OCBC Leading Educational Attainment (LEA) Podcast

What do your child's grades really mean, and how can you use them to support their academic success?

In this episode of the Leading Educational Attainment (LEA) Podcast & Video Series, host Janis Price welcomes Esme Garcia, Community School Site Lead at Orange Unified School District, for an insightful conversation about understanding grades, monitoring academic progress, and building stronger connections between families and schools.

Drawing from her personal educational journey and experience supporting families, Esme shares why understanding report cards is about more than looking at letters, numbers, or percentages.

Together, they explore how grading changes as students progress through school, why families should ask questions when their children struggle academically, and how to approach conversations about grades with curiosity rather than frustration. They also discuss the importance of family engagement, communicating with teachers, and accessing school resources to help students succeed.

Whether your child is in elementary, middle, or high school, this episode offers practical guidance to help you feel more confident understanding their academic progress and advocating for their needs.

We want to hear from you!

What did you learn from this episode? Complete our short LEA Podcast & Video Series Listener Survey to share your feedback and help us improve future resources for Orange County families.

Take the survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/pBSkk4hiji

Explore LEA resources and the 10 Education Essentials for Families: https://ocbc.org/initiatives/lea/

The LEA Podcast & Video Series is an initiative of the Orange County Business Council (OCBC), created in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) and produced with OCDE Communications and Media Services, with support from Chevron.

Learning doesn't stop when the school day ends! Families play an important role in helping children develop curiosity, confidence, and a love of learning through everyday experiences.

In this episode of the Leading Educational Attainment (LEA) Podcast & Video Series, host Janis Price welcomes Dr. Andre Bustamante, Associate Professor of Education at UC Irvine, to explore practical ways parents and caregivers can support learning at home.

From cooking and household routines to play, storytelling, and asking questions, Dr. Bustamante explains how everyday activities can become meaningful learning opportunities. The conversation also explores the importance of family engagement, creating supportive learning environments, and building strong partnerships between families and schools.

Whether your child is just beginning their educational journey or is already in school, this episode offers encouragement and practical ideas for making learning part of everyday family life.

We want to hear from you!

What did you learn from this episode? Complete our short LEA Podcast & Video Series Listener Survey to share your feedback and help us improve future resources for Orange County families.

Take the survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/pBSkk4hiji

Explore LEA resources and the 10 Education Essentials for Families: https://ocbc.org/initiatives/lea/

The LEA Podcast & Video Series is an initiative of the Orange County Business Council (OCBC), created in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) and produced with OCDE Communications and Media Services, with support from Chevron.

Welcome to the Leading Educational Attainment Podcast, also known as LEA, a bilingual podcast and video series created to help Orange County families better understand the education system and the opportunities available to their children.

In this special introductory episode, Jeff Ball, President and CEO of Orange County Business Council, and Dr. Stefan Bean, Orange County Superintendent of Schools, come together to discuss the important connection between education, workforce, economic opportunity, and family engagement in Orange County.

Jeff shares the history of the Leading Educational Attainment for Families initiative and the longstanding partnership between Orange County Business Council and the Orange County Department of Education. He also reflects on his family upbringing, his professional journey from bankingto business leadership, and why bringing business and education to the same table, with a focus on economic development, is a keystone to regional success.

Dr. Bean discusses the increasingly complex world students and families are navigating. With artificial intelligence continuing to transform how we live and work, and future jobs emerging that may not even exist today, he emphasizesthe importance of preparing students to adapt, discover their interests, and develop the skills they will need for the future.

The LEA Podcast is designed to help families navigate the education system so they can better support theirchildren as they prepare to become part of the future workforce.

The LEA Podcast builds on the 10 Education Essentials forFamilies and provides practical information, conversations, and resources to help families support their children throughout their educational journey.

LEA Resources

Learn more about Leading Educational Attainment for Families:

Leading Educational Attainment for Families | Orange County Business Council

Leading Educational Attainment for Families is aninitiative of Orange County Business Council in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education. The podcast is hosted by Maria Linares, Business Initiatives Manager at Orange County Business Council, and JanisPrice, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator at the Orange County Department of Education, and produced in partnership with OCDE Communications and Media Services, with support from Chevron.

What does it really mean to be involved in your child’s education? Family engagement can look different for every family, and it does not always mean being physically present at school.

In this episode of the Leading Educational Attainment Podcast, host Janis Price of the Orange County Department of Education is joined by Katelyn Brazer Aceves, Community Resource Specialist at OCDE and President of the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education. Together, they discuss the many ways families can support their children’s learning, from conversations and homework support at home to building relationships with teachers, family liaisons, and school staff.

The conversation also explores common barriers families may face, including work schedules, childcare, language access, and feeling unsure about how to navigate the school system. Katelyn shares how schools can create more welcoming and accessible spaces while recognizing the experiences, skills, culture, and knowledge families already bring to their children’s education.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• What meaningful family engagement can look like at home and at school
• How families can build relationships with teachers and family or community liaisons
• Ways schools can reduce barriers to family participation
• The importance of language access and creating welcoming spaces
• How families can become informed and empowered partners in their child’s academic success

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Families are encouraged to connect directly with their child’s school and school district to learn about available family engagement opportunities, community resources, language assistance, and family or community liaison support.

Additional family resources and information about the 10 Education Essentials for Families are available through the Orange County Business Council’s LEA for Families webpage.

LEA for Families | Orange County Business Council

This episode is based on Essential 1 of the LEA 10 Education Essentials for Families: Commit as a Family to Be Involved in My Child’s Education.

Leading Educational Attainment for Families is an initiative of Orange County Business Council. The podcast is produced in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education Communications and Media Services team, with support from Chevron.

Share Your Feedback

Are you listening to or watching the LEA Podcast & Video Series? We want to hear from you! Take our short listener survey to tell us what you are learning, which resources and information are most helpful, and how the series is supporting you and your family.

Your feedback helps us better understand what families are learning and improve future resources for Orange County families. You can complete the survey after one or multiple episodes and are welcome to complete it again as you continue through the series.

Take the LEA Podcast & Video Series Listener Survey:
LEA Podcast & Video Series Listener Survey – Fill out form