SAUSD's Amplifying Leadership Podcast

16. Welcoming All: SAUSD's Immigration Support Plan [English]

• Bianca Barquin • Season 2 • Episode 3

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SAUSD is actively ensuring that every student and family, regardless of immigration status, feels safe and empowered through the implementation of its Immigration Support Plan. This episode highlights the district's commitment to creating a welcoming environment, legal supports, mental health resources, and active engagement with families to navigate the complexities of immigration.

• Overview of SAUSD's Immigration Support Plan 
• Importance of the board resolution for community safety 
• Legal frameworks ensuring students' rights 
• Training staff for immigration-related inquiries 
• Engaging families and providing resource access 
• Navigating educational systems for undocumented students 
• Mental health supports available for students and families 
• Daily support strategies for creating safe spaces 
• Established communication protocols with immigration authorities 
• Next steps for the district's support initiatives 

Educators and families can get involved by attending workshops and spreading awareness of resources available.

Visit us at our Buzzsprout site for more ways to listen, links to our social media sites and any referenced materials, and complete transcripts of our full-length episodes: https://bit.ly/SAUSDAmplifyingLeadership

Bianca Barquin:

Greetings Amplifiers and welcome to another episode of SAUSD's Amplifying Leadership. I'm your host, bianca Barquin, and today we're bringing you an important conversation about how SAUSD is ensuring that every student and family, regardless of immigration status, feels safe, supported and empowered in our district. If you missed our recent board meeting, this episode will provide an in-depth look at SAUSD's Immigration Support Plan, a comprehensive initiative designed to protect, inform and uplift our students and families. To help us unpack the details, I'm joined by two leaders who have been instrumental in this work Michele DeJournett, our Executive Director of Support Services, and Lisa Solomon, our Director of Family and Community Engagement. Welcome to the podcast, Michele and Lisa.

Michele DeJournett:

Thank you, Bianca. We're excited to be here and share this important information.

Lisa Solomon:

Thank you, Bianca.

Lisa Solomon:

We're super excited.

Bianca Barquin:

Okay, I want to jump right in, Michele. I want to start with the foundation of this plan. SAUSD recently reaffirmed its values through a board resolution declaring our district a welcoming space for all students. Can you share why this resolution was important and how it connects to the immigration support plan?

Michele DeJournett:

Absolutely. The resolution underscores our district's unwavering commitment to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students, and that's regardless of their immigration status. It builds on existing legal protections, such as Plyler v Doe, which guarantees every child the right to a public education, and California's Assembly Bill 699, which strengthens protections for immigrant students. This resolution reaffirms that SAUSD schools are safe havens and that we will continue to take proactive steps to support our families.

Bianca Barquin:

Thank you so much, Michele. It's so important that we really have everything that we do grounded in a strong legal framework. Now I'm going to switch to Lisa. Lisa, from a family and community engagement perspective, what does this commitment mean for our families?

Lisa Solomon:

For many of our families, the uncertainty around immigration policies has created some anxiety and fear. We want to make sure that all of our children and families know that children are safe at school and that there's resources that are available to help them navigate these difficult challenges. The resolution not only affirms our commitment to our students, but also to our families. It ensures that families have that critical access to support resources, workshops, including legal workshops, mental health services and clear communication to all the families so they know what their rights are.

Bianca Barquin:

Thank you so much, so important for us to have this information and this information readily available to our families. Michele, I want to go back to you for just a second. I know you talked to us about Assembly Bill 699 and Plyler v Doe, and this is a legal framework that is beyond just SAUSD right? Can you tell us some of the board policies, administrative regulations or anything we have internally that aligns with this legal framework?

Michele DeJournett:

We have a few documents that are grounded in legal framework. So, beginning with our board's resolution adopted on December 17th 2024, there, in the language, we can see the board's commitment to protecting all of our students and families, regardless of immigration status. Internally, though, we also have our annual Notifications of Parent-Pupil Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. There it requires us, by Ed Code, to notify our parents and guardians of their rights, and that includes our non-discrimination statement. And what this provides an opportunity to our families as a reminder is that all of our students have a right to a free public education, regardless of immigration status. In that same document, we actually have an attachment it is a copy of the Know your Educational Rights. Within that publication it highlights to our families again that students have a right to a free public education, but it also says, specifically within California, that our students, regardless of their immigration status, regardless of their status of their parents or guardians, again, they have a right to free public education.

Michele DeJournett:

For our cabinet, we can see this commitment even in our administrative regulation, specifically 5145.13. And within this document it opens up with a statement that the cabinet is committed to the success of all students and believes that every school site should be a safe and welcoming place for all students and their families, irrespective of their citizenship or immigration status. And this is grounded in that legal framework from the California Assembly, bill 699. And within that assembly bill, our attorney general published model policies. So our admin regulation is grounded through that guidance from our attorney general. As we even explore further into that document, our administrative regulation specifically highlights federal privacy laws, otherwise known as FERPA. And there is where we can see that we have established a standard across the district that all schools are to act in such a manner of protecting student information. So it is our commitment from our cabinet, from our board, and communicating to our families that we are here to protect and support them.

