Finding My Village with KIPP Northern California

Venus Robles, a KIPP Stockton mother of 4 and her three sons who attend KIPP Stockton Elementary.

I have three triplet boys at KIPP Stockton elementary and I also have a daughter, Annabella, at KIPP Stockton middle school. We’ve been a KIPP family for almost four and a half years, and looking back, I can honestly say choosing this school changed everything for my family. It didn’t start that way though.

At first, I was looking for something better for my daughter. She was at a school where there wasn’t enough hands-on learning. She didn’t feel confident, and school felt more like something she had to get through rather than something she enjoyed. As a mom, that was hard to watch.

We then found KIPP, but it wasn’t an immediate decision to enroll her right away. It felt more like a trial period for my Annabella and I. We wanted to see if this school would be the right fit for her. And the change I saw in her was almost immediate.

She started blossoming. Her confidence grew, and she became more comfortable with herself. School was no longer something she was afraid of. Instead of saying, “I don’t want to go,” she was waking up before the alarm, already excited for the day. That shift changed the energy in our whole house.

What stood out to me the most was how the teachers supported her. When she struggled, they didn’t leave her behind. They would sit with her, meet her at her level, and make sure she understood what the class was learning. This was especially true with Ms. Flores, my daughter’s science teacher.

I remember one day Annabella came home so excited about a science project. Her class had to figure out how to keep an egg from cracking when dropped from a high point. She and her group worked together, and ended up creating a parachute. She was so proud of what they accomplished. Seeing her come home with that kind of excitement and confidence was the sign that KIPP was the right place for our family.

Because of that experience, I made the decision to bring my triplet boys to KIPP as well.

I had my worries for my triplets. I didn’t want them to be grouped together or seen as “the same.” I wanted each of them to be recognized for who they are as individuals. And that’s exactly what KIPP has done.

Their teachers take the time to understand each of them. They have taken time to learn their individual strengths, what they need to work on, and how they learn best. I get calls and updates that are specific to each child. It’s not “the boys are doing this”. It’s “This is what Antonio is doing well,” or “This is how we are supporting Alejandro.” That level of care and support is something I don’t take for granted.

Even the little moments show me the difference. My sons will come home excited to tell me that they learned how to blend words, sounding them out proudly. You can see their confidence building, just like I saw with their sister. And beyond academics, it’s the environment and community that really stands out to me.

When I drop my kids off, it doesn’t feel like I’m just sending them to school. It feels like I’m bringing them somewhere they belong. The teachers know them. They greet them. My kids walk in giving high-fives. It feels like family.

I grew up in Stockton, and I know the challenges that can come with certain schools. Safety was always something I thought about for my kids. At KIPP, I feel a sense of relief and reassurance of all my kids’ safety. The culture here is different. If something comes up, it’s addressed right away.

I was thrilled to find out there was going to be a KIPP high school. Like many parents, I like to think ahead. You worry about where your kids will end up, what kind of environment they’ll be in. Knowing my daughter can continue in a place where she feels safe and supported gives me peace of mind.

People always say it takes a village to raise a family, and with KIPP, I truly feel like I found mine. As a parent, you’re trusting other people with your children every single day. But at KIPP, I know my kids are cared for. I know they’re learning, and most importantly, I know they’re growing into confident individuals who believe in themselves.