20-2116 Submission Public Hearing by the Board of Education of Alternatives In Action, Inc. - Alternative in Action High School - Petition and Proposed Charter - Grades 9-12 - July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2026 (5 Year Renewal).
AIA high school has been a very good experience for me because the coaches are very supportive and will give more one on one time than other high schools. Also the small number in students and the size of the building just makes everyone closer and everyone knows each other.
AIA es una gran escuela donde uno puede desarrollar nuestros talentos ya sea en estudio o arte, los maestros son muy aplicados, he aprendido mucho y la escuela brinda mucha ayuda ya sea con alimentos o ropa etre otras cosas..
Para mi Alternatives in action significa mucho, porque en esta escuela he tenido experiencias muy bonitas, he aprendido bastante , aprendi a socializar más . Y sobre todo me ha gustado que todos han sido muy amables y me han ayudado mucho .
Es muy importante para nosotros de padres que por favor la escuela permanezca abierta para que nuestros hijos desarrollen muchas avilidades para su futuro es una excelente escuela y confiamos que tendremos su apollo
Esta escuela es buenísima a mi hijo lean ayudado muchísimo y los profesores muy dedicados y lo importante que son escuchados los alumnos es una de las mejores escuelas.
AIA High School is a school and community where students are heard and supported. As an alumni, my experience here empowered me to want to come back and help others from my community. AIA pushed me out of my comfort zone through public speaking, meeting new people and exploring different career paths. I now get to work alongside students to push and guide them to their highest potential. They are the leaders of the future. We need the OUSD board to renew our charter, so students can continue to have a space and community that believes in them and supports them to reach all their goals.
Dear OUSD Board,
As A alum and current Administrative Coordinator at AIAHS I can say that AIA is my second home and there is no other place like AIA. They have given me the opportunity to grow and build relationships with students and staff. AIA is a place where we support our youth and our family’s. I started with AIA as a 9th grader super shy and not thinking as a youth I had any power. But AIA taught me to be a leader in my community because of the staff that believe in me, because of AIA believing in me I am where I am right now.Thats what we do for youth in our community we support them and never give up on them and uplift them. That’s why we need AIA to be renew because this is a home to our youth and we are a community that is healing together.
If it was not for AIA I would not be where I am today. When public schools failed me, AIA helped me not only learn but also taught me to seek the best for myself. After receiving much support from AIA I went on to get two degrees at UC Berkeley and now entering a masters program.
This is my fifth year working at AIAHS as an Academic Intervention Specialist. I have also had the privilege of working at 3 other Oakland/Alameda schools. Alternatives In Action is a unique school within the East Bay. It truly provides an alternative for students that they may not find at other schools. Our students have a wide range of life and educational experiences. This school culture is one of the best I have seen at creating an inclusive space for ALL students. This inclusivity is modeled by the staff, and lived by the students. The school community lifts and holds each student so they have an opportunity to be their best selves, academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.
En esta escuela apoyan y motivan a cada estudiante de manera individual para que alcancen su metas académicas. También ofrece muy buenos servicios hay consejería y una coordinadora de salud y bienestar que apoya a los estudiantes y a sus familias para que estén bien íntegramente. Los maestros se involucran de manera especial y personal en la vida de cada estudiante y con muy buena actidud y mucho respeto, ellos saben escuchar y guiar a los estudiantes a sus familias de manera adecuada. Siempre está buscando la forma de ofrecer los recursos que las familias necesitan Es una escuela pequeña que brinda un espacio especial de libertad de expresión
donde el lema es respeto a los derechos humanos y el propósito es preparar jóvenes para que estén listos para el colegio y la vida.
Dear OUSD Board,
As a former student and current teacher at AIAHS I can say there is no place quite like AIA. They have given me the opportunity to see myself as part of a bigger community and have consistently given me support to grow as a student and a professional. Students typically enter AIA, myself included, not feeling seen or valued in previous school experiences. The combination of AIAs supportive staff and meaningful structures gives students a sense of belonging and direction. I don't know where I would be without the community I found at AIA. As a staff member my experience is similar, I feel valued and seen by my supervisors and fellow teachers. I have been trusted with autonomy and given space to reflect on my practice. I continue to choose to be a part of this community because I see the difference it makes in the lives of young people. I urge the board to AIAHS' charter so that young people can continue grow, be seen and thrive.
AIA High School is more than a school. It is an amazing space for students to feel welcome, accepted and embraced. It is a community that educates and assists their student to reach their personal and academic goal. When students graduate from AIA they leave empowered and informed about the world. They leave with focus and direction.
This school is a necessary haven for so many. Students to come to AIA and find a home. They find a community. They find places where they can safely learn and develop.
The purpose of AIA is in its name - an alternative. AIA provides an effective alternative educational experience for those who would do well outside of Oakland's traditional public schools, but do not have the means for a private school.
Dear OUSD Board,
As a former Board Member and ongoing supporter of the Alternatives in Action organization, I request that OUSD Board support the Alternatives in Action High School charter application. This high school is unique and offers an opportunity to many disenfranchised youth who might otherwise fall through the cracks. The personalized attention and support provided by the teachers and staff, is essential for these student’s success and ultimately to the future of the community by breaking the cycle. AIAHS is a valuable asset to Oakland, and I urge the OUSD Board to support the AIAHS charter request.
