Meet Adriana Ruiz (she/her), a Partnership Policy Advisory Board (PAB) representative and parent of a student at 107th Street Elementary School. Adriana answered a few questions about her involvement with PAB and her advocacy for Student Equity Need Index (SENI) funding.

As a working parent raising her children, Adriana didn’t always have the time or awareness of the choices available to her children within the education system. But with her daughter, that shifted. Joining PAB was both a personal and a purposeful decision because she had the opportunity to better understand the education system and to model what it means to speak up. “Now, I understand how much our voices matter and how important it is to be a role model for [my daughter],” she shared. Adriana has grounded her advocacy in both lived experience and a deep commitment to her child’s future.

Adriana joined PAB with little knowledge of policies or decision-making processes. She now feels equipped to engage in informed, meaningful conversations with school staff and leaders. She participates in school board meetings and advocacy spaces, and describes her experiences as “exciting” and “inspiring,” reinforcing her belief that parent voices can drive real change in their communities.

Her advocacy is rooted in equity. Adriana emphasizes the importance of funding schools based on the Student Equity Needs Index (SENI). “Latino and brown communities are almost, if not all the time, not given enough funds for students to have the education and tools to be competitive and successful in life,” she said. Through the training and support she’s received, she has grown into a confident leader, sharing knowledge with other parents about SENI and the power of collective advocacy. “Parents need to be more present when possible at school, ask questions, voice their likes and dislikes,” she added. She believes deeply that when parents show up and work in partnership with educators, they can help shape stronger policies and create better outcomes for all students.