Pomona Unified
Inspiring Educators to Succeed with Vision + Courage
Coaching the Way to a Brighter Future
Having been a superintendent himself, Springboard lead coach Ron Leon knows the challenges that Dr. Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana faces as superintendent of a large school district with an at-risk student population. “Thelma wants the best for her kids, many of whom are students of color, English Learners, and kids who’ve been discouraged from thinking they could go far.” He adds, “For her, it’s very personal.”
Born to an immigrant Mexican family, Meléndez was told by a high school counselor that she had no chance of attending a top college. But she wasn’t to be deterred. Meléndez went on to graduate cum laude from UCLA and then to receive her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. Today, Meléndez is determined that no child will be kept from his or her dream because of ethnicity or language challenges. “It’s important to have high expectations of what a student can do,” she says.
The Courage to Succeed
The Pomona Unified School District, which has 32,000 students across forty-two schools, is confronting sanctions, corrective action, and budget cuts. And yet in the face of all this, Meléndez is not just optimistic. She is courageously determined.
“The city is open and supportive. The board of education is supportive. Everyone is rallying around change. People are receptive to doing something about the achievement gap.”
Meléndez turned to Springboard Schools for help because in her words, “When you look to partner with people, you look for an organization that shares the same passion and commitment, and that has the necessary skills to achieve results.” With dropout rates as high as 46 percent in some of Pomona’s schools, it was clear that a lot of things needed to change.
A Change for the Better
For Superintendent Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, work is an “occupassion” – a blend of both a mission and a passion. “I know the kids can do it. I know the staff have a heart. This is my third district, but all along the district that tugged at my heart was Pomona. I loved the kids, and I really saw that people here care about children.”
Asked what her vision for Pomona in five years looks like, she’s quick to reply, “It’ll be a totally different place. All of our schools will be meeting the needs of all our students, English Learners or not.”
While she freely admits there is a lot of work to do, Meléndez believes the district is beginning to turn around. “The momentum is going in the right direction, people believe in themselves and the kids again.”
Finding the Focus
Meléndez is driven to help all students succeed. “Sometimes I have to slow her down a bit to make sure all the support systems are in place,” says coach Ron Leon. Together, Leon and Meléndez are working to narrow the focus, clarify the message, and align the systems. “Ron tells me things no one else can tell me. Fo a new superintendent to be able to call on someone with his experience, knowledge – and heart – is a blessing. He’s a critical but real friend,” says Meléndez.
Together with Springboard, Meléndez is working hard to build a strong team. “Springboard coaches are helping my staff grow quickly in their important work,” affirms Meléndez, “and making everyone more accountable throughout the system.”
Building Better Teams
During her time as superintendent, Meléndez has brought together the district and the community to help raise achievement for students.
She has instituted “Thursdays with Thelma,” making regular visits to schools and meeting with on-site staff to see how she can help them meet their challenges. She has set an example of visibility for an education leader, keeping herself and her work accessible and accountable to everyone and building teams aligned with district goals.
And Ron Leon, whom Meléndez calls “a life-saver,” has walked with her every step of the way.