Change Agent Spotlight: Principal Anthony Alvarado, Ed.D., of Mount Pleasant Elementary School District
Throughout our work, we identify equity-focused leaders who take action as “Results-Oriented Change Agents” (ROCAs), or “Change Agents” for short. These Change Agents are those who are equipped to handle school and district complexity that arises from being under-resourced. They commit themselves to supporting the success of every student and possess both the capacity and drive to empathetically rally communities together to support initiatives that lead to sustainable improvements. (Read more in our Change Agent Framework and Rubric resource.)
Partners in School Innovation and Principal Anthony Alvarado, Ed.D.
One such ROCA we’re keen to highlight is a leader who has been dedicated to education for more than a decade, with a focus on equity, learning (for himself and students), and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). He has developed and strengthened the skills needed to effectively transform his school and district for the better: Dr. Anthony Alvarado, Principal of Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary (IJAVVE) in Mt. Pleasant Elementary School District (MPESD) in San Jose, California.
The district’s mission aligns well with our mission here at Partners in School Innovation; MPESD’s mission is to foster “a love of learning by providing a high-quality education in a safe and joyful environment.” We have been delighted to support MPESD and its public schools over the years to ensure that every action and strategy taken is with an eye towards their mission.
Dr. Alvarado recently shared in the Partners in School Innovation Community more about his background, what his team and he are currently leaning in at IJAVVE, and what more they are looking to do in the future
Getting to know Principal Anthony Alvarado, Ed.D.
Image description: A photo of multiple elementary school students seated on the colorful floor of a classroom facing Dr. Anthony Alvarado who is reading a book aloud and showing its illustrations.
Dr. Alvarado’s background in education spans being an elementary school teacher, assistant principal, and now principal of Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary (IJAVVE). In his earlier years at another San Jose school district, he took charge of organizing monthly STEAM challenges for students at his school, supported a committee charged with Math curriculum mapping district-wide, advocated for the Special Education department, and served on a school site council. It’s obvious that student success is at the top of his mind.
In his own words:
"Hi, I’m Dr. Anthony Alvarado, the proud principal of Ida Jew Academy and Valle Vista Elementary (IJAVVE), where we focus on fostering a caring, inclusive, and innovative learning environment for all students. My background includes a deep commitment to promoting STEAM programs, civic engagement, and creating spaces where students of all backgrounds can thrive. As a passionate educator, I’m dedicated to helping students and staff develop both academically and personally, with initiatives like the Energy Bus and our school’s efforts to build a more supportive, empowered community. I value collaboration and believe in the power of shared experiences to drive meaningful change."
What is a practice or resource that you’ve used that has helped your school?
"I’d love to share a resource I’ve developed for building rapport with students: the "Picnic with the Principal" program. It’s a simple yet impactful way to connect with students from all grades (TK-8), bringing together both high-performing and struggling students for a casual lunch. This approach helps build strong, positive relationships while reinforcing a caring school culture."
Image description: A photo of multiple elementary school students seated around a metal outdoor picnic table topped with pizza and water bottles, facing the camera as Dr. Anthony Alvarado takes a group selfie.
The initiative of the program that Dr. Alvarado shared is to build rapport with students across all grade levels by spending quality time with them during lunch. The “Picnic with the Principal” program focuses on both struggling students, who may face behavioral or academic challenges, and students who excel in various areas. “The goal is to create a positive and supportive relationship with all students, providing an incentive for improvement and acknowledging their successes.”
Read case study “How Middle School Educators Improved Relationships with Students Using the 2x10 Method” to see how another school connected with students for stronger relationships.
What lies ahead for your school and where are you growing?
Dr. Alvarado asked the following in the Partners in School Innovation Community:
"I’m currently working on expanding our STEAM programs and would love insights from the community on how to better engage parents and the broader school community in supporting these efforts. What have been some successful strategies for you in rallying support for extracurricular STEAM activities? I’d also appreciate any suggestions on ways to enhance parent involvement in school initiatives like the tech challenge or robotics programs."
Image description: A photo of Dr. Anthony Alvarado standing at a podium, addressing an unseen crowd while large formations of the letters IJAVVE stand on stage in front of a banner showing school and student photos.
We’re happy to share what resources our Community members eagerly responded with!
MathMINDS has a Game-a-thon resource that allows for “a customizable curriculum to develop a game with students, and your students can even share the game they create with the wider network of educators!”
“The more hands-on events you can do for students and families, the more engagement you will get. We’ve found that whenever you can engage students and their families together, the involvement and participation skyrockets. Some partnerships that have helped our district with hands-on family STEAM engagement are RAFT, Julia Robinson Math Festivals, and Marshmallow Minds.”
“I have seen some brilliant connections made leveraging the Fast Plants life cycle resources…[which have] great math and stats learning goals interleaved.”
“I second what [she] said about activities that are hands-on with their kids. Here is a list of example activities that parents and kids can do at home.”
Thank You Principal Anthony Alvarado, Ed.D., of Mount Pleasant Elementary School District
We thank Dr. Alvarado for being a true Results-Oriented Change Agent (ROCA) who is determined to and drives action toward ensuring student success and equity in education. We appreciate all of the Change Agents out there making their mark on education and students’ lives.
We invite you to get to know Anthony and others in the Partners in School Innovation Community where 650+ equity-focused leaders in education are sharing resources weekly.
