About Alison
Alison Collins, also known as “Ali” of SF Public School Mom, is an experienced educator, mom of twins, and community organizer who has been fighting for education equity for 25 years.
Alison is personally committed to giving back to the public education system which helped her mother rise out of poverty, and helped her father become one of the first Black professors at UCLA. Her family history has fueled her passion for ensuring all students receive equal access to quality education. Her diverse professional experience includes working as a school improvement coach, teacher, parent educator, and diversity expert
A fierce advocate for public schools.
Alison speaks out on parent rights and holds district leaders accountable. Partnering with parents, site and district leaders, and elected officials, she helped Carver Elementary secure over $1.9 million dollars for much-needed school improvements. She recently worked with families across the city to ensure our district involves families in decision-making and “keeps its promises” to students.
- Worked as a community organizer to co-author a resolution to establish a Charter Oversight Committee to ensure charter schools operate with transparency and accountability to families.
- Initiated successful neighborhood campaign to improve park safety, provide childrens’ programs and save the clubhouse at Helen Wills Playground.
A seasoned educator.
Alison holds a master’s in education from San Francisco State University. Her professional accomplishments include acting as district liaison for the Chief Academic Officer of Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and Education Trust West to lead strategic planning of the “A-G for all” high school graduation initiative. She also developed a successful grant for SFUSD and the United Way Bay Area to support family involvement efforts in college-going for high school parents. Additionally, she has led workshops and worked as a parent leadership coach with Spanish-speaking parent leaders via the Parent Leadership Action Network (PLAN).
- Co-authored national educator guide used by thousands of students with UC Berkeley’s TRIO program to prepare first-time college bound students for the college application process.
- Served as a school improvement coach managing programs to increase teacher effectiveness, share best practices and improve student outcomes with a specific focus on closing the opportunity gap for underserved youth.
- Over ten years experience developing and delivering professional development on data use, college‐going, academic writing, communication skills, literacy across‐the‐curriculum, bullying prevention, academic advising and diversity.
An active parent leader.
As a mom of now high school twin girls, Alison has been a school parent leader and district volunteer since before they were in the public education system. She helped found SF Families Union, a parent group devoted to creating safe, integrated, inclusive public schools. In this capacity, she serves on the Close the Gap Coalition working with UESD, Jobs with Justice, Coleman Advocates, SEIU, Children’s Legal Services and other organizations focused on supporting democratically-controlled, community public schools.
As a parent leader, Alison filed a complaint about the practice of charging instructional fees for PE uniforms which led to a legal memo to all schools sites to discontinue the practice of charging fees for educational activities. This practice violated state law and was causing disproportionate harm to low-income and immigrant families.
As a parent leader at her childrens’ school, she served on the School Site Council and Parent Teacher Organization at her daughters’ elementary and middle schools. She has been an active member of the district African-American Parent Advisory Council. At the district level, she also served on the SFUSD Arts Center Advisory Committee. In the past she was appointed by the Board of Education to serve on the Prop A Quality Teacher and Education Act (QTEA) Oversight Committee, and she also served as a parent on the District A-G Committee.
- Worked for SFUSD’s Office of Family and Community Engagement to create family education programs and curriculum to support college and career awareness.
- Increased outreach and communication with English Learner Parents about student academic success and learning initiatives at Jean Parker Elementary. Coordinated meetings to inform Chinese speaking families about reading programs and assessments.
- Organized Chinese-speaking families to fill a revolving substitute position at Jean Parker Elementary. Coordinated with principal and district leadership to secure a full-time teacher for the vacant class.
Learn more about Alison’s story…
Read my education blog!
