Our Partnership Coordinators (PC) at Turning the Page work with eight (8) schools within Ward 8 in Washington, D.C. and four (4) schools within the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. Each PC works to coordinate Community Nights and family engagement programs. Here on the TTP blog, our Partnership Coordinators want to share a little bit about themselves and the work that they do in their own words!
DC Partnership Coordinators:
Name: Talia Hullum
Hometown: Akron & Youngstown, Ohio
What is your superpower? Jumping to action and finding time to make others laugh.
Message to our families: You are all change agents that have inspired me greatly. I have learned and grown so much in my year at TTP and our families are responsible for this growth. I am inspired to speak up and courageously knock down barriers. I’m always in awe of the courage, patience, and love that our families possess.
What is your favorite TTP memory? My favorite memory are Kramer PTO meetings, watching the parents passionately speak about their children and the issues that they face in their communities.
What is the passion that drives your work at TTP? Watching my mother who willingly, unreservedly, and lovingly sacrificed and advocated for me and my siblings.
Name: Ally Gasdaska
Hometown: Harrisburg, PA
What is your superpower? Staying in tune with how others are feeling and making sure I support all the members of the team.
Message to our families: I’ve learned so much in working with you all over the past year. Sometimes it feels like the challenges that students and families face in the education system are too big to tackle, or that they come from institutions that are too far away to change—and that’s a frustrating feeling. But when I’m at a parent leader meeting or Community Night, that frustration turns into new energy and inspiration as soon as I hear parents discussing the issues that you’re facing at school, coming up with solutions for those issues, and immediately jumping in to take a role in improving the situation. Thank you for giving me the privilege of witnessing the amazing work that you’re doing in your schools and communities, and for teaching me what it means to really embrace your power to create change in spite of the challenges along the way.
What is your favorite TTP memory? Parent Leadership Conferences, PTO meetings, and icebreakers at Patterson Community Nights!
What is the passion that drives your work at TTP? I believe that families and community members should be able to make decisions about the institutions in their communities, including their schools and their students’ education, and I’m lucky to get to support parents as they work toward the best school system possible for their children.
Name: Hadiatu Sumah
Hometown: Washington, DC
What is your superpower? My superpower is my ability to pick up on people’s energy. As a result, I believe that is why I am very compassionate towards others and willing to assist or support whenever I can.
Message to our families: My message to our families is to never give up. The work being done in your children’s schools and in your community does not go unnoticed. You have the ability to make meaningful and lasting changes. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”- Margaret Mead
What is your favorite TTP memory? My favorite TTP memory is the summer trip to Anacostia Watershed Society. The trip was a great success! I was amazed by the number of families that attended the trip. I loved watching the parents and students engage with each other while learning about a well-known river in their community.
What is the passion that drives your work at TTP? The passion that drives the work I do at TTP is my desire to see our students succeed in their academic journey. Growing up, my parents always placed an emphasis on education and took a hands on approach in ensuring that my siblings and I were successful. Through my own experiences, I have developed a strong belief that education can be used as a tool to open doors and create endless opportunities.
Chicago Partnership Coordinator:
Name: Keirstin McCambridge
Hometown: Chesapeake, VA
What is your superpower? Bringing joy to the world, one smile at a time!
Message to our families: I am so appreciative of all of the love and support you provide your children and I am so excited to work alongside of you and get to know you this year. You each have so many valuable strengths that you can use to help lead your children, your school and the North Lawndale neighborhood to success. I can’t wait to see how we are able to partner to support our children going forward!
What is your favorite TTP memory? Our first outreach event at the Legacy BBQ. We battled the heat and made up awesome dance moves to draw attention to our table. But really, to have the opportunity to meet some really amazing families and get the ball rolling on the school year.
What is the passion that drives your work at TTP? My former students inspire me to fight for education and some of the parents that I was able to work alongside with, that enlightened me to the fact that families play an incredible role in their student’s success. As a former teacher, I am excited to partner and to see the relationship between families, schools, and the community grow.