Superintendent Dr. Gina Acosta Potter Calls for Stronger Community Partnerships to Support Student Success
Education leader and longtime Superintendent Dr. Gina Acosta Potter is using her newly published spotlight feature to raise awareness about an urgent issue facing public schools today: the growing need for strong community partnerships to support students and families facing economic hardship, housing instability, and learning gaps.
In the interview, Potter shares personal reflections from her 30-year career and emphasizes that sustainable school improvement depends on collaboration far beyond classroom walls. “Students cannot learn if their basic needs are not met. It is our job to support the whole child, and schools need support from local community partners and legislative leaders to create a robust ecosystem of support,” she states.
A Call for Community Engagement During a Critical Time
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than one in five public school students in the United States lives in poverty. In districts like those Potter has led, the numbers are even higher. In some California communities, over 60 percent of families face housing or economic insecurity.
“These challenges show up in our classrooms every single day,” Potter explains. “Schools do notably better when communities have valuable resources to ensure safe homes, food, health care, career development, and academic support. The building of a robust ecosystem of support became one of the guiding principles of our strategy.”
Her message comes at a time when schools across the country continue to face staffing shortages, rising poverty and student mental health needs, and widening academic gaps following the pandemic. Yet, Potter stresses that communities have the power to make immediate, meaningful impact through consistent, comprehensive acts of support.
Highlighting the Power of Partnerships
Throughout the interview, Potter reflects on the transformative effect that local agencies, nonprofit partners, families, and state and federal legislative leaders have had on her work. As Superintendent, her dynamic team of educators expanded partnerships that provided meals, healthcare access, counseling services, technology, and academic support.
“You cannot solve big problems alone,” she says. “The most progress I have seen in my career happened when schools and communities worked together with a unified shared purpose.”
Research supports her message. Studies show that strong school-community partnerships can improve attendance, increase graduation rates, and raise student achievement by up to 20 percent in high-needs districts.
Potter’s school district was recognized in 2025 with the honor of earning a statewide California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award for establishing a robust ecosystem of support through community and legislative partners.
A Message of Hope and Practical Action
While the challenges facing public education are significant, Potter remains hopeful. Her call to action is simple: every person can play a part. She urges families, neighbors, local and state leaders, and business owners to take small, practical steps that strengthen their local schools and support vulnerable students.
“I have always focused on serving as a humanitarian leader. Everything else followed,” she says. “That same mindset applies to communities. You do not have to be a Superintendent to make a difference. You just have to care enough to take one meaningful step to help students and their families.”
How Communities Can Help Today
Potter encourages individuals, organizations, and legislative leaders to consider: • Creating local community volunteer groups that partner with school districts to provide valuable resources and programs to schools and the community • Donating school supplies, food, housing vouchers, backpacks, books, reading glasses, holiday gifts, and more • Partnering with schools to offer internships, mentorships, or career shadowships • Supporting local youth sports, arts, and enrichment programs • Advocating for school resources at the state and federal levels
“If you understand the people you serve, you can lead them to achieve a common unified humanitarian goal of student success. And if communities understand the students they support, they can lift them lifelong generational success,” Potter notes.
About the Feature
The full interview highlights Potter’s career journey from Classroom Teacher to Superintendent and reinforces her belief that community connection is essential to public school success.
For more information, or to read the full spotlight feature, please visit her official website.
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
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