Building the Future Together in Glenn County
There are moments when you realize something bigger is happening than a single program, grant, or initiative.
Across Glenn County this year, community schools work increasingly felt less like separate efforts and more like the building of an ecosystem. Whether the conversation centered on literacy, workforce development, student wellness, multilingualism, or family engagement, one theme surfaced again and again:
We cannot do this work alone.
In an agricultural community like Glenn County, that idea feels familiar. Just as a healthy harvest depends on an entire ecosystem working together, student success grows when schools, families, community organizations, public agencies, employers, and higher education partners work toward a shared vision.
One of the most powerful lessons came directly from students. Through multilingual student interviews and advocacy opportunities, young people spoke about leadership, belonging, and identity. Many described multilingualism not as a challenge, but as a strength.
"It's important to speak up because others are too afraid to speak for themselves."
Again and again, students shared how language helps them connect families, cultures, and communities. Their reflections reminded us that youth voice is not an extra component of community schools. It is central to the work.
The year also reinforced three priorities that continue to guide conversations across Glenn County:
- Literacy as the academic moonshot.
- Workforce development as the hope strategy.
- Family engagement and belonging as the foundation that makes everything else possible.
These priorities came to life in different ways across our districts. Orland Unified continued to elevate student voice and community partnerships through storytelling and social media engagement. Willows Unified expanded wellness supports and partnerships that connect students and families to needed services. Hamilton Unified strengthened family-centered programming through literacy nights, workshops, and community events that foster belonging and trust.
While each district's journey looks different, a common thread connects them all: strong relationships.
Community schools are helping create environments where students feel known, families feel welcomed, and communities see themselves as partners in education. The work continues, but this year offered a powerful reminder that the future is built together.
As Glenn County looks ahead, we remain committed to strengthening literacy, expanding pathways to opportunity, and ensuring every student has access to the relationships and supports they need to thrive. Those goals are ambitious, but they become possible when an entire community works alongside its schools.
By Aaron Koch, Ph.D., Glenn County Community School Lead
June 2026