I try to end the stigma of talking about mental health and wellness by normalizing those conversations - that’s my way of talking to our youth.
Geraldine Punzalan
School Social Worker, James Denman Middle School
Wellness Ambassadors is a group of students focusing on supporting our peers’ wellness. Last year we created videos for the school and district addressing social justice issues.
Joyce Truong
Alum (Class of 2021), Abraham Lincoln High School
I joined Foodwise Teens because I wanted to learn how to cook, learn customer service skills, and get better with socializing with others.
George Ghanayem
Student, Mission High School
I’m glad to be part of a school where our students exhibit excellence and pride in what they do.
Gary W. Johnson
Athletic Director, Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School
"I want to meet students where they see themselves and build from there with each student who I encounter."
Marcus Christmas
Wellness Coordinator, John O'Connell High School
We are excited to help students rebuild the relationship they have with school from the home context and back to the community of a school learner’s context.
Ben Klaus
Principal, Jose Ortega Elementary School
My role involves serving as a thought partner and collaborator with teachers and staff with the goal of improving our school's outcomes for students.
Courtney LaKroix
Instructional Reform Facilitator, James Lick Middle School
Each individual is important to this community - like a puzzle, if just one person, piece, is missing, this whole image is incomplete.
John Dixon
Special Education Teacher, A.P. Giannini Middle School
I am proud to be in a school community where we believe in each and every child's brilliance and power while overcoming challenges together.
Lily Chen
National Board Certified Teacher, Kindergarten Cantonese Biliteracy, Jean Parker Elementary School
Someday, I want to learn how to cook, so I can create my own recipes and write a cookbook.
James
3rd Grader at Rooftop PreK-8 School
Fifth grade was one of my funniest years and when I grew the most as a student. I will never forget poetry night and our camping trip.
Ziontaye
8th grader at Rooftop PreK-8 School
My favorite teacher makes learning more fun by giving homework that involves hands-on activities.
Estella
1st Grader at Bessie Carmichael PreK-8 Filipino Education Center
I’m proud of how much work and how far the facilities department has come - it’s pretty amazing to see all the collaboration to get our school buildings open and ready.
Cadi Poile
Director of Custodial Services
If there's anything I want the world to know about school lunch workers, it's that we care and we're here, and no matter what, we'll always be here.
Cecile Laberinto
School Lunch Worker, Willie Brown Middle School
Partnership starts with families and the student, respecting where they’re at, where they come from and the fabric that makes them who they are in that moment.
Joy Paterson
Teacher, SF Community Elementary School
My job as a teacher is to arrange for victories for my students. I may present them with a task, but as an educator I try to envision the way forward.
Stuart Briggs
Teacher - Jose Ortega Elementary School
Representation is really important. Books should be mirrors for students, content should be mirrors for students, they should see themselves represented in the curriculum.
Mira Carberry
Teacher - Buena Vista Horace Mann
As a teacher, I have always believed that equity and justice meant being the best possible teacher I could be for my students.
Suzann Baldwin
Spanish Teacher - Abraham Lincoln High School
I wanted to take a minute to thank all who were involved in providing Chromebooks for the students to borrow. I have a third grade daughter who is benefiting from this decision. My husband and I both grew up in San Francisco and honestly, I am so pleased with all of the efforts that SFUSD always seems to make. Thank you again for giving our family one less thing to stress about during these changing times.
Danielle Brown Sanchez
Parent at Dolores Huerta Elementary
I want to study Political Science in college because I want to be a Civil Rights attorney. America needs more people who are able to fix it - things like police brutality, the prison system, and sentencing laws.
Nia Black
Senior at Galileo Academy of Science and Technology, Student Emcee for the 2020 African American Honor Roll
My supervisor trusts me to do the work, knowing that I understand the vision and I'm going to truly partner with the children and families.
Crystal Hawkins
Family Liaison Coordinator at Shoestrings Children's Center
The key to dealing with kids is you talk up to them, you don’t talk down. Things like that build trust with kids, and if they don’t trust you then they can’t identify with you and they won’t deal with you.
Eldridge "Swift" Anthony
Head of Security at Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School
I think being fearless makes you the best player you can be. You’re fearless to make mistakes and trust your teammates, which is a big part of volleyball. Being fearless is something that contributes to the game and is one of the most important factors that got us to win the championship.
Mariko Tanaka
Senior at Lowell High School & 2019 Lowell Varsity Volleyball Team State Champion
My granddaughter loves it here, and she’s always a good student. The school is more like a family school, because you can work out your issues and they look out for my granddaughter.
Meena Jamerson
Grandparent at Dr. William L. Cobb Elementary School