For several decades, Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco (PPSSF), a partner of Mission Promise Neighborhood (MPN), has been instrumental in advocating for equity in education. By actively engaging parents and mentors, PPSSF has championed the well-being of public schools and addressed the evolving challenges within communities

These efforts have not gone unnoticed. In August 2023, Vanessa Marrero, the executive director of PPSSF, was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to serve at the Comprehensive Center Program for the  Regional Advisory Committees (RAC) in the West (Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah), which provides technical assistance to educators. In this role, Marrero and the committee identified four key areas affecting academic achievement: Chronic Absenteeism, Opportunity Gap, Social Emotional Learning, and Teacher Retention and Recruitment.

Regarding chronic absenteeism and the opportunity gap, Marrero emphasizes that these issues should not be viewed in isolation.

“The notion of opportunity gaps refers to structural or non-structural factors in society that essentially distance young people and their families from accessing education, health, jobs, and economic opportunities,” she explains. “The opportunity gaps we’re seeing across California are affecting Latinos, Black children, students with disabilities, and those in foster care. We can’t achieve academic progress if a student can’t see the blackboard due to a lack of insurance for vision care, to provide an example.”

By closely addressing these opportunity gaps, PPSSF, in constant dialogue with parents, has started to shift the focus on issues like chronic absenteeism. A concrete example has been placing more emphasis on the programs offered by San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) high schools—such as technical education programs—rather than just the enrollment process. Parents are now better informed about the programs and their objectives thanks to this strategic equity enrollment.

Collective impact initiatives like Mission Promise Neighborhood (MPN) are crucial in addressing opportunity gaps to support student academic progress. “As an organization, we (PPSSF) can advocate for academic mentorships in schools,” says Marrero. “But that mentorship should be provided by one of the partner organizations of the initiative. How can we support that community partner so that the School District understands that the partner provides the mentorship and also has a direct connection with the community?”

Initiatives like MPN have successfully closed academic and economic gaps in the Mission District, but new barriers and threats continue to emerge for both students and families. Marrero believes that a Promise Neighborhood should have a greater presence in the Superintendent’s cabinet meetings because failing to utilize the existing community infrastructure itself becomes an opportunity gap.

“I believe there needs to be coherence and alignment within MPN around family engagement strategies and tactics. What is each partner doing, and how can we be more strategic in our efforts to uplift the power in our community?” says Marrero.

Community partners and school principals can identify the opportunity gaps that lead to chronic absenteeism. The culturally significant relationships between organizations, parents, and mentors enable an inclusive, rather than intimidating, solution to absenteeism. Unity is also crucial when pursuing resources for programs that bridge opportunity gaps.

“We have a strong voice when it comes to the School District, the State, and the nation. We can inform systemically, and then resources like the comprehensive learning center grant can return to the communities,” says Marrero.

Learn more about parent engagement in combating opportunity gaps in the following presentation from PPSSF for the 2024 California Community Schools EMPOWER Summit.

About Vanessa Marrero

Vanessa D. Marrero M.S.W. practices center around empowering and building inclusive and trusting relationships between cross-sector programs, coalitions, and stakeholders to develop and practice cultural humility for all people in the digital age, reducing the barriers of mobility between education, career, and life. She has worked within a wide range of positions in both K-12 and Community College educational, non-profit, and policy sectors, where she
serves as a public education thought leader providing transformative organizational and school improvement, strategic equity enrollment, the opportunity gap and community leadership in California and nationally. Currently, Vanessa D. Marrero M.S.W is the executive director of Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco, an independent 510, 3(c) part of a national network of public education advocates with the mission that public education fundamental value
of democracy.

In August 2023, Vanessa D. Marrero M.S.W, was appointed U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Marrero to serve as a Regional Advisory Committees (RAC) Vice Chair and member for the Comprehensive Center Program for the West RAC (Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah). She was elected Rent Board Commissioner, appointed as Commissioner for Disability for the City of Berkeley. Vanessa D. Marrero M.S.W, served the Justice and
Equity for Transformation Council of the Office of Racial Equity (ORE) a division of the SF Human Rights Commission.

Vanessa D. Marrero M.S.W was named Latina of Influence in 2021 by Hispanic Lifestyle.

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