Bianca Barquin:

Wow, thank you for sharing and giving such a detailed answer. I think this is super helpful for anybody listening to really understand that what we are doing is thoughtful and it's actually grounded in something. So now that we understand the why, let's dive into the details. Our plan is structured around four key components to ensure that students and families feel supported. So, Michele, let's start with the first area: training and preparedness. Why was this an essential part of the plan and what steps has the district taken to ensure that staff are fully equipped?

Michele DeJournett:

Well, we knew from the start that, in order to truly protect and support our students and families, our school staff needed clear, consistent and practical guidance. Administrators and front office personnel are often the first point of contact, so we've developed specialized training to ensure they understand how to respond appropriately to any immigration-related inquiries. But we're also engaging legal experts to lead workshops, as Lisa had shared previously, and those workshops are on federal and state laws, as well as district policies. In addition, we've implemented scenario-based drills so that staff can practice real-life situations and respond with confidence.

Bianca Barquin:

So, to sum it up, what are some of the key takeaways from these trainings? What do we really want every staff member to know?

Michele DeJournett:

I think the most important takeaway is that all our staff members should follow our established protocols. Any inquiry from immigration officials must be referred directly to the superintendent's office. No staff member should engage with officials or provide information without legal guidance. We also emphasize that our schools are safe spaces and we must ensure that students and families feel welcome and protected at all times.

Bianca Barquin:

Awesome.

Bianca Barquin:

So the first step, if any type of immigration official were to come to any single school site, is for them to immediately contact the superintendent's office, who is consulting with our legal team, to figure out what our next steps are. I think that's really important information for our families to know. So my next question is for Lisa. Lisa, engaging families and ensuring that they have the right resources is a huge in fact, I think it's the largest part of this plan. What efforts are being made to inform and support our community?

Lisa Solomon:

Family engagement is critical, especially when it comes to the fears and anxieties that are being brought up during this time. Many families don't know their rights or what resources are available to them, so we're making sure that they have access to information that they need in a way that's clear and accessible. We've been hosting Know your Rights workshops in multiple languages, distributing materials that will connect them with community resources as well as inform them of what their rights are. We're working closely with legal organizations like Justice Fund, CHIRLA, Orange County Rapid Response Network and Legal Aid to connect our families with the legal assistance and advocacy that they need.

Bianca Barquin:

Incredible, super helpful and great resources. But beyond legal resources, how are we helping families navigate school systems?

Lisa Solomon:

Well, we know that many undocumented students and their families worry about the future, worry about higher education, attending college and work. That's why we're ensuring that they receive accurate information about financial aid, Dream Act, college applications and other post-secondary opportunities. We have counselors that are helping and guiding our families through those processes. We also are helping families to create emergency plans so they're prepared to know what steps to take if they ever face a crisis related to immigration status. We've also been offering mental health supports through our district for our students and we've made connections with community partners that offer free mental health therapy to families and family members.

Bianca Barquin:

Beautiful, so let's continue with that theme. Immigration-related stress can be overwhelming, especially for students. What mental health supports has SAUSD put in place to help students and families navigate these challenges? I know you talked a little bit about it, but let's expand on that one.

Lisa Solomon:

We recognize that students and families are carrying a lot of emotional weight and this stress can impact their academic performance and overall well-being. That's why mental health and wellness is a core pillar of our support plan. We're providing increased access to school-based counseling services, increased access to district mental health services, we've established a crisis response team and we're offering resilience-building activities to help students and families develop coping strategies. We have also connected with community partners that offer free therapy to families and residents of Santa Ana. We are also offering resources to families so they know how to talk about their fears and concerns with their children.

Bianca Barquin:

So, continuing with the same theme, lisa, what are some of the specific ways that SAUSD is ensuring that students feel supported on a day-to-day basis?

Lisa Solomon:

We are working with our school counselors and our mental health support team to make sure that students know they have a safe place to talk about their concerns. We're also providing professional development for staff so they can recognize the signs of stress and trauma and how to respond appropriately. We are also making sure our staff is sensitive to the needs of our students families and to other staff members, is sensitive to the needs of our students families and to other staff members. Additionally, we're promoting support groups amongst peers where students can connect with others facing similar challenges in a supportive, confidential setting. This has truly been a team effort where various departments from across the district have been working together, including support services, family and community engagement, teaching and learning, communications, and really it's been a community effort because we've also brought in many community partners.

Bianca Barquin:

Thank you, Lisa, for that. Now I want to move into the next area of our plan, Michele. Communication is key in moments of uncertainty. Families and staff need to know exactly what to do if an immigration-related situation arises. Can you walk us through SAUSD's communication protocol? I know we talked about it before, but a little bit more in detail here.

Michele DeJournett:

Absolutely. We have a strict protocol in place to ensure that any inquiries from immigration officials are handled appropriately. The most important thing staff need to remember is that all such inquiries must be referred directly to the superintendent's office. Our legal counsel will then review the situation and they will communicate that back to the school and provide clear guidance.