As a graduate from AIAHS, I feel so honored to have been part of such an amazing and caring community for 4 years. Due to the amazing help and attention the teachers provide to the students I was able to seek the perfect path in my life. I urge you to renew AIAHS charter so that other young folks can also obtain the chance to find their perfect path.
I write to share my strong recommendation for the approval of Alternatives in Action's charter petition. I had the honor of working with Alternatives in Action as a staff member for over 12 years & as a consultant supporting the staff for another six. During that time, I experienced first hand the incredible impact that Alternatives in Action had on not only the young people it empowers but also the surrounding community the young people are challenged to improve. As a parent of two children with learning differences, I also know how difficult it is to find a loving environment that embraces differences and builds confidence and connection. Here AIA excels, meeting students with rigor and compassion for their life circumstances. Alternatives in Action puts youth at the center, elevates and amplifies their voices & creates a true learning community that holds each individual sacred. I hope Oakland Unified helps this jewel of a school to impact many future generations.
As a former science teacher of 4 years at this school and overall member of this organization for 8 years, I urge you to renew AIA High School's charter. I became the educator that I am today thanks to all the supports and unforgettable teaching experiences AIA provided me. The school has remained true to their core values/goals and has remained committed to provide its youth with equitable educational outcomes. The school consistently raises academic rigor; it instills a love of learning in students; it continuously supports their educators, students, and families; and remains dedicated to the community it serves. Not renewing their charter would be a devastating loss to this thriving community. I implore their renewal as I have personally witnessed how AIA High School has changes the lives of many youth who have not been successful in traditional educational settings. This school's sense of community is unlike any other I have witnessed in my 15+ years in education.
As a former teacher at AIAHS, I strongly urge you to renew their charter. AIAHS continues to provide students an alternative approach to education and learning. The culture of the school creates a space for students to experience belonging, discover their strengths, and expand their skills and leadership abilities. Although I left the school 4 years ago when I moved away, after 6 years of teaching there, I continue to stay connected to colleagues and former students, and still feel a part of the AIA family. This kind of experience of belonging, I believe, is what we as humans, youth and adult, need in order to flourish and do our part of co-creating a better world.
I want to write in support of AIA's charter renewal's application. While I currently live in Seattle, for many years I lived in the Bay Area and for two years I was on the AIA Board. Phung Lai is in awesome ED and through her leadership AIA has thrived. I'm very proud of AIA's commitment to serving the local population. i whole hardily support their charter application. Thank you.
AIA high school has been a very good experience for me because the coaches are very supportive and will give more one on one time than other high schools. Also the small number in students and the size of the building just makes everyone closer and everyone knows each other.
AIA es una gran escuela donde uno puede desarrollar nuestros talentos ya sea en estudio o arte, los maestros son muy aplicados, he aprendido mucho y la escuela brinda mucha ayuda ya sea con alimentos o ropa etre otras cosas..
Para mi Alternatives in action significa mucho, porque en esta escuela he tenido experiencias muy bonitas, he aprendido bastante , aprendi a socializar más . Y sobre todo me ha gustado que todos han sido muy amables y me han ayudado mucho .
AIa is important to me because grades up.they are also very nice and supportive
Es muy importante para nosotros de padres que por favor la escuela permanezca abierta para que nuestros hijos desarrollen muchas avilidades para su futuro es una excelente escuela y confiamos que tendremos su apollo
Esta escuela es buenísima a mi hijo lean ayudado muchísimo y los profesores muy dedicados y lo importante que son escuchados los alumnos es una de las mejores escuelas.
AIA High School is a school and community where students are heard and supported. As an alumni, my experience here empowered me to want to come back and help others from my community. AIA pushed me out of my comfort zone through public speaking, meeting new people and exploring different career paths. I now get to work alongside students to push and guide them to their highest potential. They are the leaders of the future. We need the OUSD board to renew our charter, so students can continue to have a space and community that believes in them and supports them to reach all their goals.
Dear OUSD Board,
As A alum and current Administrative Coordinator at AIAHS I can say that AIA is my second home and there is no other place like AIA. They have given me the opportunity to grow and build relationships with students and staff. AIA is a place where we support our youth and our family’s. I started with AIA as a 9th grader super shy and not thinking as a youth I had any power. But AIA taught me to be a leader in my community because of the staff that believe in me, because of AIA believing in me I am where I am right now.Thats what we do for youth in our community we support them and never give up on them and uplift them. That’s why we need AIA to be renew because this is a home to our youth and we are a community that is healing together.
If it was not for AIA I would not be where I am today. When public schools failed me, AIA helped me not only learn but also taught me to seek the best for myself. After receiving much support from AIA I went on to get two degrees at UC Berkeley and now entering a masters program.
