Santa Rosa principal credits Leader in Me, attendance focus and mentoring partnerships for student growth

Sarah Betts, principal of Santa Rosa Academic Academy, presented the site’s approaches to leadership, attendance and academic supports during the district’s April 22 board meeting.

Betts said Santa Rosa frames instruction and activities around the district graduate profile and the Leader in Me program. "At Santa Rosa, we believe every child deserves high quality learning, meaningful relationships, and authentic opportunities to lead," Betts said. She described Lighthouse teams, mentoring through the Amplify/BIGs program (pairing high school mentors with elementary students), a campus garden and family engagement events as central supports.

Why it matters: Betts emphasized attendance as a core priority — the school’s target is 92% monthly attendance, which she said the site was meeting — and described systems for tracking and celebrating progress. Betts also said that weekly grade-level PLCs, instructional coaching and data-driven intervention ("walk to learn") underpin improvements in literacy and math.

Programs and partnerships: Betts described collaboration with Paloma Creek and the Amplify mentoring program, garden education with Christopher Apple and after-school Lighthouse classes in art, cycling and gardening. She said the school’s leadership teams are preparing for deeper implementation of Leader in Me next year, including student-led conferences and expanded goal-setting.

Trustee interaction: Trustees praised both site presentations that evening; Betts responded to board questions about Leader in Me implementation and next steps, saying the school will launch student goal-setting binders at the start of the next school year following staff training.

Ending: Betts closed by thanking the board and inviting trustees to visit and observe the programs; board members commended staff and student work.