Since 2017, WriterCoach Connection has had the honor of partnering with Betty Reid Soskin Middle School in El Sobrante, CA. As we enter our 25th year in service to Bay Area middle and high school students, we’re reflecting on the history of Soskin Middle School and our impact on its students.
Beginnings
The school we now know as Betty Reid Soskin Middle School opened its doors in 1965 as Juan Crespi Middle School, named for the Spanish Catholic missionary and colonial settler who was a key figure in establishing the California missionary system which violently forced Christian conversion on the indigenous peoples of the area.
Pre-colonially, the El Sobrante Valley area was the Huchiun territory of the Lisjan (Ohlone) nation. In 1841, the land was granted by the governor as a surplus (sobrante in Spanish) to Victor and Juan Jose Castro, sons of Francisco Castro and Maria Gabriela Berryessa, believed to be the first European occupiers of the area.
What’s In a Name?
The push to rename Juan Crespi Middle School began in 2021 as a student-led endeavour that came about through a school project in which students researched and learned about the life and work of the school’s namesake. Upon learning the brutal history attached to Crespi, the school community organized an effort to change the name of the school to reflect the spirit and diversity of the student body. In the most recent US News & World Report, Soskin serves just over 400 students, with enrollment by students of color at 89% of the population: Hispanic (46%), Black (20%), and Asian (17%).
Speaking on the matter with The Richmond Standard, West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) Trustee Jamela Smith-Folds stated that renaming the school for Soskin creates the “conditions for positive change” and moves the school away “from the harmful history of Juan Crespi toward the inspiring life of Ms. Soskin.”
Betty Reid Soskin is a cherished and celebrated figure in the San Francisco Bay Area, a dynamic Black woman known for her activism and tenacity who made history as the oldest person to serve as a US National Park ranger. The choice to rename the school for Ms. Soskin, who at the time of the community conversation on renaming was still serving as park ranger at 99 years old, held a special urgency for Soskin principal Guthrie Fleishman. “I am a firm believer in giving people their flowers while they are still here to smell them,” Fleishman told The Richmond Standard. “There are so few schools named after women and fewer named after women of color and even fewer named after black women.”
Partners in Student Excellence and Educational Equity
This 2024-2025 school year marks our eighth year partnering with Soskin Middle School. In these eight years our volunteer coaches have worked with over 1,400 7th and 8th grade students. Currently, Jane Gitelman and Kim Wolf, both longtime coaches, serve as site coordinators for our Soskin program. Jane and Kim have coached and coordinated at various schools we partner with, and note the support coaches are able to provide for English language learners as a special feature of Soskin Middle School.
Kim mentions in one class this school year, several students whose first language is Spanish needed language support. Four Spanish-speaking coaches in the volunteer cohort were able to assist the students. Says Kim, “We were able to pair them with students and the coaching process was much more successful for these students with their Spanish-speaking coaches.”
“It was so nice to work with a coach. It gives me more knowledge about writing. Thank you for giving me confidence.” – Soskin student
In this year’s post-program survey, students shared that they found their coaches “helpful,” “motivating” and “encouraging,” and 76% stated they now felt more confident in sharing their writing with others, with 96% noting their coaches helped them understand and begin their assignments, which is often the most challenging step for young writers.
Continuing the Work for Bright Futures
As we move forward into our next quarter-century, WriterCoach Connection is committed to continuing its partnership with Betty Reid Soskin Middle School and ensuring that students continue to receive the support they need to succeed. The legacy of Betty Reid Soskin herself—one of perseverance, community engagement, and the preservation of history—guides us as we work to empower the next generation of learners.
This year marks the start of an exciting new chapter for both WriterCoach Connection and Betty Reid Soskin Middle School. Together, we will continue to nurture the academic growth, creativity, and personal development of students who will go on to shape their communities and beyond. We are proud to be a part of their journey and to witness the transformative power of education, collaboration, and community.
Here’s to 25 more years of empowering young minds and celebrating the strength of our shared mission!
Thank you to the 2024-25 school year writer coaches!
Ann, Carol, David, Don, Elizabeth, Gilberto, Jane, Jayne, Karen, Kathy, Kimberly, Laura, Lauri, Les, Linda, Lones, Lydia, Mary, Mer, Michael, Pat, Paula, Renee, Ruth, Shirley, Tema, Venida, Vivienne, Walker, William
