Priscilla Parchia
Program Manager, Expanded Learning
Oakland Unified School District
Priscilla Parchia has worked in the education field since her very first job at a summer camp in Atlanta at age 13. Starting as an unpaid half time camper/half time counselor in training, she further developed her sense of self by being nurtured and truly seen by the adults around her finding a sense of belonging and acceptance to quiet the untrue narratives running unchecked in her subconscious. She began her journey as an artist and an educator and where unbeknownst to her the love of youth development was born. In this position, she was able to use her strength as a relator and an activator to create belonging for others. Unfortunately, she was one of the few who had this opportunity as a scholarship student. Most families who came paid exorbitant amounts of money to send their children for this once in a lifetime experience. So Priscilla also knew that belonging should not be just for the privileged, elite, or lucky. Everyone deserves a place where they feel safe enough to bring their whole selves.
While following her dreams of being an artist through her BFA in Musical theatre and traveling as an artist and musician she was never far from her love of youth development. Summer camps, after-school programs, drama workshops, and directing were interspersed in her experience auditioning, touring, and creating. Year after year the one constant was youth development. This is where Priscilla was energized and her cup was filled as she fought to carve a place for herself. This is where she could align her beliefs around equity with her day to day responsibilities. She worked as an out-of-school time educator across the country as a counselor, drama instructor, choreographer, music director, program director, and stage director. In every position, she strove to recreate that sense of belonging from her first camp experience and harness her strengths of activation, connectedness, and her ability to collect data and strategies for change. Of course, with the desire for equity, came the constant reminders of this nation’s inescapable truth. The decks are stacked and the house just keeps winning at the expense of the limitless potential of our youth of color. Priscilla knew that she needed to continue to do the “real” work even though there was no true roadmap for change.
In 2008, music brought Priscilla to California. For the past 12 years, she’s worked in the Bay Area with Oakland Unified School District as a youth developer, assistant coordinator, literacy specialist, teacher, instructional leader, and curriculum specialist. Leveraging her strength to see the potential in others, she supported a school in East Oakland for 12 years before moving to her current position where all her strengths and experiences merge. Priscilla currently supports programs across the district as a Program Manager for the Expanded Learning Office in the Department of Community Schools and Student Services. She works to interrupt oppressive systems by supporting and collaborating with a network of professionals truly dedicated to social justice and youth empowerment.
““The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.””