Dr. Azcoitia Community Schools

Listen to Dr. Azcoitia speak about the education challenges and being innovative. Did you know that many students in our public schools feel like they don’t belong? Did you know that all students need to be recognized by the assets they bring in order to feel at home in school and learn with ease? I have news for you listeners, some educators do not believe in their students and see them as an issue to the school’s overall ratings and performance. Is there hope in community schools?
-Welcome to our listeners in the north, south, east, and west. We are EDUCA K16 Podcast bringing distinguished guests with a wealth of knowledge and expertise to cultivate curiosity, provide educational advice and best practices to move the education conversation forward. Stay in the now with EDUCA K16.
-Shout outs to Jose Carloss from Vottles, post production, to DTO Music for our jingle, and to ArtereZone for our branding.
We give a heartfelt welcome to my co host, Dr. Abdin Noboa who has written the most recent books in the nation about Latinos in education in American history and the critical issues we face in the 21stc. Today, we have a distinguished guest Dr. Carlos Azcoitia, who brings a wealth of knowledge from his service in different educational roles in Chicago.
I quote former high school principal Diana Hernandez Azcoitia, reflected during Dr. Noboa’s interview doing research for his two books-“Our schools are still not culturally-relevant. We have a culture of incompetence when it comes to culture.” If this is the case, then no wonder in some schools students don’t feel they belong.
Audience, listen and learn from Dr. Azcoitia and what he has to share with us today about Community Schools.
Community Schools are not like every School in the neighborhood. You can develop community in every school.
-You have been a strong advocate for community schools. Yet, most of the public doesn’t know what this means. In simple terms, how would you define the concept of community schools? What is this about? How does it work?
“...the greatest influence in the student is the family and the communities. Well connected and aligned. Not just because you are open. Principals of Community Schools have to cross boundaries...the quality of the classrooms and what happens outside. The inclusion of families and community partners. What’s missing in the neighborhoods? Community Schools is about…sharing power, and dissenting energies, they take a look at instructional leadership and community partners. Process of evolution and ongoing quality…” Involved in quality of life of the community.
How do we know community schools are effective? What is the evidence?
Achievement Growth and taking a look at reduction in mobility and drop out rates and meaningful engagement of families by identifying community partners offering services to the students that are meaningful and you develop relational trust with its residents….How do you develop relational accountability? Internal accountability...

A community school is in the community for the community to utilize it, for the community to convene, and have access to the building -bringing them together…
The hub of the community is a center for progress---Saturday, Sundays, year round for leadership development...sports sometimes has to go outside of its building to bring the community in. For learning literacy, health and safety example-role of school, family, and community-crosses boundary and leadership...taking schools out of its walls...education is 24hrs a day…”the accident of birth should not be the determining factor of student success’’
Given what has been said about Latinos and education, how do you see the challenge of education for Hispanics? What may be blocking greater educational progress for Latinos?
Words of wisdom-
Graduation begins when you start in preschool. Gabriela Mistral-“Many things can wait but the children cannot because their blood and bones are being formed immediately.”