Rocketship Public Schools Helped Me Become a Parent Advocate for Change in the San Jose Community

05Jun
by Eva Heredia

I never thought that I would be involved in politics. I didn’t think my voice mattered. But in 2014, a rather persistent community organizer from Rocketship Public Schools convinced me to come to an organizing meeting for the San Jose Mayoral Candidate Forum. The community organizers and other parents showed me that advocacy is about fighting for a better future for our kids. It’s about seeing the opportunity ahead and making it a reality.

So I took the chance and got involved. The first time I met with the Mayor I was so nervous, too afraid to say anything in front of him. But over time I learned to find my voice. I remember crying along with one of the school board trustee members about education because I strongly believed that our kids needed to be prepared for the future because they ARE the future leaders.

I have spoken at many, many school board meetings, worked with elected officials, and even spoken to lawmakers in Sacramento sometimes with fear, but I have to do it. Someone has to speak up, and as a Latina mom, I have to be the example for my daughters.

Becoming politically active was scary, but I did it because if I didn’t, who will? Our public officials make major decisions about education for our kids, so we have to be involved to ask questions, get answers, and make our voices heard.

It is even more important for me, as a Latina, as we are often afraid to speak up. I am an example at my school for other Latina moms. Just because I didn’t go to school here in this country and I don’t have a degree, my kids do not have to follow the same path. As my kids beat the odds at school, I make my voice louder and louder to advocate for a better future for all of us.

I have choices for my daughters, for myself, and for my community. In Rocketship, I was given the tools that I need to advocate not just for my own kids, but for all kids in my community, and now I hope to bring other parents along to do the same.

What do you think?

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Eva Heredia

Eva is a parent leader at Rocketship Discovery Prep and at KIPP Heritage Academy in East Side San Jose. She currently lives in San Jose California with her two beautiful daughters and her husband. She was born in Mexico City in 1976 but also considers Oaxaca as her home because of her mother.

She began her leadership at Rocketship Discovery Prep over four years ago. She learned that there was so much more that she could do as a parent beyond volunteering in her children’s classroom. Eva became fully aware of the political involvement a parent must act on.

She has the experience and extensive knowledge about public officials, school board members, and school administrators who play an important role in public education in East Side San Jose. She supported the opening of Kipp Navigate at a State level, by advocating for quality schools alongside other parents in 2018. She then became a founding parent at Kipp Navigate. Besides being a champion for high-quality education and choice, she also helped build the Wooster Neighborhood Association in her community. She is the voice for her children, students, and her community. She is a huge supporter of parent engagement, choice, and access to higher education. In addition, Eva also attended an Adult High School and graduated from Independence High School in 2019.

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