Aromas-San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Ruben Zepeda recently traveled to Washington D.C. and San Jose meetings with policy makers and advocacy groups to improve educational opportunities for English learners, Latinos and other minority students while supporting parents, according to a statement released on his visits.
Zepeda was invited to Washington D.C. to Vice President Joe Biden’s residence in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The reception guest list included Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, voter advocate Henry Munoz and Sonia Hernandez Rodriguez of the Parent Institute for Quality Education. President Obama even made a surprise visit. In speaking with Zepeda, the vice president acknowledged the enormous difficulties that superintendents confront on a daily basis as they lead school districts and educate students from diverse backgrounds. Biden honored Hispanic education administrators, teachers, counselors and education leaders calling them “heroes in the classroom and community.”
Then on Oct. 11, Zepeda took a bus load of Aromas-San Juan district Spanish-speaking parents and students to a San Jose forum sponsored by Education Trust West, California PTA and Univision. The forum was the first statewide meeting aimed at educating and engaging Latino parents. Workshop leaders informed parents of their rights and responsibilities and to know, understand and participate in California’s new funding formula in their local districts. They also spoke about the new Common Core State Standards and what teaching and learning will look like under the new standards.
A third workshop shared with parents how to help support children at home and prepare them for college. Zepeda believes deeply in the power of parent participation and used the opportunity to start building a leadership team of Spanish-speaking families who can reach out and engage other parents.
