Designing for Impact: Fenton's Journey from Belonging to Achievement

Over the past four years, Fenton Charter Public Schools has embarked on a transformative Professional Learning Community (PLC) journey grounded in the frameworks of Leading by Design and Healthy and Productive Teams.

This session will highlight how their intentional focus on collaboration, team culture, and continuous improvement has led to measurable academic growth, stronger staff connectedness, and increased student and family satisfaction.

Participants will hear directly from Fenton leaders about how they structured their PLC work to foster educator wellness, collective responsibility, and a culture of belonging across their charter school network. The session will include practical tools and protocols used to build and sustain healthy collaborative teams, alongside evidence of how those practices have impacted student achievement and engagement.

Participants will leave with real-world artifacts, implementation strategies, and a deeper understanding of how a shared commitment to the PLC process can improve both academic and human outcomes in charter schools.

Presented by

Darren Grissom

Director of State Offices
Solution Tree

Darren Grissom is the Director of State Offices and supports statewide teams in strategic markets across the United States, including California. With nearly 20 years working alongside partner districts and schools to deliver high quality instruction, a culture of collaboration and effective community engagement, Darren undertands the challenges and opporutnities that lie ahead for both students and educators. Darren began is journey as an education champion with the Texas legislature, then with Texas PTA as the Associate Executive Director before joining Solution Tree in early 2020.

Dr. David Riddick

Chief Executive Officer
Fenton Charter Public Schools

Dr. David Riddick serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Fenton Charter Public Schools, a network of high-performing TK–6 schools in Los Angeles. He currently serves on the boards of ASCIP, LAUSD’s Charter Operated Program (COP3), and CharterSAFE. A career educator and systems-level leader, Dr. Riddick was instrumental in the transformation of Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School from one of the lowest performing schools in East Hollywood to one of the highest performing. He previously served as Director of Fenton Avenue Charter School, Assistant Principal in the Saugus Union School District, and as a teacher and coordinator in LAUSD. Dr. Riddick holds a B.A. in Communications from Loyola Marymount University and earned both his Master’s and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State University, Northridge.

Jennifer Miller

Director of Instruction
Fenton Instructional Team

Jennifer Miller is the Director of Instruction for Fenton Charter Public Schools, where she leads efforts to strengthen Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and drive continuous improvement. With over 20 years of experience in public education, she has served in various instructional and leadership roles, including Lead Teacher, Assistant Director, and Founding Director of two charter schools. In her current role, Jennifer oversees curriculum, instructional support, and student achievement, ensuring alignment between professional development and student learning outcomes. She supports collaborative teacher teams and promotes the use of innovative, research-based teaching practices. Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. For the past seven years, she has served as an Adjunct Professor in the School Leadership Program at CSU Dominguez Hills.

Jessicca Rodgers

Executive Director
Solution Tree

Jessicca Rodgers is the Executive Director of Solution Tree’s California State Office, where she leads statewide initiatives to support educators in building effective Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Appointed to the El Dorado Union High School District Board of Trustees in May 2019, she has been actively involved in educational leadership and governance. Jessicca began her career in education policy at the California School Boards Association and later served as National Sales Director at School Innovations & Achievement, focusing on student attendance improvement. A proud graduate of UC Davis with a degree in Political Science, she is dedicated to fostering collaborative school cultures that prioritize student achievement and community engagement.