Who we are
We’re three SFUSD parents who got tired of watching families opt out of public school based on vibes, rumors, and outdated information. So we built the resource we wished we’d had.
The Public Chat is a nonprofit dedicated to improving community engagement with public schooling in San Francisco. We believe that when families engage with public schools, everyone benefits — the kids who enroll, the schools themselves, and the broader community.
Public school enrollment is declining in SF, and it’s not because the schools are bad. It’s because the narrative hasn’t caught up with the reality. We’re trying to fix that — one conversation at a time.
We oppose opportunity hoarding. We acknowledge that enrollment depends on real systemic factors. And we work with local partners to address those, too.
We host playdates and show up at community events across SF — not to lecture anyone, but to be available when families have questions.
Trained ambassadors share data-backed talking points with preschool families. A neighbor is more convincing than a brochure.
We give SFUSD schools free templates for enrollment season — flyers, social posts, talking points. See The Toolkit.
Want to offer your school’s story as a resource? See The Toolkit →
Sutro Elementary
Co-Founder
Kate lives in Inner Richmond and is a parent to three SFUSD children at Sutro Elementary school, where the one drop-off bliss is real. She brings deep community connections and a commitment to data-driven storytelling in her decades-long work as a novelist and thought leadership advisor. She believes public education is the bedrock to a thriving democracy.
kate@thepublic.chatFlynn Elementary
Co-Founder
Autumn combines grassroots organizing with a dedication to making sure every family has access to honest information — not just the families who know where to look.
autumn@thepublic.chat
Rosa Parks Elementary
Co-Founder
Kyle has two kids at Rosa Parks Elementary in the Western Addition. He has a Ph.D. in the design of economic systems, and believes we should leverage empathy, data, and storytelling to effect change. His kids are the change they want to see in the world.
kyle@thepublic.chatLeadership
Erin is an SFUSD parent of two and a founding member of the San Francisco chapter of Integrated Schools. A former tech product manager, she enjoys digging into school data to identify patterns and trends. She also volunteers in classrooms across the city to find what is working and help spread it around.
A lifelong San Franciscan, Adrianna grew up immersed in the city’s neighborhoods through her family’s Cole Hardware stores. She is raising two children in the Outer Sunset and values the community at Francis Scott Key. Adrianna works to make firsthand conversations with SFUSD families accessible, so school decisions are informed by experience rather than fear or misinformation.
We’re looking for parents, data people, designers, and anyone who’s been converted by actually sending their kid to SFUSD.
Become an Ambassador