Rocketship Public Schools

“When was the last time you were in a public school?” That’s the question Riki Rattner asked me recently when we were talking about how to spread the word about BeWell in School. For me, it’s been 15 years. Today, I visited Rocketship Public Schools Dream Community Prep to tour the BeWell Room and meet some of the students this program is impacting. This week has been stressful in Nashville—endless tornado warnings, nonstop sirens, and flash flooding. My week has been chaotic, and I know I’m not the only one feeling it. But here’s who else is stressed: kids. Their routines are disrupted. Their sleep is thrown off. And most of them are constantly navigating big emotions without any tools or support. Here’s what I heard from them today: 💬 “I’m mad because the tornadoes meant we couldn’t celebrate my birthday.” 💬 “I’m tired because I was awake at 3 a.m.” 💬 “I’m sad because Mrs. Smith isn’t here anymore.” All of this brought me back to my own time in school—which may have looked different in rural Indiana but still came with plenty of stress and anxiety. I was a high achiever (still am!) and cared a lot about grades, getting things right, and living up to expectations. I played sports, joined academic clubs, and worked part-time. I had a lot to be grateful for (and still do). But what I didn’t have were tools to deal with the anxiety that came with that pressure. I white-knuckled my way through stress, not knowing there were other ways to cope. I didn’t realize there was another way until I was well into my thirties. That’s why seeing BeWell in action today was so powerful. Their teacher listened, validated their feelings, and led them through a simple breathing exercise to help them settle in for the day. A lot of adults don’t have these tools. These kids do. BeWell in School is helping students regulate their emotions and handle stress in a healthy way—something I deeply wish I had at their age. If you want to help make this possible for more kids, check out their work and consider donating (link in comments). (Also—sharing two photos of me as a kid and as a teenager alongside photos from today, because wow… she could’ve used this back then.)

Thanks to Dollar General and the Nashville Public Library for your investment in building a strong literacy foundation for Nashville’s young people. Rocketship Public Schools was grateful to host the ribbon cutting of the city’s Limitless Libraries initiative. Thanks Syreeta Butler for your leadership!

“Hearing everyone’s story is so powerful. I’m involved in my community, but now I can see how I can grow my movement and make changes. Even through our struggles, we continue to have hope! Storytelling is essential for all that we do.” – Parent Leader This year, I had the privilege of working alongside Stanford University Leadership, Action, and Organizing Program. It was an honor to collaborate with them and bring back my learnings to empower families and educators through the transformative power of storytelling for community organizing. Seeing families at Rocketship Public Schools take charge and create a shared vision for advocacy was incredible. Their leadership is already shaping future campaigns. Families made powerful commitments to growing the movement, supporting each other's renewals, and joining our civic engagement series. I’m excited to see how they will continue to ignite change through their powerful stories!

I am deeply moved by the powerful story shared in the article, which highlights the incredible work being done by my Care Corps Team at Rocketship Public Schools. The commitment to supporting families, especially in times of crisis, is a testament to the strength and compassion that define our community. Fabiola’s experience is a reminder of how critical it is to have a strong support network when facing hardship, and I am proud to see how Care Corps coordinators like Mrs. Martinez are making a tangible difference in the lives of families. By offering practical assistance, building trust and emotional support, Rocketship is not only helping students succeed academically but is also helping families rebuild and thrive. It’s inspiring to see such impactful work, and I hope this story encourages more communities to invest in support systems that help families in need. I have the honor in being on an EdSource panel tomorrow with Bay Area leaders to share the innovative ways they continue to serve our communities after Covid.

We are thrilled to announce that Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep has been awarded the 2025 California Distinguished Schools Award—the highest recognition for public elementary schools in California! This honor highlights our commitment to student achievement, innovation, and community impact. Fuerza is one of only two Title 1 schools in Santa Clara County, and we couldn’t be more proud of the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and families. This is just the beginning! We look forward to continuing to serve our students and families with excellence and care. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dT88tARS https://lnkd.in/gQXJ86eE

TODAY AT 12 P.M. | In much of California, recovery from the lingering effects of Covid on learning, chronic absences and students’ mental health has been slow and difficult. However, some parents, teachers and administrators have met daunting challenges with novel strategies to re-engage students, partner with families and create inspiring opportunities for high school students. Join us for a free virtual roundtable discussion with leaders who seized one-time Covid resources as a catalyst for change. Hear firsthand about these initiatives and whether you might adapt them to your schools. We’ll explore how: • How an Oakland nonprofit created a corps of parent tutors. • How charter school care coordinators help families in crisis. • How a new innovation campus in a Bay Area district inspires all students. • How an urban superintendent blends academic rigor with student engagement. (If you are unable to attend the live roundtable, you can still register and we will send you the recording the following day.) Speakers: • Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University • Lakisha Young, co-founder and CEO, The Oakland REACH • Darin Brawley, superintendent, COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT • Cheryl Jordan, superintendent, Milpitas Unified School District • Lorena R. Solorio, associate director of the Care Corps Program at Rocketship Public Schools

Don't forget: our free webinar is happening tomorrow, March 27th! You still have time to register here: https://bit.ly/3QWH05n

💡 Did you know? High-impact tutoring helps students catch up faster and stay on track—especially in reading and math! 📚 It’s structured, research-backed, and IT WORKS. Let’s make sure more students have access! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/drYauwSH Tutoring footage: Rocketship Public Schools, Bay Area Tutoring Association

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Exciting News! Rocketship California is launching a Teacher Residency Program for the 2025-26 school year!🚀 At Rocketship, we believe in growing the next generation of exceptional educators from within our communities. That’s why we’re launching the California Rocketship Teacher Residency, a new pathway for aspiring teachers to receive hands-on training while earning their Master of Arts in Transformative Education and working toward a California teaching credential—all through a partnership with Loyola Marymount University. Great teachers are the heart of a great school. This residency will: ✅ Provide structured, hands-on training alongside experienced educators. ✅ Strengthen our pipeline of diverse, skilled teachers who are ready to lead high-performing classrooms. ✅ Offer leadership opportunities for talented educators who serve as mentors in the program. Residents will: - Learn from mentor teachers and real-time classroom experience in San Jose Rocketship schools while taking graduate courses at LMU. - Receive priority consideration for teaching roles in Rocketship California after completion. 📢 Join Us! ➡ Know someone who dreams of becoming a teacher? Share this opportunity! 🔗 Learn more and apply here: https://bit.ly/4hLKL8N 💬 Have questions? Join one of our Info Sessions with Loyola Marymount University: 📅 March 27, 5:30 PM PT | 📅 April 16, 1:00 PM PT RSVP TODAY: https://bit.ly/4bZtIPm We can’t wait to see the impact of this program—both for our aspiring teachers and the Rocketeers who will learn from them.🌟