True North and Eureka City Schools Lift Up Community Schools at Statewide Briefing
November 20, 2025
Leaders from across California gathered in Sacramento for a statewide briefing hosted by the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), highlighting new research on the impact of Community Schools. Among the speakers were Arianne Nova, True North Community Organizer, and Ronda Evans, Director of Community Schools at Eureka City Schools.
Together, they shared how the partnership between True North and Eureka City Schools is strengthening family leadership, belonging, and shared decision-making in Humboldt County, and why this work matters for communities across the state.
The event opened with remarks from Linda Darling-Hammond, President of the California State Board of Education, whose reflection grounded the day in the values of equity, shared responsibility, and a whole-child vision for public education.
At the conclusion of the briefing, Arianne and Ronda approached Darling-Hammond for a photo, a small moment that carried meaning for our team. Standing alongside one of California’s most influential education leaders underscored that the work happening in Humboldt County is part of a broader, statewide effort to reimagine schools as places where every student and family feels seen and valued.
Photo, left to right: Arianne Nova, Ronda Evans, Linda Darling-Hammond
Community Schools: Creating the Conditions for Deep Systems Work
During their panel, Ronda described how the Community Schools approach creates the conditions for meaningful change by giving schools the structure and capacity to honestly assess student experience and equity.
“Community Schools creates the space, time, and capacity to look honestly at our school system as a whole. To understand what is happening that shouldn’t be, and what isn’t happening that should be. When we do this work together with community partners, real change becomes possible.”
Ronda described this process as a “blame-free autopsy,” not about pointing fingers, but about examining systems carefully, asking hard questions, and addressing challenges collaboratively. This approach allows schools and communities to move beyond surface-level solutions and toward long-term, equitable change.
ELAC: Families Moving From Attendance to Influence
At the heart of the presentation was the story of the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) at Eureka High School. Across California, advisory groups for English learners sometimes struggle to function as meaningful spaces for family voice. Through collaboration between Eureka City Schools and True North, the ELAC at Eureka High is becoming a place where Spanish-speaking parents, students, and educators gather to ask questions, learn together, and help shape solutions.
In January 2025, families raised important questions about school emergency procedures and student safety, including how the district communicates and responds in the event of immigration-related safety concerns. Their questions led to a meeting with district leadership, clearer communication, translation of key materials, and renewed outreach to ensure families completed essential emergency forms.
This process reflects a shift toward shared leadership, one of the core pillars of the Community Schools model, where families are not simply present, but actively shaping outcomes.
As Arianne reflected:
“This work is possible because we’re doing it together — families, educators, and community partners.”
A Rural Partnership With Statewide Significance
The LPI report released at the event shows that Community Schools across California are already seeing measurable gains, including improved attendance, reduced suspensions, and significant learning growth, especially for historically underserved students.
The collaboration between True North and Eureka City Schools reflects the conditions behind those results: trust, relationship-building, and a commitment to shared leadership. The Sacramento convening affirmed that rural communities like ours bring leadership, insight, and solutions that belong in statewide conversations about the future of public education.
Looking Ahead
True North and Eureka City Schools will continue deepening this work: building welcoming, connected schools where families feel a sense of belonging and students can thrive. Together they are helping model what Community Schools can look like when partnership, purpose, and community voice guide the work.
