Staff wins Family Outreach Liaison of the Year award

Congratulations to Veronica Martinez for winning the Family Outreach Liaison of the Year award! She began in our district more than a decade ago as a parent, sitting on a panel at a Parent Academy. That turned into her becoming a liaison for our district, and since then she has made a positive impact on countless families and students across our system and continues to do so as she pilots this shared Middle School Liaison position this year!

Here is the nomination that was submitted for Veronica Martinez:

"It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Veronica Martinez for the Outstanding Family Liaison award in recognition of her high impact work in operationalizing family engagement standards and advocating for students and families of Adams 12 Five Star Schools. As a Family Outreach Liaison, she has gone above and beyond, setting a new standard for excellence in family engagement across her four middle schools. Her dedication to fostering meaningful connections between the schools, students, and their families has created a lasting impact on the community.

Veronica embodies the principles of authentic family engagement in a multitude of ways. She ensures that all interactions with families are inclusive, respectful, and responsive. Whether it’s organizing Love and Logic parenting workshops, creating accessible communication strategies, or bridging the gap between home and school, she has made family partnership a cornerstone of her role. Her ability to build trust and collaborate with all families has fostered a welcoming environment that encourages participation and enhances the educational experience for all students.

What sets Veronica apart is her visionary approach to the shared liaison role across four middle schools. She has been a trailblazer in developing this model, ensuring that family engagement is aligned across schools while addressing the unique needs of each community. Through this pioneering effort, she has not only maximized resources but also ensured consistency in family outreach efforts, setting a precedent for future liaisons in the district.

In addition to her operational achievements, Veronica is a relentless advocate for what is best for students and families. She is committed to promoting equity in education, working to close opportunity gaps that perpetuate predictable outcomes. She engages in continuous professional learning and encourages collaboration among staff, students, and families to promote high-impact engagement strategies that lead to greater student success.

Her leadership, passion, and advocacy have left a lasting imprint on the Adams 12 Five Star Schools community. For these reasons, I highly recommend Veronica for the Outstanding Family Liaison award, as she continues to inspire others and pave the way for innovative and equitable family engagement practices."

This story exemplifies our ELEVATE Focus Area: World-Class Staff. Sharing stories about how staff is compensated, supported and trained to foster student success and family partnerships.