Message from the Co-Founder

In PUC National, we believe every child is entitled to an excellent public education in which they can achieve their potential so they can make their dreams come true. Our goal is that because of the services we provide to schools, we will increase their capacity to focus on the critical work of teaching and learning and provide them with a greater opportunity to achieve their mission and vision.  We believe successful schools build successful communities and we do all we can to support the achievement of that vision.

My journey in public education began in 1986 as a teacher in Pacoima where I realized that school reform was urgently needed. In response, I founded Community Charter Middle School in 1999, along with 100 families who were desperately seeking a better public middle school option for their children.  The school filled up and became so popular so quickly that the community asked for more schools. So, along with 100 families each time, I founded more schools in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

During the ensuing years, Ref Rodriguez began opening schools based on the same model in Northeast Los Angeles. In 2004, we co-founded Partnerships to Uplift Communities (PUC schools) which grew into a network of 14 public charter schools serving two high need communities: the Northeast San Fernando Valley and Northeast Los Angeles.

In 2013, we co-founded PUC National, an independent non-profit organization, which in addition to providing a myriad of back office supports to PUC schools, was also created to promote success in other charter public schools in the greater education arena and organizations that serve youth, families, and communities. 

For the past 12 years, I have been honored to work with teams of PUC National employees who are deeply committed to excellence and to the success of those we serve. They are exemplary professionals and experts in their own fields.  

We are aware that Human Resources, with its many layers and intricacies, has become increasingly more challenging. In response, we are delighted to offer HR support in addition to support in several other critical areas. Our goal is that by sharing our expertise, we will increase the capacity of those we serve to achieve excellence on every level.