Overview
The Community Relations departments oversees the Education Partnerships Alliance which provides opportunities for the San Diego community to invest in student success through the Partnerships in Education, Volunteer and Service Learning Programs.
The primary functions of the Community Relations Department are to:
- Manage the district’s Partnerships in Education, Volunteer, and Service Learning programs.
- Recruit business and community partners, as well as volunteers.
- Provide outreach training, support and program materials.
- Assist district programs and schools with marketing and community engagement efforts.
- Organize district recognition events.
- Promote awareness of district reform efforts.
Community Partners
- California Coast Credit Union
- eXcel Youth Zone
- Volunteer San Diego
- STAR/PAL (Sports Training Academics Recreation/Police Athletic League)
- University of San Diego Office of Community Service Learning
- OASIS San Diego
Programs & Services
Events
- Partnerships in Education Annual End-of-Year Community Recognition
- Salute to Excellence
- Principal for a Day
- National and Local Conference presentations to showcase SDUSD achievements, student accomplishments.
Partnerships in Education Annual End-of-Year Community Recognition
This event, sponsored by SeaWorld San Diego and California Coast Credit Union, recognizes and thanks more than 1,500 business/community partners and 28,000 school volunteers who support our district with donations of human, financial and in-kind goods and services. Students are showcased through student entertainment. Over 100 door prizes are donated by local and national merchants and awarded at the event. Although this event is not intended to supplant individual recognition events held at school sites, it does provide an opportunity for schools and their partners to enjoy district recognition together.
>> Door Prize Donation Agreement
Salute to Excellence
This event honors and recognizes the students ranking in the top one
percent of their graduating class. School valedictorians are also recognized.
Each student honored and his or her parents/guardians receive invitations
to attend. Principals and head counselors are also invited, as well as
local elected officials. Principal for a Day
Sponsored by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Bank of America Corporation and coordinated by the Community Relations Department. Offers school principals the opportunity to invite business and civic leaders into the classroom to view the teaching and learning that is occurring in the San Diego Unified School District. Participants gain an enhanced understanding of public education and in turn, provide an outside perspective to their host principals. A debriefing luncheon offers participants the opportunity to share their experiences.
Resources & Materials
- Volunteer Sign-in Sheet
(for school sites) - Volunteer Program Fact Sheet:
English
| Spanish
| Cambodian
| Lao
| Somali
Tagalog
| Vietnamese 
- Volunteer Code of Conduct
- Volunteer Program Screening

- Request to Conduct Volunteer Screening

- Volunteer Coordinator Handbook
- Volunteer Handbook Preview English
| Preview Spanish 
- Volunteer Application Email Ellen Tiffany at etiffany@sandi.net to request any of the previous documents
- Mentor Handbook Preview

- Mentor Program Guide
- Volunteer Program website
Contact Information
Community Relations DepartmentKey Contacts
Eugene Brucker Education Center
4100 Normal Street, Room 2121
San Diego, CA 92103-2682
(619) 725-5592 - Phone
(619) 725-5599 - Fax
| Topic | Contact |
| Partnership maintenance and partner recruitment | Ellen Tiffany Manager, Community Relations etiffany@sandi.net (619) 725-5594 |
| School community outreach | |
| Volunteer Program - volunteer/tutor recruitment, training and placement | |
| Partnership maintenance and partner recruitment | Nancy Hemmings Specialist, Community Relations nhemmings@sandi.net (619) 725-5597 |
| OASIS Intergenerational Program | |
| LEARN & SERVE Service Learning Program | |
| Program Materials | |
| Event organization | Kathy Gartland Partnerships Program Assistant kgartland@sandi.net (619) 725-5592 |
| Partnerships for atypical schools, charter schools, and district programs | |

