By Cynthia Salas, Community School Coordinator, Ventura County Office of Education

There is something remarkable happening in Ventura County, and those closest to the work will tell you it did not happen overnight.

It was built conversation by conversation. Partnership by partnership. School by school.

Now, that work is being recognized on a statewide stage.

On June 10, educational leaders from Ventura County will travel to Monterey to participate in the Community of Practice and Technical Assistance Summit hosted by the Central Coast Regional Technical Assistance Center. The gathering will bring together all seven RTAC regions and state leaders supporting California’s growing Community Schools movement.

Among those invited to represent Ventura County are:

• Isabel Pelayo, Hueneme School District
• Dr. James Jenkins and Olivia Ramirez, Santa Paula Unified School District
• Dr. Gina Ramirez, Santa Paula Unified School District
• Cynthia Salas, Ventura County Office of Education

Ventura County is home to four school districts that received funding through the California Community Schools Partnership Program between 2020 and 2025. But ask the people involved what truly matters, and they will tell you this story is about far more than funding.

It is about people. Educators working alongside families. Students finding their voices. Community organizations stepping into partnerships with schools. County agencies collaborating more than ever.

And perhaps most importantly, it is about a shared understanding that no one person can do this work alone.

Across Ventura County, Community Schools have become centers of connection; places where academic support, mental health resources, family engagement, expanded learning opportunities, and community partnerships are woven together to support the whole child.

The recognition from state and regional leaders comes not because Ventura County claims to have all the answers, but because its districts and partners have demonstrated a willingness to learn together, build together, and remain deeply rooted in the needs of their communities.

Those involved describe the work as both ambitious and deeply human.

It requires trust.

It requires patience.

It requires listening.

And it requires the humility to understand that meaningful transformation belongs to everyone who contributes to it: teachers, parents, students, coordinators, administrators, elected officials, grass-roots organizations and community partners alike.

The upcoming summit in Monterey will offer an opportunity for Ventura County leaders to share what they have learned while continuing to learn from others across California.

Because at its heart, the Community Schools movement is not simply about improving schools.

It is about strengthening communities.