Name: Beyond the Classroom: How Community Partnerships and Student-Centered Systems Are Transforming Outcomes for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Start: 2026-08-29T10:00:00-0700
End: 2026-08-29T10:45:00-0700

Beyond the Classroom: How Community Partnerships and Student-Centered Systems Are Transforming Outcomes for Students Experiencing Homelessness

Saturday August 29, 2026 10:00am - 10:45am PDT

Guadlupe

Students experiencing homelessness face barriers that extend far beyond academics. In Santa Clara County, the number of students identified under the McKinney-Vento Act has increased significantly in recent years, requiring school systems to rethink how they support student success, attendance, belonging, and stability.

This session will highlight how Morgan Hill and Sunnyvale School Districts developed integrated support systems for students and families experiencing housing instability through strategic partnerships, targeted transportation services, outreach coordinators, food assistance programs, emergency planning support, and community collaboration.

Participants will learn how district leaders moved beyond compliance to create a coordinated system of care designed to remove barriers, increase engagement, improve attendance, and strengthen trust with families. Presenters will share lessons learned, challenges encountered, and early outcomes from this ongoing work.

Speakers

Jessie Swift

Director of Student Services, Morgan Hill USD

Dr. Carmen Garcia

Superintendent, Morgan Hill USD

Dr. Carmen García was born in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, México, and grew up in Southern California where she took full advantage of her K-12 education. Subsequently, she attended the University of San Diego where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History... Read More →

John Horner

Board President, Morgan Hill USD

Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, Ph.D

Superintendent, Sunnyvale School District

Dr. Gudiel R. Crosthwaite has dedicated over 30 years to public education, championing equity, mentorship, and student success. He began his career in 1994 as a classroom teacher and has since served in leadership roles at every level—elementary, middle, and high school.In 2025... Read More →