For this Profile in Practice, we hear from leaders, educators, and parents at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy’s Burlington Campus. Located in the MacArthur Park neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles, Camino Nuevo Burlington is a K-8 school serving the children and families of the community and was recently ranked a top school for raising student achievement and closing the opportunity gap for its students.

Part of the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy network, a community of high-performing public schools serving early childhood to high school students in Los Angeles, Burlington’s roots in the community run deep. The depth and breadth of family and community engagement in Burlington demonstrate how partnerships with parents and caregivers can be a foundation for a rigorous and equitable education for students and an oasis of love and understanding for everyone in the community.

Founder Dr. Philip Lance and CEO Adriana Abich share the story of Camino’s founding and how its origins live on in the culture of the school and network. We hear from parents Juan Garcia and Patricia Trejo how their experiences in authentic partnerships with the school’s leadership and teachers elevate their voices and sustain their investment. Camino Burlingame teachers George Lee and Nataly Reyes share how working at the school transcends typical teaching experiences as a result of the deep community connection.