How Rocketship Schools Gave us an Academic Community

11Oct
by Alejandra Alonso

I’m the mother of a son with special needs. Alejandro is restless, but also has a lot of fun and has so much energy. Ever since he started school, I’ve been attentive to his needs and have searched for a school that will also meet those needs. Our journey in finding that school has been somewhat long. Alejandro first attended a Head Start preschool and then he went on to attend our local public elementary school. I never really understood why so few parents get involved in their child’s education or attend school gatherings. For me, it’s always been important to build relationships with teachers and school administration, but our experiences weren’t always great. My son and I felt discriminated against at our neighborhood school. I didn’t know what to do and the only thing I could think of was to find a private school for my son. And I did find one, that even offered to give us a scholarship to help pay for his tuition. 

However, I was out one-day running errands, paying for my car insurance when someone introduced me to the Rocketship Schools. They told me they were great elementary schools and I researched them a bit. At first, I looked for one that was closest to us, but I realized it’s not about what’s most convenient for me as a parent, it’s about where our children will flourish. Fortunately, Alejandro was accepted to the Rocketship Los Sueños campus. Principal Gabriela and Secretary Melvis gave us a warm welcome. We immediately felt motivated as a family; we had found an academic community. We settled in quickly since Alejandro felt supported. He’s finally started to receive the therapies and help he’s needed all along. Something that surprised me about this new school was that there’s a lot of parent involvement, which I’ll dive into in my next blog.

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Alejandra Alonso

Alejandra Alonso immigrated to the U.S. 22 years ago from Jalisco, Mexico. She’s an alumna of the University of Jalisco, where she received her degree in Accounting and English. Alejandra is the mom in a family of three and she’s also the mom to a son with special needs. She’s a firm believer in the phrase “knowledge is power” and sees education as a tool for advocacy. Alejandra lives in San Jose, California and is a member of the Santa Clara County Parent Coalition. Her son now attends a KIPP school.

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