Nestled on the outskirts of Los Angeles, Claremont Unified School District (CUSD) is an award-winning district with a deep sense of responsibility—not just for their roughly 6,000 students, but for the surrounding community as well. In fact, the district highlights “Engaged Families and Community Partners” as a key focus of their current strategic plan, “The CUSD Commitment.” For CUSD, family engagement isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a core part of their brand. 

And as you might imagine, the team behind this brand is dedicated, intentional and committed to collaboration.“ Collaboration with my cabinet, including our communications and technology directors, is essential to the smooth operation of our district,” says Superintendent Dr. Jim Elsasser. “The interconnected nature of our work means we must maintain open lines of communication, ensuring that all educational partners—from staff to families—are informed, supported and engaged.” 

Dr. Elsasser is joined by Director of Communications Elaine Kong and Director of Educational Technology and Innovation Kara Evans. Together, the three work with other cabinet members to ensure that technology and communications remain effective, fluid and supportive of the district’s overall goals. Each leader draws a direct line from their own duties and priorities to how their roles impact the overall perception of the district. 

The culture of trust that permeates CUSD’s relationships with its community begins in how these three leaders treat each other. “Building trust comes from consistent transparency, respect for each other’s roles and clear communication about shared goals,” Kong tells SchoolCEO. “Regular meetings and open conversations help ensure that we understand each other’s priorities and can proactively address challenges. We foster strong relationships that benefit the entire district by maintaining open dialogue.”

So what does this look like in practice? CUSD highlights the launch of their new website and communication platform as an example of this trust in action. “Collaboration began early with the superintendent and communications director, ensuring strategic alignment and clear, consistent messaging to families,” Evans explains. “Early stakeholder engagement, clear communication and thorough preparation were key factors in this success.” Once the team settled on a plan, Kong and Evans worked together to evaluate and select options, train staff and address any problems during the transition. 

Asked what advice they’d have for teams navigating similar challenges, the team at CUSD says it all comes down to being open to one another’s expertise and building relationships of trust. “The foundation of effective teamwork is trust and understanding,” says Kong. “Any communications professional struggling with collaboration should start by actively listening and genuinely understanding the priorities and challenges of their counterparts. You’ll establish greater buy-in once you’ve demonstrated how effective communication can support your shared goals.”