This is my fifth year working at AIAHS as an Academic Intervention Specialist. I have also had the privilege of working at 3 other Oakland/Alameda schools. Alternatives In Action is a unique school within the East Bay. It truly provides an alternative for students that they may not find at other schools. Our students have a wide range of life and educational experiences. This school culture is one of the best I have seen at creating an inclusive space for ALL students. This inclusivity is modeled by the staff, and lived by the students. The school community lifts and holds each student so they have an opportunity to be their best selves, academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally.
En esta escuela apoyan y motivan a cada estudiante de manera individual para que alcancen su metas académicas. También ofrece muy buenos servicios hay consejería y una coordinadora de salud y bienestar que apoya a los estudiantes y a sus familias para que estén bien íntegramente. Los maestros se involucran de manera especial y personal en la vida de cada estudiante y con muy buena actidud y mucho respeto, ellos saben escuchar y guiar a los estudiantes a sus familias de manera adecuada. Siempre está buscando la forma de ofrecer los recursos que las familias necesitan Es una escuela pequeña que brinda un espacio especial de libertad de expresión
donde el lema es respeto a los derechos humanos y el propósito es preparar jóvenes para que estén listos para el colegio y la vida.
Dear OUSD Board,
As a former student and current teacher at AIAHS I can say there is no place quite like AIA. They have given me the opportunity to see myself as part of a bigger community and have consistently given me support to grow as a student and a professional. Students typically enter AIA, myself included, not feeling seen or valued in previous school experiences. The combination of AIAs supportive staff and meaningful structures gives students a sense of belonging and direction. I don't know where I would be without the community I found at AIA. As a staff member my experience is similar, I feel valued and seen by my supervisors and fellow teachers. I have been trusted with autonomy and given space to reflect on my practice. I continue to choose to be a part of this community because I see the difference it makes in the lives of young people. I urge the board to AIAHS' charter so that young people can continue grow, be seen and thrive.
AIA High School is more than a school. It is an amazing space for students to feel welcome, accepted and embraced. It is a community that educates and assists their student to reach their personal and academic goal. When students graduate from AIA they leave empowered and informed about the world. They leave with focus and direction.
This school is a necessary haven for so many. Students to come to AIA and find a home. They find a community. They find places where they can safely learn and develop.
The purpose of AIA is in its name - an alternative. AIA provides an effective alternative educational experience for those who would do well outside of Oakland's traditional public schools, but do not have the means for a private school.
Dear OUSD Board,
As a former Board Member and ongoing supporter of the Alternatives in Action organization, I request that OUSD Board support the Alternatives in Action High School charter application. This high school is unique and offers an opportunity to many disenfranchised youth who might otherwise fall through the cracks. The personalized attention and support provided by the teachers and staff, is essential for these student’s success and ultimately to the future of the community by breaking the cycle. AIAHS is a valuable asset to Oakland, and I urge the OUSD Board to support the AIAHS charter request.
As a graduate from AIAHS, I feel so honored to have been part of such an amazing and caring community for 4 years. Due to the amazing help and attention the teachers provide to the students I was able to seek the perfect path in my life. I urge you to renew AIAHS charter so that other young folks can also obtain the chance to find their perfect path.
I write to share my strong recommendation for the approval of Alternatives in Action's charter petition. I had the honor of working with Alternatives in Action as a staff member for over 12 years & as a consultant supporting the staff for another six. During that time, I experienced first hand the incredible impact that Alternatives in Action had on not only the young people it empowers but also the surrounding community the young people are challenged to improve. As a parent of two children with learning differences, I also know how difficult it is to find a loving environment that embraces differences and builds confidence and connection. Here AIA excels, meeting students with rigor and compassion for their life circumstances. Alternatives in Action puts youth at the center, elevates and amplifies their voices & creates a true learning community that holds each individual sacred. I hope Oakland Unified helps this jewel of a school to impact many future generations.
As a former science teacher of 4 years at this school and overall member of this organization for 8 years, I urge you to renew AIA High School's charter. I became the educator that I am today thanks to all the supports and unforgettable teaching experiences AIA provided me. The school has remained true to their core values/goals and has remained committed to provide its youth with equitable educational outcomes. The school consistently raises academic rigor; it instills a love of learning in students; it continuously supports their educators, students, and families; and remains dedicated to the community it serves. Not renewing their charter would be a devastating loss to this thriving community. I implore their renewal as I have personally witnessed how AIA High School has changes the lives of many youth who have not been successful in traditional educational settings. This school's sense of community is unlike any other I have witnessed in my 15+ years in education.
As a former teacher at AIAHS, I strongly urge you to renew their charter. AIAHS continues to provide students an alternative approach to education and learning. The culture of the school creates a space for students to experience belonging, discover their strengths, and expand their skills and leadership abilities. Although I left the school 4 years ago when I moved away, after 6 years of teaching there, I continue to stay connected to colleagues and former students, and still feel a part of the AIA family. This kind of experience of belonging, I believe, is what we as humans, youth and adult, need in order to flourish and do our part of co-creating a better world.
I want to write in support of AIA's charter renewal's application. While I currently live in Seattle, for many years I lived in the Bay Area and for two years I was on the AIA Board. Phung Lai is in awesome ED and through her leadership AIA has thrived. I'm very proud of AIA's commitment to serving the local population. i whole hardily support their charter application. Thank you.