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A Pillar of the Community

 

Dr. Shayna Golbaf is Jurupa Unified's new Community Schools Coordinator under the Parent Involvement and Community Outreach Department (P.I.C.O.). She is a vital bridge between parents, principals, teachers on special assignment (TSAs), and students. We recently interviewed Dr. Golbaf to provide more insight into her new role and introduce her to our Jurupa community.

What did you do before joining JUSD this year? 

“I was a principal for the last five years in Upland and we transitioned to become a community school about three years ago. After 54 apartments burned down across the street from our school, I realized that night...what the power of a community is. In that journey...it became such a passion.”  

Dr. Golbaf speaking to a student and her guardianHow does your role support community schools?  

“Making sure that our students and families feel engaged but that they also are equipped with the knowledge to be academically successful… (and) removing any barrier that a student might have.” 

How do you help the TSAs at the school sites? 

“We (the TSAs and I) got to have two days together this summer, which was great to get to know them and really find our focuses for the year... But we also have once a month, where we get together and we really plan.”

How do you provide support to site staff, as well as the principals and the teachers? Do you have any interactions with them?  

“Principals definitely! I was intentional about connecting with each of them before the school year started. I did ‘listen and learns’... I got to sit down with each principal and learn about them and their vision for their school, their goals, and what they felt helped their community grow even more.  

A lot of teachers are now recognizing me because I'm going to the different events and connecting with them as well as the families.”  

​Teachers on special assignment with Dr. Shayna Golbaf​Why do you think it’s important that the community knows you? 

“I’m their resource connection...Whether they (the students) go to a community school or not, our vision is ‘it’s a whole community’. It takes a community. We are the community.  

Families are like, ‘wait I don’t have a student at the (community) school’. That’s ok. You can come and go to our classes. You can still receive the resources.” 

How do you work with parents and the community?

“One of my biggest things that I'm super excited about is the Protecting Our Youth series. Every month we have guest speakers that come. We had investigators from the DA’s (District Attorney) office that came and talked to families about tips on how to keep their kids safe online. We have these amazing resources for families that anyone can access… They have the need, but…who do they call? I’m the girl!” 

Dr. Golbaf helping a student and his parent sign in at a library eventWhat is something that you want others to know about your position? 

“I like to have fun... I'm going to the events, and I want to create and just embody that fun of the community... I’ll dress up. I'll be silly. Connecting and laughing and bringing the joy into the community.” 

What do you hope the ultimate impact of community schools will be for future generations?  

“We can connect and love on our families and our community all day long (and) provide those resources but the ultimate goal is that they (the students) are achieving. We’re removing any barriers so when our students graduate, they have options... No matter what they want to go into...that they have those options and they are able to succeed and give back to our community… they’re going to be our community.”