LUNCHEONS

In 1998, while teaching in the San Jose school district, Jennifer Andaluz and another teacher came up with a mission to help underachieving, low-income family, minority youth to achieve a goal that was thought to be impossible. Their goal was to prepare these youths not only to attend but to thrive at four-year colleges and universities. After raising some funds and supporters, Downtown College Preparatory was established in 2000 as a charter school, on a limited budget, with 104 ninth graders and 6 teachers. In 2004, 54 students graduated and entered college. Since that time the school has flourished and today is located on a site that was once Hester Elementary school on Willow Street in San Jose. A second school will be opening this year. There are currently over 400 students, primarily Latino, 33% learning English and to date has graduated 173 with 85% on track to earn their 4 year degree. These will be the first in their family to graduate from college.

As the co-founder and now Executive Director of the school, Jennifer is responsible for organizational leadership and management, strategic planning, resource development, community partnerships and meeting the mission. She began her career as a history and English teacher in the San Jose Unified School District. Working with the Bay Area School Reform Collaborative and other administrators and teachers, Jennifer participated in school-wide initiatives to improve the academic performance of underachieving students. A recipient of several awards for her accomplishments, she is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz and SJ State University, and is nationally recognized as a true pioneer in advancing the education of minority students.