At Para Los Niños Charter Middle School (CMS), families are not just part of the school community, they help shape it. For parents like Arianna and Elvia, involvement has grown from enrolling their children to becoming leaders, advocates, and examples for others. Their stories show how family engagement is woven into the heart of PLN’s community school model.

Roots in Early Childhood

Both Arianna and Elvia were first introduced to PLN when their children were very young. Arianna came more than 13 years ago, when she was looking for childcare for her eldest daughter. That first connection turned into a long-lasting relationship. Over the years, all three of her children have attended PLN schools, from early education through elementary and now middle school.

Elvia’s journey began similarly. Her oldest son started in preschool before he was two years old, and she stayed with PLN as her younger children advanced through elementary school. When CMS opened in 2013, she saw it as a natural next step. “It was a good opportunity for my children to continue with the same pattern of education and values,” she recalls. “They had already grown up with their classmates from preschool and elementary, and they didn’t want to leave. They already felt part of the community at Para Los Niños.”

For both mothers, the decision to stay connected came down to trust, and to a sense of belonging. Arianna describes it this way: “From the moment you walk in, everyone greets you, everyone is respectful. That makes you feel like family.”

That family feeling has lasted through the years.

Support Beyond Academics

As their children grew, both mothers found that PLN supported not only academics but also their families’ well-being.

For Arianna, services like therapy and academic support have made a tangible difference. “My children have had the support they need to learn, even when it’s been hard,” she says. “Especially after the pandemic, those services helped with anxiety and gave them the tools to move forward.”

Elvia describes CMS as a steady partner both in academic successes and also when challenges arise. “Adolescence isn’t easy, for the kids, for parents, or for schools,” she says. “But I’ve always found support here. If my children are struggling emotionally, the school is there. My son was in therapy and I was, too, with him. And that has made our relationship much easier,” she explains.

Modeling Involvement

Despite busy work and family schedules, Arianna and Elvia consistently make time to be present on campus. Arianna participates in leadership groups like the Parent Ambassador Leaders (PALS) program, where she encourages other families to get involved. Elvia has taken on visible roles too, from hosting a mental health resource booth to traveling with her son to Fresno for a statewide community schools conference.

For both women, this level of engagement is about more than checking a box, it’s about setting an example. Arianna explains: “I tell my kids, ‘it doesn’t matter how old you are, you can always keep learning and improving.’ By staying involved, I hope to inspire them to keep pushing forward in their own lives.”

Her children have noticed. They often ask her what she’s doing at school that day, and she can see their pride in her presence.

Elvia says her children motivate her too. As a working parent, PLN has made it possible for her to hold a job and still stay engaged in their education. What matters most to her is that her sons see she is present, that she cares about their schooling, and that they can always count on her.

Tamara Menéndez, who coordinates Family and Community Engagement at PLN, sees this as a defining quality of both mothers. “They don’t just receive services, they turn around and share what they’ve learned with other parents. That’s what makes them leaders.”