Education
Reinventors

Welcome, Lori! Can you tell us about El Nido Elementary and the community it serves?
El Nido is situated in California’s Central Valley region, about halfway between Fresno and Modesto. There are about 330 people living here, and nearly 150 are students in our school! This is a close-knit community where families speak English, Spanish and Portuguese and 98% of children qualify for free or reduced school lunch. Almost 25% are English learners, and we are very proud of our success in reclassifying students as fluent, English-proficient learners.

When you were considering joining this school, you noticed it was lacking certain resources. What were they?
The interview committee, while incredibly proud of our school district, did point to some important areas, including the fact that we didn’t have a gym. I agreed this was a serious concern, because even though students were getting physical activity in outdoor spaces, they might be missing out in other ways. Gym space makes it possible to welcome teams from other schools so students can benefit from competition and all the preparation, organization and community pride that comes with it. Gyms also serve as performance spaces, community centers and much more, so this seemed a crucial gap we would have to address.

Also, after I accepted the position and began settling into my role, I was able to see that our academic programs, though strong in many ways, needed some restructuring. Instructional programs, strategies and practices became the focus of much of our work. I also felt that introducing the integrative concept of STEAM education, and marrying it with a fully updated library and technology center, might move us in the right direction.

These are big-ticket items, especially for a small school district. How did you make them a reality?
Major undertakings like these are never achieved alone, so I launched a listening campaign to see if my views were aligned with what parents, teachers, board members and the broader community wanted for our children. I listened to the students, too, and I sought out adults who had attended our school and asked them: When you left El Nido Elementary, did you feel prepared for high school and beyond?

It was heartbreaking to hear, but many said their school experiences didn’t help them feel fully ready for the future. Most had overcome this confidence gap through motivation and hard work. But it was a clear sign we had to do better for our students.

Which challenge did you take on first?
The gym was our top priority. After open community meetings and discussions with our board, we worked to put two bond measures on the ballot. Local residents were concerned, as they should be – after all, we are asking them to commit their tax dollars well into the future. We had to answer their questions fully and transparently.

I feel great pride that the measures passed, giving us a total of $6.8 million for the new gym. It passed despite the turmoil over property taxes inspired by California Proposition 13. Many residents who had never voted before actually went out and registered so they could support the measures. When the bonds passed, the whole community celebrated! We hope to break ground on the new space within six months.

You also had a vision for introducing STEAM and modernizing your library. What were the steps in accomplishing this?
In 2019, we literally had an empty room with computers on long, dust-covered tables up against the walls. When I asked, the teachers said, “We’re not using this space right now.” This worried me – because in my view, empty space equals unused dollars and missed potential, which no school anywhere can afford.

The idea for a STEAM room evolved gradually. I wanted to combine this effort with upgrading our library as a combined information and technology space. I knew we needed ideas and resources, so I went on a major search to find them.

Where did you find support?
Schools have many vendors and partners who will provide resources when they’re asked. You begin with a vision, then you become the advocate who continuously searches for free and low-cost resources you can utilize.

Sometimes the resources come to you. I had participated in a roundtable discussion for Education Reinventors, a series for superintendents powered by HP. After hearing me share about my district, an HP representative reached out and asked if he could visit to share ideas for a STEAM room. We sat together and brainstormed in the raw space. He suggested practical ways to lay out the room, which kinds of technologies to include and how to find funding.

These conversations helped us create a blueprint for the STEAM room, which has become one of what I call our school’s “21st century learning spaces.” Students love the STEAM based projects and we are seeing the energy and motivation they feel.

What resources did you tap in updating the library space?
There were many partnerships, but one of the most crucial was our relationship with the Merced County Office of Education, or MCOE. We can draw on the talents of MCOE coordinators who serve as thought partners and allow for a cost-effective way to bring vision and structure to new programs.

We created a new position to support the two new 21st century learning spaces. Additionally, assistance from our MCOE coordinator provided training and instruction to students and staff to ensure students could make the most out of both spaces.

From the beginning, our partnership with MCOE and strategic budget planning has helped us to modernize and upgrade the learning spaces, and allow us to simultaneously develop the infrastructure without limiting access to the much needed STEAM experiences.

Many schools across the country need to invest in technology and facilities. What advice can you share with other education leaders?
Whether you’re in a rural district like mine or a huge district in a major urban center, be the fierce advocate your students need. What resources and programs will bolster their confidence as they move on to college, the workforce, military, and all the challenges of adult life? Where are the gaps that, later on, might make them feel less than ready – less able to compete, to create, to dream big?

Our children are trusting us to address those gaps. Their confidence literally takes root in the opportunities we give them. So while the work of improving school resources can feel like a never-ending challenge, remembering that you’re building their future is all the motivation you need.

Education Reinventors, powered by HP, is a virtual, national community of U.S. superintendents reimagining education leadership in the new normal. We enable superintendents to connect, discuss shared challenges, and brainstorm solutions to improve outcomes for students and community members.

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