Q&A: Fred Ronstadt, Restart SMART Site Director at Safford PreK-8

Communities, and Community Schools in particular, are built on a foundation of meaningful human relationships. At Higher Ground, one of our goals is to facilitate conversations that improve community relationships and collaboration.

In this Q&A, we share a discussion with Fred Ronstadt. If you’re a parent at Safford PreK-8, be sure to say hello, ask questions, and ask him how his day is going.

What keeps you passionate and inspired in your work at Higher Ground?

Fred: My life has been focused on community service, from working as a paramedic to teaching, elected service, and involvement in non-profits. 

In 2020, I was the executive director for the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted us heavily, and my contract was terminated. So, when I started with Higher Ground post-COVID, it reignited my desire to be more engaged. 

Every day, seeing the improvements, the change from an F to a B grade for the school, and the positive impact on the community and families keeps me energized. Knowing that we’re making a significant difference in the lives of students and families is what fuels my passion.

Can you share your professional background and how you joined Higher Ground?

Fred: Throughout my life, I’ve always been involved in mentorship and community service roles.

My undergraduate degree is in secondary education. I worked at Salpointe Catholic High School as their speech and debate coach, did a bit of substitute teaching, and received a contract for a year at Canyon Del Oro High School. I left that position to get my Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Arizona. 

I worked full-time as a paramedic, which funded my undergraduate and graduate education. I have served as the Executive Director for a couple of nonprofits, and from 1997 to 2005 I served on the Tucson City Council.

Stephanie Anderson, Higher Ground’s Chief Community Officer,  reached out to me in either 2018 or 2019 to serve on a community advisory board for Higher Ground. Initially, I wasn’t sure, but after a meeting with the  CEO Jansen, I agreed to join the coalition group. I applied and was hired by Higher Ground in July 2020 as one of the first Restart SMART Site Directors.

What is your role at Higher Ground and how do you approach it?

Fred: As a Site Director, I work a lot with community members rather than directly with the students. My work is getting to know the community, listening to them without bringing preconceived notions about their needs.

My approach relies on motivational coaching to help people find solutions for themselves. It’s about being a peaceful guide and spending energy to help others develop their own agency, grit, and resilience. It was important to have all the training provided by Higher Ground prior to going into the site to avoid jumping to quick solutions and instead help people figure out their solutions. 

It's a process about developing trust and understanding.

How has Higher Ground impacted students and families?
Fred: We support students and families, connecting them to resources and empowering them to live fully. The feedback from students working with our specialists is very positive. Families are now coming to us specifically because they know we can connect them to the resources they need. 

The teachers and staff are complimentary about the impact we’ve made, noting improvements in student behaviors and family engagement. We have programs like sending food home with students, who then prepare meals for their families, which teaches life skills and brings families together. All these little micro successes contribute to the progress and energy we see on campus every day.

How does the team help give parents a voice in their children's education and at the school level?
Fred: Part of what we have focused on at Safford is setting up systems for the School Council and PTO. We have written bylaws with the respective stakeholders to make sure there are sustainable processes to support the ongoing family involvement with the school, and the principal and staff. These bodies provide a formalized system for families to have a voice in the life of the school community and in how they and their students interact within the school.

Families feel empowered and a part of the school community. It helps to build trust relationships where stabilized families can access life-skill training on campus, learning to take healthy choices, and understanding personal responsibility.

Can you give some examples of success stories with families you’ve worked with?

Fred: We’ve helped families raise money to pay their rent, maintaining their pride as they learn skills to keep them housed. We’ve also seen students learn to make meals for their families, which also provided tools for parents learning how to cook, enhancing their life skills and family bonds. We provide financial literacy programming to support the long-term success of our families. Other stories include students who, due to our support, graduated academically instead of just aging out of middle school. 

How does supporting non-academic issues translate into academic performance?

Fred: There's a lot of excitement among parents about having a resource on campus focused on supporting family and student needs that are non-academic. Their questions tend to focus more on the practical side, such as assistance with rent, food, clothing, or hygiene.

Addressing social obstacles and emotional issues allows students to focus better in the classroom. Our principal believes that since we deal with non-academic issues, there's been a noticeable improvement in academic performance. The proficiency scores have been going up, and we’ve transitioned from an F to a B in two years, no longer being on the federal watch list for failing schools. This improvement suggests that, when students aren't preoccupied with external stressors and actually attend classes regularly, they are more likely to succeed academically.

Have Questions for Fred or Someone Else on Our Team? 

You can reach out to the Higher Ground team, directly, here! We look forward to hearing from you and will build out our blog based on the questions we receive from you. Let’s grow together as a community. It starts with a conversation.