2 Alta Loma HS students are working to increase parental involvement

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA – Taylor Cabrera and Kiranjot (Kiran) Kour never knew each other before being asked to participate on a project they’d never heard of, either. Today, the two Alta Loma High School students are using their newfound friendship to advance a state-backed program to increase community engagement.

Alta Loma received funding through the Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) to identify ways to increase parental involvement, and was looking for two students to serve on an in-school committee.

“Taylor and Kiran are such great students and offer insight through their own life experiences that made them ideal choices for this program,” said Dr. Adam Stites, the school’s Assistant Principal of Achievement.

Taylor, a sophomore, and Kiran, a junior, have excelled at school despite having faced a variety of challenges along the way, including, in Kiran’s case, the death of her father.

“I think it gives us a good understanding of what students and their families are dealing with,” Taylor says.

Adds Kiran, “People might wonder why some parents don’t get more involved, but you don’t know what‘s happening at home. Sometimes it’s a language barrier. Or maybe the parents are working two jobs and have time challenges.”

Those challenges can run deep, the two students say.

“If you’re a parent and you only speak Spanish, you’re probably going to fee out of place. One of the things we’re trying to do is figure out how (as a school) we can be more inclusive,” Taylor says.

Examples include the need for more comprehensive interpreting services at parent events and checking in more often with parents regarding what they need from the school.

The experience also has made Taylor and Kiran ambassadors, of sorts, for other students.

“Sometimes you will see a student who dresses funky or might keep to themselves. You can’t go around judging that. We don’t know what they’re going through,” says Kiran, who wants to be a nurse when she is done with school.

Taylor, who wants to be a teacher, says her work with CEI has trained her well: “I’ve learned to be a better listener,” she says. “You’re able to see that if a student is struggling, it’s not just what’s happening at school but what’s going on at home.”

“We’re so proud of Kiran and Taylor. They represent the power of community – one of the strengths of our District and schools. In the process, they are helping to make our campuses more inclusive and welcoming to students and families from all walks of life,” said Chaffey District Superintendent Dr. Mathew Holton.