Growing Together Lassen

Photographed Left to Right: Hailey Park, Bryan Young and Kaitlyn Midgley. 

Growing Together: Lassen County’s Community School Journey

This fall in Lassen County, our three community schools—Big Valley, Westwood, and Fort Sage—continued their shared journey toward a whole-child approach to education. Each school is in a different phase of this work, but all are united by the same belief: when we invest in relationships, we create schools where students can thrive not just academically, but emotionally and socially too.

At Westwood Unified, that belief is visible every single day. Through small, consistent acts of care, the school has built deeper trust with students and families. Parents now drop by not only for conferences, but to lend a hand or pick up items from Westwood’s clothing closet and food pantry—two initiatives born directly from listening to community needs. These simple spaces tell a story of connection and dignity, where families know they are seen and supported.

Fort Sage Unified is writing a similar story of care. Spend even a few minutes on campus, and you can feel the community school coordinator’s influence—a steady, compassionate presence that students clearly recognize and respond to. Their work reminds us that transformation doesn’t always happen through new programs or plans; often, it begins with someone showing up, consistently, with care.

At Big Valley School District, the process is still unfolding, shaped by questions about what a “whole-child” system looks like in a smaller rural setting. The district’s commitment to learning, listening, and building the right foundation is laying the groundwork for meaningful, lasting change. One of the most inspiring moments of our journey so far was attending the Community Schools Fundamentals Conference in late October. Over three days of workshops and conversations, we came away with tools and ideas that are already guiding our work—everything from conducting thoughtful Needs and Asset Assessments to building strong School Advisory Councils. Frameworks like the Principles of Effective Partnerships, Community Schools Forward: Framework: Essentials for Community School Transformation, and Building Community Schools helped us see our local efforts through a broader national lens.

We left the conference reminded that this work isn’t about quick wins—it’s about building something that will last. The movement toward community schools in Lassen County is still in progress, but it’s full of momentum, heart, and shared hope. Together, we’re learning to see every challenge as an opportunity to grow stronger, more connected, and more aligned around what matters most—the success and well-being of every child.

- By Hailey Park and Bryan Young, Lassen County Community School Leads 

December 2025