Carmen remembers the fear and the isolation she felt when she arrived in South San Francisco. It was a new place she didn’t know, with a different language. She had two young sons and no idea how the American school system worked.
When her older son came home with his report cards and test scores, she would hear from the teacher that “he did well,” and she’d have to take their word for it. She had no idea how to decipher the information. She felt lucky when that son navigated the system and graduated.
For her younger son, she knew something had to change. She couldn’t leave it to chance that he would be able to repeat his brother’s success. That’s when she found Promise Champions.
“I didn’t know anything about the system,” she said. “I had no contacts with other (school) families. Through this program, I have been rewarded. I have built community.”
Promise Champions is a partnership between FIA, the Bay Ed Fund, and the South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD). It was designed and built on the success of FIA’s Lit for Literacy Campaign in Oakland public schools, which has been operating since 2022.
Last year was the first year for Promise Champions in the South Bay. The program covered both literacy and math to align with the district’s new curriculum and strategic priorities. The goal remained the same: to transform how families get involved with their child’s education.
Parents engaged in “book walks,” a Lit for Literacy staple where families explore books with their children and predict what the story is about before they start reading. They also received items they could take home to make math fun, like decks of cards and dice.
Parents practice “book talks” at Promise Champions Session 1, a strategy that help parents develop oral language and reading comprehension at home.
“We felt like the programming was the right combination of organizing and leadership, really believing in families as agents of change and believers,” said Crystal Arrizon, who was a manager of the program as an Associate Partner with Bay Ed Fund. “It’s about transforming schools with the right combination of ‘here’s what you can do right now to make an impact’, and here’s what you can do long term as a school community.”
The program’s benefits didn’t stop with families. District leaders, principals, and teachers co-facilitated sessions with families and built relationships. They shared the truth about the data and where students stood in reading and math compared with grade-level standards. They gave hope that the numbers can improve when everyone works together.
“Ten minutes after sharing some really heavy data, the same leader would be talking about ‘this is our opportunity for change, this is our moment, we can do this together, and your kids are certainly capable,’” said Ash Solar, Partner and Co-founder of Bay Ed Fund. “It was a beautiful moment that showed we can talk about hard things, and we can work together to do great things.”
Marcos Garcia, Assistant Superintendent of Student Family Services with SSFUSD, said those kinds of moments helped break down barriers between families and their child’s school.
Assistant Superintendent Marcos Garcia celebrates the parent leaders who completed the Promise Champions program at the graduation.
“We’re trying to undo a misconception where the families trust the school completely and don’t question anything,” he said. “[The Promise Champions program] was helping families understand that you can ask questions, and these are some of the questions you could be asking.”
Carmen and the other parents who participated had many revelations. She said she learned how to navigate the school system for her son, approach teachers, access and use the district’s online learning and information platforms, and understand the data behind her son’s learning.
“I know how to keep track of what they’re teaching him, how they’re teaching him, whether he’s making progress or not,” she said. “We are also making the effort to reinforce his education at home.”
Juanita Flores, the district liaison, works directly with families year-round. She marveled at the transformation she witnessed in their confidence. She recalled one parent who came in shy and couldn’t read or write in her native Spanish. By the end of the program, she was walking into the school office and confidently speaking with staff, advocating for her child.
“I could write a book about how much she’s learned, how much she’s grown,” she said.
After a successful pilot year, Promise Champions is expanding in a big way. This fall, three site-based institutes are launching at Martin Elementary (Principal Karen Hong), Los Cerritos Elementary (Principal Mr. Covacha), and Spruce Elementary (Principal Ms. Garduno). Families who graduated from the program are returning as facilitators. Ash Solar said he hopes this work is just getting started.
Over the next four years, FIA plans to expand its family leadership programming across the region, deepening its impact in Oakland and growing its presence in South San Francisco and beyond. The goal is to build a sustainable model where families, educators, and district leaders work together to improve student outcomes.
Susan Singleton, FIA’s Director of K-5 Organizing, said she’s looking forward to seeing more families benefit this year.
“There’s excitement in seeing a tremendous amount of parent participation as a result of the institute,” she said. “It’s a really good launching pad for families to get involved at their child’s school.”
SSFUSD parents wearing their “Parent coats” after graduating from our Promise Champions program.
Promise Champions is expanding this year. At each school, 25 Promise Champions (parent leaders who graduated from last year’s program) will facilitate sessions designed to reach 150 parents at their respective sites. Families who graduated from the program are returning as facilitators, ensuring that the work is led by those who know it best.
