The strength of our local community has always been rooted in our interconnectedness — the shared understanding that the stability of our schools is central to the well-being of our neighborhoods. In our schools we believe that every child who walks through our doors deserves a childhood defined by curiosity and growth, not by fear.
Over the past year, however, the atmosphere in our hallways has shifted. Following changes in federal immigration enforcement policies in 2025, we have seen a profound impact on our students, our families and the very fabric of our school community. This is a challenge that ripples through our schools, affecting the stability and well-being of children who are the foundation of our community’s collective future.
For many of our students, the “safe haven” of school now feels fragile. We see it in the small, heartbreaking moments: an elementary student crying in class because they are unsure if their parents will be there when the bus drops them off, or a teenager checking an “ICE tracker” app before deciding if it’s safe to leave the house for school.
In our bilingual and ENL classes, and across our many mixed-status households, the weight of “what if” is hindering the ability to learn. A child can’t focus on a lesson when they are carrying the heavy burden of family uncertainty — a weight that contradicts the very promise of safety and support our schools make to our communities.
The impact of this fear is also reflected in our data. Typically, our district sees a steady stream of new families registering throughout the year. However, this past year, we have seen a staggering 89 percent decline in newcomer immigrant enrollment. To put that in perspective: Between July and December 2024, we welcomed 128 new students; during that same period this year, there were just 29.
This is a local issue that affects every resident. Schools are funded and staffed based on enrollment. A decline of this magnitude forces difficult decisions about program cuts and staffing levels that can impact the quality of education for the entire district. When our enrollment suffers, our whole community feels the impact.
Furthermore, we are losing the in-person connection that makes our schools strong. To protect our families, we have had to move many of our literacy programs, parent workshops and Parent University sessions back to virtual spaces. This undermines the work schools have done to build trust with families and bring them back into schools, especially post-pandemic. While technology is a tool, it cannot replace face-to-face connections built within our school buildings.
In response, our district is taking proactive, common-sense steps to support our students and families during this very difficult time:
Trauma-informed training: We equip teachers, social workers and counselors with tools to manage student anxiety and provide emotional “first aid” to children in crisis.
Clear protocols: We work with legal counsel to develop clear guidance for staff on the difference between administrative and judicial warrants, ensuring our school remains a protected space for learning.
Safety planning: We help families develop emergency plans so that children are never left without a point of contact or a safe place to go should a household emergency occur.
Maintaining connection: Through initiatives like Club Danza Folklorica, the Haitian American Student Association and our Dual Language Parent Council, we are creating affinity spaces where students feel seen, valued and safe to express themselves.
And there is more work to be done. We work with community agencies and elected officials to improve our systems of support every day.
Our educators do more than teach — they carry the emotional weight of their students’ lives. Some of our staff members are from immigrant families themselves, so they feel this pain personally. Yet, they show up every day with love, joy and a commitment to every child.
Building school communities where every child feels they truly belong is a commitment we must make every day. By leaning into our roles as educators and neighbors, we ensure that our students’ potential is never sidelined by their circumstances. Together we choose to lead and live with compassion, keeping our focus where it belongs: on the success and well-being of our children.
Our schools will continue to provide a stable, joyful environment for every student. Our doors are open, and we are looking forward and working toward a future built on hope, not fear.
Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil is superintendent of the Uniondale Union Free School District.
