Wellness “Wonder Woman”
Part of the Menlo Park City School District’s “Strategic Directions for Wellness,” includes engaging in the outreach and support of traditionally underrepresented students. During the 20162017 school year, this effort led to the creation of a position of Flor Espinal, aka a Family Engagement “Wonder Woman” Coordinator.
their own, and how to navigate academic expectations and a sense of belonging and connection to their children’s school, to ensure wellness for all of our families. Flor Espinal leading January 17, 2019 Family Cafe
The “College Bound Family Cafe” parent The universe blessed MPCSD with Flor Espinal, a education series has one goal in mind: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. Ms. Espinal has organized five former District Para-Educator, and District cafes since February 2018, and topics have parent whose own children fit the category for included: communicating with your child and “traditionally underrepresented their school, how to access and use the school’s students.” Recognizing as a parent and employee that there was a divide between these messenger and technology systems, and how to balance family wellness and self-care. After underrepresented families’ awareness and each event, participants fill out surveys to connection to the schools, led to her determine efficiency of the cafes, and what involvement in the expansion of MPCSD’s topics families would like to engage in next. “College Bound” program. “College Bound” provides encouragement, services, and Ultimately, Ms. Espinal’s relentless and empathic programs for students who, by one measure or approach to family engagement and wellness is another, are “underrepresented” in the nation’s beyond honorable and authentic. She supports colleges and universities. families with Spanish interpreting services, acts as a liaison for College Bound students’ At first, Ms. Espinal’s efforts focused around educational and social-emotional needs, and is MPCSD’s District English Learner Advisory always available, almost 24/7, to receive phone Committee (DELAC), and with this work, the calls and texts from the families she serves. Flor dream and vision for “Family Cafes” was cultivated. Drawing upon her own experience as Espinal has earned the title of “Wonder Woman,” and is absolutely a superhero for wellness in our a young woman and student in Honduras, as District. well as being an English Language Learner herself, Flor knew that what College Bound College Bound families needed was a safe place and time and parents engaging venue where they could engage in parent with each other at education trainings, and become empowered to Family Cafe advocate for their children. These parent trainings became specific to sharing experiences of raising and educating children in a culture that may be different than
181 Encinal Avenue
Atherton, CA 94027
(650)321-7140 Email: district@mpcsd.org
