Client Story
Supporting a Big Transition
A partnership bringing 24 schools into the California Community Schools Partnership Program
who
Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD)
A K–12 district in Watsonville, California, working closely with Peggy Pughe, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, to bring community schools to life across the district.
The Goal
Apply for funding and build community schools from the ground up
Secure California Community Schools Partnership Program funding for 24 schools — and then put a new ethos into practice across every one of them.
The Challenge
New to community schools, with little time and big knowledge gaps
Many schools joined late. The district was navigating significant restructuring, was new to the community schools model, and had real gaps to close on both the application and the rollout.
"The application process alone can be overwhelming — but then putting a new ethos into practice across 24 schools is a huge undertaking."
Peggy Pughe — Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, PVUSD
The Plan
What We Offered
PVUSD's superintendent at the time had learned of Heartwise and could see that Kendra was a leader in the space — bringing her on to support the organization through the whole process of applying for funding and then building community schools from the ground up.
When Peggy was appointed as the lead for community schools in July 2024, she began working closely with Kendra and Heartwise — a partnership shaped from the beginning by mutual respect for what each side brought to the table.
"Kendra's just been such a great partner in the learning curve I was going through. She valued my expertise in terms of school site leadership, but she saw that she could help fill in some of the gaps I had on the technical side of community schools — and how schools need to make some transitions in distributed leadership, for example."
Peggy Pughe · Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, PVUSD
The Work
Working Together
Heartwise supports districts to build coherent strategies, align efforts, train staff, and center student success. For PVUSD, this meant regular meetings to shape the grant application, guide the rollout, and provide training and workshops for newly appointed community school coordinators.
Kendra worked alongside Peggy to fill in gaps in her learning around community schools and to surface the resources a district like PVUSD needed to make the transition.
"Kendra helps me when I have a gut feeling about doing something, but I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do. She can affirm what I'm feeling in my gut — or other times she'll say, okay, that's a good point, but let's think about it through this lens."
Peggy Pughe · Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, PVUSD
The Impact
What Changed at PVUSD
A strong specialists network
Community school specialists across 24 sites now meet regularly within a structure Heartwise helped set up — and they see the value of the relationships they have with each other, not just on their own campuses.
"I would absolutely recommend working with Heartwise. Here's why: having a trusted thought partner who understands public school districts — and the constraints with which we live — is so helpful."
Peggy Pughe · Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, PVUSD
A coherent long-range approach
Heartwise's ability to see the bigger picture helped the district build steady structures and navigate a major period of change with a clear, coherent approach.
Sustainable foundations
District leaders have the messaging and long-term thinking to keep the work focused, sustainable, and grounded in the needs of students and families.