Name: Erika Maravilla
Position: School Psychologist
What led you to your current position? What led me to my current position was my work as an after school program coordinator and summer program leader within Oakland Parks and Recreation. I worked with a variety of children of different ages, socio-economic backgrounds, communities, racial demographics, abilities, etc. I saw the differences in educational privileges, inequities, opportunities, and resources based on zip code. I found myself individualizing the tutoring support I provided at the after school program and, after shadowing my cousin (a school psychologist) at her school placements for a few days, I  knew I wanted to have a career as a school  psychologist to help bridge the education gap for our most vulnerable student populations and bring my work into the community that raised me, East Oakland. I transitioned to school-based work as an MHC with Seneca to gain more in class experience before enrolling in graduate school and embarking on my school psych journey.
What inspires you to do this work? What inspires me is the relief and appreciation I get from families for supporting them in navigating the complicated world of special education; advocating for their child; and explaining things in an understandable way that makes sense while leveraging their students strengths to support their areas of growth. Also, the relationships I build with students, families, and school partners are rewarding.
What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? An important lesson I’ve learned in this role is that self care and proper work-life boundaries are not only important, but necessary.
Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. “Everything negative -pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise.” - Kobe Bryant

​In the heart of Hayward, you will find Brenkwitz Alternative High School, where Seneca has been partnering with Hayward Unified School District for the past 11 years to provide a counseling enriched classroom for students who need an alternative path to realizing their graduation dreams. The program blends individualized academics focused on credit recovery and career readiness with a specially trained Seneca mental health team that works closely with each student to boost attendance, participation, wholistic mental health, positive community connections, and the concrete skills needed to prepare for college and careers. 

On any given day, you’ll find the Brenkwitz team hosting career fairs, leading therapy and art groups, working with clients on college applications or job interview skills, and helping their students find the interests and passions that bring them joy. Over the past seven school years, the team has supported sixty-nine students who first arrived at Brenkwitz – whom were credit deficient and unsure of their ability to graduate from high school – eventually walk across the graduation stage and earn their diploma.
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This year, the Brenkwitz team is piloting a new Student Voices project to capture the inspiring stories of the students who graduate from their program and share their advice and lessons learned with future students. Our first graduate of the 2021/2022 school year, whom we’ll call M, sat down with Brenkwitz classroom therapist, Rachel Williams, to reflect on her journey with us. The transcript of this conversation is shared with permission below.

This week, we take the opportunity to highlight our partnership with Lodestar, A Lighthouse Community Public School, whose core values are Love, Community, Integrity, Agency, and Social Justice.

Lodestar is located in the Sobrante Park neighborhood in deep East Oakland, and serves grades K-10. Lodestar provides rigorous instruction and love along with high-order thinking and problem solving skills to give students the autonomy to center their own learning and set the foundation for being changemakers in the world. When schools evolve and root themselves into the community, it builds public trust and long-lasting relationships are created. Lodestar's genuine commitment to their core values has led to their dynamic partnership with community organization Sobrante Park Resident Action Council (RAC). Lodestar and Sobrante Park RAC partnership strengthens the community, connects families to resources, hosts family friendly events, and collaboratively advocates for what is best for students. Lodestar is committed to sharing community interest while promoting a safe and thriving community. 

– “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” – Margaret J. Wheatley

Lodestar and the Sobrante Park RAC has focused on a safe passage to and from school for all students and families as well as embedding the school and its staff into the community in which it serves. As a result, Lodestar has worked in partnership to host and/or participate in community events on the weekend. Rich Harrison, Lighthouse Community Public School (LCPS) CEO, shares that “the willingness to work with the community enables a relationship of understanding to develop. Working together for the betterment of the community.”

Trunk or Treat: Lodestar collaborated with the Sobrante Park RAC and other community organizations to hold a Harvest Festival Trunk or Treat on Lodestar's campus. Over 1,000 people participated including City and County staff. 

• Children including non-Lodestar students and families participated in a "trunk or treat" in the Lodestar parking lot! 
• There were a lot of cool Costumes, and a costume parade every hour!
• There were a variety of booths and giveaways set up by local community members and organizations - including the Oakland As, Alameda County Dental Society, Roots Community Health, and more! 
• A live DJ!
• Equipment and vehicles of the Oakland Fire Department and Alameda County Health Emergency Team in which kids got to check out. 

Lodestar will have other opportunities to partner with the community and support neighborhood efforts to help: work in collaboration with their community, listen to their needs, follow their lead, and connect families to resources, and overall, do what’s best for all students and families. 
 
Shoutout to Rich Harrison (LCPS CEO), Erin Wesseldine (LCPS Director of Special Education), Zeyda Garcia (Lodestar Lead Counselor), and my mom, Sylvia Brooks (Secretary of Sobrante Park RAC) for helping me highlight the amazing way in which Lodestar is working in partnership with the community to make sure all students are welcomed, cared for, included, seen, safe, supported, and can thrive!

​As we reacclimate to in-person instruction, we may find ourselves questioning how we are going to adjust and achieve our goals. This was the case as our Ops PLC entered its 2nd year. In an effort to ground ourselves and guide the purpose of the group for the upcoming year, we used a very helpful exercise to set our intentions.  This exercise was originally written by Jason Keppe, Director of School Partnerships, for his team. We decided to carry it on through our Ops PLC as we envision how we want our new team to grow & learn from each other.

You can find a link to his reflection exercise by clicking here:

INTENTION SETTING EXERCISE
Feel free to make a copy of this and follow the prompts to guide you through the new year!
By our Ops Team completing this exercise, we were able to create our values (firm compassion, joy, community, authenticity, sense of vulnerability and shared knowledge), and our focus areas for the year (project management, communications styles, and learning styles). My hope is that you find the exercise as beneficial as we did.

It’s also helpful to ground yourself before completing this exercise, so feel free to try this 5 Minute Focus & Clarity Meditation or any meditation that works for you.