The Power of KIPP LA’s Family Ambassadors

By Sylvia Dyson

As we spend these upcoming holidays with our families and start looking ahead toward the New Year, there’s no doubt that many parents’ resolutions for 2018 concern how they can be more involved in their kids’ education. At KIPP LA, the parents — and grandparents, in my case — are extremely fortunate that their schools have programs in place that allow them to interact with their local schools.

I am a part of KIPP LA’s Family Ambassador program, and I have been extremely impressed by their programming and emphasis on building a community. I appreciate that I have the opportunity to engage with my grandson’s school in South Los Angeles, and I’ve seen the impact that other involved families can have when they come together to better their local schools.

Earlier this year, the family ambassadors helped organize the first annual parent summit called “Our Children Are College Bound.” The summit drew hundreds of parents and helped empower them to feel comfortable navigating the college application process with their children. The family ambassadors saw financial literacy as a crucial part of the summit, so we prioritized the inclusion of financial aid resources and added a panel that focused on budgeting and saving for college.

Family ambassadors also meet monthly to learn about topics like advocacy, talking about KIPP to the media, keeping our children safe on the internet, and more. This program helps us not only become better advocates for our children, but partners in their education.

KIPP Academy of Opportunity has played a pivotal role in the life of my grandson, who is in seventh grade. It has helped him learn to think critically and be attuned to his emotions. And, for the first time, he is motivated to go to school. In the mornings he tells me, “Grandma, hurry up! We can’t be late for school,” instead of the other way around.

I credit these changes to the positive school environment, high expectations, and emphasis on character development at KIPP Academy of Opportunity. The dedication of KIPP parents is essential in reinforcing these core values, and the involvement of our family ambassadors is a shining example of that.

In November, families of KIPP LA students showed up en-masse to a crucial LAUSD board vote and waited for hours for a chance to tell board members directly how much our KIPP schools mean to our children and their futures. The results were undeniable. When the board voted to approve all KIPP charter renewals, it proved that we families are unstoppable when we come together in advocacy. Our passion and grit helped ensure that nearly 6,600 KIPP LA students, including my grandson, continue to receive a high-quality education.

For our family, KIPP is an important part of our lives and it’s lighting up my grandson’s future path to and through college. I hope that other KIPP families will join me in playing an active role in our children’s schools and driving the change that we want to see in their education.