Serena Simmons Connelly U2L Liaisons
Our U2L liaisons program, a 1:1 partnership with individual schools, is named to honor one of our founding liaisons, Serena Simmons Connelly. Her visionary insight, thoughtful counsel and courageous investment has been instrumental in making United to Learn what it is today. As a member of our Strategic Planning Committee, Advisory Council, a U2L Liaison, and a trusted friend, Serena lent her vision of a united, thriving community sustained through effective school-community partnership.
United to Learn has been honored by the investment of the Simmons Family. Equally enduring to U2L’s success was the steadfast, proximate guidance of Serena Simmons Connelly. It was Serena who exhibited a deep commitment to get to know a school and its unique needs. She was instrumental in providing meaningful classroom resources, enhancing learning environments, planting butterfly gardens, and remaining an empathic, purposeful, servant leader until her death in 2020. United to Learn elevates the legacy of her enduring impact with the naming of this program.
Serena was my dear and trusted friend, a most thoughtful advisor. I cannot imagine anything more inspiring, more fitting, than holding up Serena’s example of compassionate advocacy across our organization, most especially as we seek to understand the greatest needs among our U2L schools.
–Abigail Williams, Founder & CEO, United to Learn
Become a U2L Liaison!
U2L Liaison volunteers serve as the heart of the United to Learn model. As the primary relationship manager between United to Learn and a Dallas ISD elementary campus partner, these volunteers develop strong relationships with campus leadership. Through their close and consistent communication with campus representatives, they come to appreciate the acute needs of their campus, facilitate meaningful partnerships with businesses and community members, leverage the resources secured by United to Learn network, and advocate for their campus to the larger community.
Partner with a U2L School to support teachers, impact campus culture, and help students reach their academic goals!
Liaisons in action
From monthly meetings with principals to leading campus improvement projects, United to Learn liaisons are trusted thought partners and enthusiastic supporters for their schools.
I hope that you truly realize how remarkable and unique United to Learn is as an organization and the difference that you all are making in the lives of students all over Dallas. Having worked in three different urban environments in education (Cincinnati and Chicago), I have never seen an organization like U2L that partners and supports public education like family. We are blessed to have you and U2L!
– Principal Phillip Potter, Walnut Hill Elementary
For questions about becoming a U2L Liaison, contact our Liaison Manager, Dejanay Tippens, dtippens@unitedtolearn.org.