About Us
Charlottesville United for Public Education is a coalition of parents, grandparents, and community members committed to ensuring every child in Charlottesville City Schools receives a quality education. We advocate for student success from preschool to graduation through community engagement, family support and civic participation. As champions united for healthy students and schools, we center community voices and welcome all who are invested in making public education better in Charlottesville.
Our Mission and Vision
Mission: To advocate for public education that meets the needs of every child and family, while centering Black, Brown, and other marginalized voices.
Vision: Charlottesville City Schools serves as a model for centering the needs of students and families through informed, strategic, transformative change that meets the needs of each child and the collective, as demonstrated by a closed achievement gap, record matriculation and strong school/home partnerships.
We believe every CCS student should receive the support needed to be successful inside and outside the classroom.
1
We are a grassroots movement that aims to center the voices of those historically underserved, underrepresented, and under-resourced.
2
We advocate for practices and policies that support equity, justice, and sustainable financial investments in Charlottesville City Schools (CCS).
3
We are looking to engage, educate, and empower more community members to use their voices and help shape our public schools.
Staff:
Sandra Aviles Poe, Community Organizer
Sandra Aviles Poe joined Charlottesville United for Public Education (CUPE) as Community Organizer in October 2022. She brings to CUPE her experience as a mother, immigrant and Charlottesville local, and is inspired by a passion for positive change.
Born in Los Altos Jalisco, México, Sandra is a first generation immigrant and a 2008 graduate of Monticello High School. She moved to Charlottesville with her family at the age of five and became an American citizen in 2019. Most recently Sandra worked for seven years in banking and is a mother to three children. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
You can reach Sandra at sandra@charlottesvilleunited.org
Advisory Committee:
Shaniece Bradford (ReadyKids, future CCS parent)
Nancy Deutsch (CCS parent)
Marcelle Eldridge (CCS parent)
Harold Folley (Legal Aid Justice Center)
Robert Gray (The Uhuru Foundation, parent)
Guinevere Higgins (CCS parent)
Maggie Howe (Future CCS parent)
Brian Johns (Virginia Organizing)
Dr. Sherica Jones-Lewis (Equity Center at UVA)
Karin Little (CCS parent)
Arielle O’Shea (CCS parent)
Gabe Schneider (CCS parent)
Annie Suttle (CCS parent)
Frank Valdez (Legal Aid Justice Center)
Former Advisory Committee Members:
Mary Coleman, Shymora Cooper, Holly Hatcher, Chris Meyer
Sandra Aviles Poe
Credit: Eze Amos
CUPE Advisory Committee members
Credit: Eze Amos