FDR Elementary showcases newcomer supports, leadership programs and makerspace at Lawndale school board meeting

Lawndale Elementary School District trustees heard a spotlight presentation from Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Elementary School during their Feb. 20 board meeting, featuring student speakers and school staff who described academic interventions, newcomer supports and hands‑on learning programs.

The presentation explained how FDR uses I‑Ready diagnostic and individualized practice, a Newcomer Academy, social‑emotional supports and a makerspace to help students, including recent arrivals, access instruction and build leadership skills.

School leaders said the work ties directly to district goals for academic achievement, access and equity, family engagement and modern learning environments. Principal Jenny Whitaker and staff described one‑on‑one I‑Ready conferences, small‑group RTI instruction, before‑school and summer newcomer sessions and leadership programs for fourth and fifth graders.

"I meet with all 32 of my fifth graders whenever we take an I‑Ready," Wendy Howard, a fifth‑grade teacher at FDR, said. Howard described using I‑Ready data to form small groups for both reading comprehension and math standards.

Social worker Vanessa Clark said school staff developed a newcomer parent assessment to welcome families, identify needs and link households to services. "We introduced ourselves. We gave them a warm reception. We obtained a lot of information through our needs assessment," Clark said, describing teams that connected families to academic and social‑emotional resources and in‑school supports such as bilingual Second Step instruction and wraparound referrals.

Students who spoke described personal experiences with the programs. Brian Barrios Delgado, a fifth grader, told trustees, "If you're curious about something, ask a question about it because curiosity will stay." Second grader Kaydel (surname not specified in the record) said she had attended the Newcomer Academy and before‑school English classes and added, "Now I can talk with my teacher and other students." Fifth grader Madison Farmer said, "When I'm at FDR, I don't think of FDR as a place to learn. I think of FDR like another home."

The school highlighted its ROAR leadership team and RISE Black Scholars program for older elementary students, a makerspace that supports engineering and coding activities, and partnerships with community groups including SMOA that provided arts and literacy experiences. Staff noted upcoming family events, continued work on data walls and a literacy focus.

Board members praised the students and staff. Trustee Anne Phillips said she was impressed with the Newcomer Academy and the student presentations; Trustee Eddie Morales and others echoed appreciation for teachers, social workers and volunteers. Superintendent Virginia Castro said she planned to visit the school the following morning.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting: FDR staff said they meet individually with students after each I‑Ready administration; Newcomer Academy sessions currently meet three days a week this year (down from five days last year); the school ran about 20 newcomer assessments last year; student support staff include social workers and an intern who provide bilingual outreach, basic needs assistance (examples cited: shoes, backpacks) and academic linkage; Makerspace activities include LEGO kits, coding and engineering challenges.

The board did not take any formal policy action related to the FDR presentation; the item was informational.

For future reference, speakers identified in the record included Principal Jenny Whitaker; teachers Wendy Howard (5th grade) and others; social workers Vanessa Clark and Keislyn Michael; social‑worker intern Monica Ortega; students Brian Barrios Delgado, Kaydel Gomez and Madison Farmer; and Superintendent Virginia Castro.