VOICES FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD - VOCES DEL BARRIO
Mothers of DCIS – Reimagining Our School By Ana Contreras
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ho is Montbello? All Montbello residents should be able to confidently answer “We are Montbello.” But with so many demographic shifts, school changes, and gentrification pressures in the neighborhood, the answer to “Who is Montbello’’ is complex. The history of Montbello points to neighborhood schools as central to Montbello’s identity. In light of the recent decision by Denver Public Schools to return to a comprehensive high school, this question resurfaces. The District has promised to right their wrongs by reflecting the values of the community in the creation of this new school. However, the answer to “Who is Montbello?” has changed in the decade since Montbello High School was closed. A group of mothers with children at DCIS Montbello are conducting research and working to ensure that their voice and the larger Latino community’s voice is heard in this process of designing the school and its programs. We know that this comprehensive school can be a space where Montbello can create a unified identity and be a place where all can feel they belong. Our group, Mothers of DCIS, would like to share some values we feel should be reflected in the school so that the
Latino community can be seen as a valued stakeholder in Montbello schools. Maria Escobedo: “In making decisions about the building and change of school, I would really like for the District to take into account our opinion, so that as they hear about our needs and about our students, they decide on what is best for the community. The way of working at DCIS satisfies us and fulfills the students’ expectations. The school promotes the values we care about, which is what matters in a good education and in a better society. The diversity of cultures that exist in DCIS is very important and the principal fights so that these cultures will be given the value that each one of them deserves, in the same way that each student in the school is valued. This generates security, acceptance, respect, and empathy in the students. I believe that this is very important to have better student achievement.”
Rosario Mendoza: “A new school, for me, represents our community’s and families’ values. This includes cultures, languages, and social integration. It would be a school with: •opportunities and resources for the students, always thinking about the benefits for the school but placing the priority in the academic development of the students;
•active participation and communication among the students, teachers, families, and community for the benefit of our school; •opportunities for support for the academic development of the students in advanced classes; •a better plan for the support of youth that need to recover credits (academic and mental health support); •capable teachers with empathy to serve our students through navigating their cultures and needs; •valuing our community’s students to take away labels; •a safe space, a space for extended learning that is not limiting. In summary, to be intentional to take advantage of our strengths in every way.”
Angela Tzul: “First of all, we fight for the ideals, values, and cultures that we see in DCIS. For me, the model of a school should reflect those values. A school should be open to families. Additionally, we want the personnel to support us to meet our children’s needs. For example, when I asked for a 504 plan for my son, I felt comfortable advocating for my son. It was easy for me because the social worker spoke Spanish and we worked together to create a plan. What I seek is: •to feel welcome in participating in the school and advo-
MUSE - Montbello Urban Spectrum Edition – November/December 2020
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cating for our children; •the personnel speak Spanish and that they support us in finding resources to defend the needs for each student; •for our graduating students, to have more opportunities after high school; •more resources to enter college; •more opportunities such as the Seal of Biliteracy and concurrent enrollment; •more information about how to apply for scholarships and other resources; •teachers that stay and develop connections with our students and help to improve our children’s education and to recognize their needs and their skills “And finally, to the District: please, in future decisions about Montbello, we ask that you take us—Latino parents— into consideration.”Y
Madres de DCIS – Reimaginando Nuestra Escuela By Ana Contreras
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Quién es Montbello? Todos los residentes de Montbello deberían de poder contestar con confianza “Nosotros somos Montbello”. Pero con tantos cambios demográficos, cambios escolares, y presiones de gentrificación en el vecindario, la respuesta a la pregunta “Quién es Montbello?” es compleja. La historia de Montbello posiciona escuelas como instituciones fundamentales para la identidad de