Bianca Barquin:

That makes me wonder about something, Michele. How are we ensuring that this information is widely understood and followed across the district as a whole?

Michele DeJournett:

What we are doing is we are reinforcing this message through district-wide communications. So there is ongoing training sessions and direct outreach to staff. Our goal is to make sure that every school site follows the same process, so it eliminates confusion. Additionally, we are committed to keeping our community informed with regular updates about any policy changes that might impact our students and families.

Bianca Barquin:

This one is for you, Lisa. If a family has concerns or needs support, how can they reach out?

Lisa Solomon:

We encourage all of our families to connect with their school site administrators, counselors or their family and community engagement liaison at their school. They can also reach out to the family and community engagement team at the district. We have dedicated FACE staff at each school site, ready to provide guidance and connect families to the much-needed resources. We want every family to know that they are never alone in the process. They have us with them and they also have the community with them.

Bianca Barquin:

Perfect. So it's clear that this plan is about more than just policies. It's about people. It's about safety and ensuring that every student and family in SAUSD feels protected and supported. Thank you, Michele and Lisa, for sharing these critical details about the plan. I know this is a strong step forward, but there's still a lot of work to be done. Lisa, what are the next steps for SAUSD in implementing and expanding this support?

Lisa Solomon:

In the months ahead, we'll be scaling up our training efforts, deepening our partnerships with community organizations and ensuring that every school site has access to updated resources. We are also working on refining our rapid response network to ensure that families can access help quickly in the time of crisis. Some of these training efforts are starting as soon as next week, where we'll be offering Know your Rights workshops for our families in collaboration with the Justice Fund, and where we'll be informing our families of what our immigration support plan is here in Santa Ana Unified School District.

Bianca Barquin:

Awesome. How can families, educators and community members get involved to help make this plan truly successful?

Lisa Solomon:

Well, we are encouraging our families and our community to spread the word, to attend our workshops, reach out for support when they need it and stay informed about their rights. We also want our families to share information that they learn with other families. Educators can help by fostering safe spaces in their classrooms and ensuring that our students feel supported and that we're sensitive to students' needs during these times. Lastly, our community members can amplify these efforts by spreading awareness and advocating for policies that protect our students and families. Our community partners have been a tremendous support, providing resources and support, and we want to continue those partnerships.

Bianca Barquin:

Anything else that either one of you can think of that's super important for our listeners to know about our immigration support plan?

Michele DeJournett:

Bianca, I just want to make sure that we emphasize the fact that our plan is a reflection of united efforts amongst all departments within our district and with, like Lisa had mentioned, community partners. I know Lisa mentioned a couple of our departments, but it's truly a united effort and I don't want any of our departments to feel that they have been left out or that the community does not realize how much we have come together to integrate and again just want to emphasize that it's been unified efforts. We come together to provide information, to provide resources, to provide supports, but we also do this and ensure that we are legally compliant as well.

Lisa Solomon:

I think, for me, Bianca, I want to remind all of our families, students and our community that it's very important that everybody knows their rights. I also want to make sure that families have family emergency preparedness plans developed and, lastly, I think I want all of our families to know that we're here to support them. We have resources, we have mental health supports, we have legal supports, so we want to make sure that they know that they can turn to us throughout any uncertain situations.

Bianca Barquin:

Thank you both for this important information. I think that our listeners definitely need to know. As we close today's episode, I want to introduce a segment we're calling Voices of Strength. This is where we reflect on the power of collective action and resilience of our students, families and educators, who are making an impact every day.

Bianca Barquin:

In SAUSD, we know that standing up for our students means more than just words. It means action. It means the administrators who take the time to reassure families that their children are safe at school. It means the teachers who create welcoming, inclusive classrooms where every student feels valued. It means the support staff who provide a listening ear and mental health support for students navigating uncertainty. It means the front office staff who are often the first point of contact for families and play a critical role in making them feel welcome. It means our security teams who ensure our campuses remain safe and supportive spaces. It means our classified staff, our custodians, food service workers, bus drivers who build relationships with students and remind them every day that they belong. And it means our community partners who step up to provide legal guidance and advocacy for families in need. Each of these efforts, big and small, contributes to the fabric of support that keeps our district strong.

Bianca Barquin:

To our listeners, you are part of this movement. Whether you're a student finding your voice, a parent advocating for your child or an educator creating a space where every student belongs, your role is essential. Change happens when we show up, when we stay informed and when we support one another. Michele and Lisa, thank you for sharing your expertise and for all your leadership in driving this important work forward.

Lisa Solomon:

Thank you, Bianca, for hosting us today.

Michele DeJournett:

Yes, thank you, Bianca.

Bianca Barquin:

And to all of our Amplifiers out there thank you for being part of this conversation. Let's continue to listen, learn and lead with courage. Until next time, stay informed, stay engaged and keep amplifying the voices that matter.