AUSD Notes: Alameda's Ruby Bridges Elementary visited by its namesake

"This month students across the Alameda Unified School District are engaged in multiple efforts to help the members of our community, including food drives, warm coat drives, toy collections, gift card donations and community efforts to support specific families who may struggling. We at the AUSD are grateful for and impressed by these efforts every year but especially so this year given how many people are struggling."

"The board chose Ms. Hahnel an expert in education policy, finance and data to fill the seat left vacant when Meleah Hall resigned in late September. Hahnel works as a senior associate partner at national nonprofit group Bellwether Education Partners. Before working at Bellwether, she held leadership roles at the Opportunity Institute, Education Trust-West and the KIPP Foundation. She has previously served on the AUSD's parcel tax oversight committees (including as chair) and on the Maya Lin School Site Council."

"Ms. Bridges dropped in on Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, which celebrates her historic walk into the all-White William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, which effectively desegrated the school 65 years ago. This year, more than 900,000 students celebrated young Ruby's courage and resilience in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day celebrations across the country, including students at our elementary schools."

Students across Alameda Unified School District are running food drives, warm coat drives, toy collections, gift card donations and community efforts to support specific families in need during the month. AUSD officials expressed gratitude and noted heightened need this year. At the Nov. 18 Board of Education meeting, Carrie Hahnel was appointed to the vacant board seat; she brings expertise in education policy, finance and data and currently works as a senior associate partner at Bellwether Education Partners. Hahnel previously held leadership roles at the Opportunity Institute, Education Trust-West and the KIPP Foundation and served on AUSD parcel tax oversight committees. Ruby Bridges visited Ruby Bridges Elementary School during Walk to School Day, joining local celebrations that included student council remarks, purple flags, homemade signs and a march.

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