA for community schools planning, which they used to organize internally and release a teacher full-time to work on community schools (see sidebar). MTA held a community schools public forum and a series of trainings on leadership development, inviting educators, parents and community organizations to participate. Navar says these sessions were wildly popular and important in building their movement. "We need to be ready from an organizational per- spective to demand and win community schools," he says. " The school board knows that MTA is leading the charge for community schools. It is in the minds of people that this is the focus of our association." MTA adopted an educational justice resolution in 2021, which Navar says aligns with the goals of com- munity schools. MTA is currently building capacity for the community schools effort, which includes educat- ing members and the community about the power of these spaces. He's also hoping that district manage- ment will better embrace community schools — their responses have been tepid at times and collaboration lacking, according to Navar. The groundwork continues to build community schools in Montebello, where Navar notes the amount of work they 've done organizing and planning without yet having one (Note: There is a community school in Montebello, but it is funded by Los Angeles County Office of Education). He can't wait until these efforts come to fruition. "Our students are who this was made for," Navar says. Things are moving fast in Vista Unified, where the district is in the process of implementing five community schools. V TA President Keri Avila says schools at the district had already been providing wraparound services to students and families, so the community school model was a natural fit. "It's an aggressive plan, so we're implement- ing while we're figuring it out," Avila says. The district's com- munity schools steering committee includes V TA educators, but not education support professionals, parents or community — so Avila says V TA worked to ensure those voices are on site-level " The school board knows that MTA is leading the charge for community schools. Our students are who this was made for." —David Navar, Montebello Teachers Association MTA leaders attended last year's Montebello Eggstravaganza to engage the community about the benefits of community schools and build support. " Our community school model is an aggressive plan, so we're implementing while we're figuring it out." —Keri Avila, Vista Teachers Association STEP 5: BUILD STRUCTURES FOR SHARED DECISION-MAKING Vista Teachers Association (V TA) Members: 1,255 Keri Avila, president 5 21 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 3 Keri Avila