I am writing on behalf of my family and community about the news that our principal, Jorge Rios, is slated to be moved from our school, Atwater Ave. Elementary.  I am appalled that this would be something the district would do without teacher or community involvement or voice.  

Our school has been through much transition in the last 7 years.  Prior to Mr. Rios joining the school it had 3 different administrators in as many years.  When Mr. Rios joined our community he had the hard work of re-branding and uniting a community.  In his time with us we have become a STEAM school and a Dual-Language school.  Under his leadership we have transformed an unused classroom into an Innovation Lab, raised money to purchase computers for students and sent teachers to professional development, for one the first time in 17 years.  Next year, for the first time in at least 10 years, after years of under-enrollment, we are opening up 3 new kindergarten classrooms because the options that our local public school is offering is bringing community back to our neighborhood school in lieu of enrolling in charters or private schools.

Our community group, Friends of Atwater Elementary, works incredibly closely with Mr. Rios to accomplish tasks the community, school staff and teachers have chosen to enhance our students' curriculum and school experience.  In the last two years as a group we have fundraised $32,000 for our school. In addition we have hosted events that bring our community together and build a culture of support among parents.  This is not done without a leader who can control the chaos and work with many different personalities.

To move the person who has led the charge, right in the middle of progress, would be pulling the carpet out from underneath us.  We are in the middle of huge transitions and need his experience in STEAM, his focus on professional development for Dual-Language and CGI, and his willingness to keep the vision alive for these programs to be sustainable.  Our school is a Title 1 school - 81% free or reduced lunch and a Special Ed population of over 20% - we are racially and social-economically diverse.  We have a sea of backgrounds and abilities that make us unique. He knows every student AND all the stakeholders that make up the Atwater Ave. community and has made the decisions for instruction and social-emotional supports with all of us in mind. We deserve the best.

I am a fellow educator so know that the role of a leader is much more than place holder.  We need a person who will make the hard decisions and be fiscally responsible to ensure our local school thrives.  You are doing us - the community, the parents, and the kids, a disservice to remove an integral person before our assessments and results have a chance to match the passion that is driving these multiple projects.

Sign to ensure our community is heard and that we keep our leader.