The Robla Resilience Project has been in development for many years. It is rooted in the needs of a school district that serves a very diverse community. This is especially true when you consider that the people who work in the Robla School District are dedicated educators who truly care about the students they serve. Unfortunately, very few of them have viewed the world from the perspective of the children who come to their schools.
Over 12 years ago, Superintendent Reyes began to form a partnership with Derrell Roberts who along with his wife, Tina, founded the Roberts Family Development Center. It was clear to the superintendent that he would find far more success reaching the communities of color if he worked with people who were part of the community and already had a foundation of trust and respect.
If students of color were not successful in their schools, it was the schools that needed to change, not the students. They started their work based upon the concept that it was the responsibility of district staff to gain in their understanding of the diverse community they serve.
They contacted well-known researcher Dr. Sara Truebridge whose work in the area of Resilience focused on the belief that children are innately capable of high degrees of success. Their resilience may simply need to be activated by the community that supports them.
To learn more about the Robla Resilience Project, please visit http://www.robla.k12.ca.us
