While I only had the privilege to know and work with Deanna for a short period of time, I am so grateful to have known her. She was a wonderful mentor and colleague. She was always willing to go out of her way to support me and share her expertise and knowledge (which was truly so extensive and impressive - the education policy community has lost an incredible champion). Her smile and laugh lit up a room. Her love for her community and those she cared about most shown through in everything she did. She was truly one of a kind and will be missed. Sending love to her family and friends.

I had the honor and privilege to work with Deanna, albeit briefly, with my colleagues as we were supporting CSLX's work. From my first interaction with her, I was able to feel her radiance, warmth, and deep commitment to making things better for people. Sending my love to all who had the great fortune to meet and know Deanna. She will be dearly missed.

I only had the privilege of knowing and working with you for a short time, but I think about you often. The warmth, joy, and selflessness you brought to everything around you left a real impression on me. I'm so grateful our paths crossed.

Deanna- I’m still in total shock hearing about this today. I’ve always admired your dedication to the work of Community Schools. Your passion to stand along side educators, students and families has had, and will continue to have, a lasting impact throughout California and the country. Your legacy will be in how schools continue to transform to support students and families in equitable, inclusive and engaging school communities. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your dedication and friendship. You, your family and friends are all in my thoughts and prayers. 💖

Deanna, I am immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you that past couple of years in supporting the Community Schools work. I always appreciate your positive spirit, grounded wisdom, and extensive experience working with schools. It made sitting through 8 hour long meetings in a single room a bit more bearable :). Sending you strength, solace, and will keep you in our family prayers.

Dearest family of Deanna, I am so incredibly sorry for your great loss. I will never forget the first time I met Deanna in the offices of the California Department of Education as part of the Family Engagement Network. Her passion, honesty, humor, and warmth were infectious and inspiring. She was also incredibly strategic and courageous. Her decision to work for the CDE Foundation and leadership role in drafting the CA Community Schools Framework - rooted in a lived commitment to racial justice, and dignity and respect for families and students - will impact generations of children and young people across California and beyond. Deanna's love and legacy live on in all of us. Deanna Niebuhr - Presente!

Dear Deanna, I recognize that we most likely don't share the same beliefs but would like to share with you traditional teachings that has been shared with me. I hope that in doing so, you will know how impactful your Spirit was in this world. Our Elders tell us that when we return to the Spirit World (the Crow people call it "The other side camp"), Creator God won't care about the titles, degrees, commercial gains we've made in this world. Instead, Creator God will ask us what we did for the people while we were in this world. When I think of the work you have done throughout your career from a micro-level to a macro-level, you have helped shape the way we authentically engage with the community we serve to create structural change that is truly impactful to them and their lives. You were always so humble about the role you played in writing, creating and developing the community schools framework. But I can tell you that this work is impactful and meaningful because of your guidance. On a personal level, you always built me up and spoke goodness into me. Thank you for being a true leader and recognizing others. The words you shared with me resonated and made me feel as though my role in this work really mattered. I hope you know that I value our time together, learned a great deal from you, and enjoyed our laughs. May Creator God bless you during this transition period. In keeping with our traditional ways, I will send up some smoke and prayers to guide your Spirit back to the Milky Way (or wherever your beliefs take you to).

Deanna’s passion, knowledge, values, and sense of humor made her an invaluable partner, leader, and friend. Her impact was huge - on the field and on me personally. I am so grateful to have known her.

Deanna was a ray of sunshine in my life. A mentor, a colleague, a friend. She always welcomed me into our work together. I'd say that pretty much all of the good parts of the California Community Schools Partnership Program are thanks to Deanna working on the inside at CA Department of Education. She was a natural connector of people and ideas with an easy smile and a joyful laugh. I will miss her deeply and think of her often.

Deanna- I want to express my deep admiration and appreciation for you. You have touched the lives of so many people, including mine. I am grateful for the memories of seeing you put your heart, insights and skills into the complexities of making the lives of children across California more secure. You have brought hope and opportunity to untold children and families. Please know that you will always hold a special place our hearts. With love and gratitude - Ed & Ellen

I still remember meeting her for lunch in LA and her talking about her dog named Goober and we connected ever since because I had a dog named Booger. Deanna was so kind, smart, strategic, and relationship-centered.

Deanna was such a special human being and I felt so lucky anytime I had the opportunity to be in the same room as her.

Deanna- Although I’ve only known you a few years, I have felt and seen your impact on the world. You have reached more people than you or I could ever know and I feel privileged to have worked with you. Thank you for welcoming me, teaching me, and thinking with me. Thank you for confiding in me and sharing memories. I always think of you when reading Harold and the purple crayon and I remember your story about getting into the boat to read when I read to my son. You’ve shaped all of our work at CSLX and I’ll hold you in my heart as I continue our efforts. Please know that my spirit is with you and I am so grateful to have walked alongside you for a brief and wonderful time.

Dearest Deanna - May these words and the love and intention behind them reach your heart, soul, and spirit. May the energy behind these written words be received by you and those who may read them, as a mirrored reflection to you and the impact you have had on those you have worked with, laughed with, and have been a FIERCE advocate for. I want to be honest, this is hard for me to do, and capture the essence of the team at CSHA and the CSHA Board of Directors Executive Committee members, who are all holding you and your family and circle of loved ones in our hearts and minds. How can I reflect back to you the feelings of deep admiration, respect, care, and concern that the CSHA circle has been sharing with one another, since we were made aware of where life finds us? As you navigate this time with your family and circle of loved ones, I wanted to share how much your presence has meant to all of us. The echoes of your work are everywhere, throughout California, amongst generations of children, educators, systems, policies you helped design and fought to be implemented, and the work of CSHA. You haven't just been a member of the CSHA Board of Directors for the last 5+ years; you have been a cultivator of knowledge, strategy, and joy in this school-based health movement. While your official role will be recorded in meeting minutes, audits, and transactions of over $10,000, we had to regularly get your approval on before we processed payment (and sometimes it did take emails, phone calls, ESP, text messages, and talking to the wind to get a response from you) your true legacy will not be found in these organizational documents. They will be found in your wisdom, your care for students, your care for school systems, your character, and the mentorship you provided many. Including myself as a first-time Executive Director of a statewide organization! Your life’s work as a policy leader has changed the trajectory for countless children across California. Including those adults who have dedicated their lives to working with children and youth. Because of your vision, children who may never know your name will grow up with better opportunities, stronger support, and brighter futures. We specifically remember the leadership and intentionality you poured into the Community Schools application. It wasn't just a document to you; it was a roadmap for equity. You saw the potential in every child and fought to ensure the system saw it, too. I will forever be grateful for your wisdom and for sharing with me, “community schools are not a checklist or a grant deliverable, it is a strategy.” “We can't talk about community schools with no community here!” As our Secretary and Treasurer, you navigated us through at least five successful financial audits. While others might see numbers, you saw stewardship. You ensured our foundation was rock-solid so that our mission could remain unshakable. And we could continue to do the work, to put healthcare where kids are, in schools! We will never forget your presence at our conferences. We always knew exactly which room you were presenting in—not because we checked the schedule, but because the passion in your voice carried right through the walls and into the hallways. Your energy was so infectious that we often had to close the doors just to keep the hallway crowds from wandering in to see what the magic was about. Even after your sessions ended, people lingered, drawn to your expertise and the genuine heart you shared with every participant. And even had to say “okay, Deanna, we need this room for another workshop” 😁 Deanna, you have led with a rare kind of grace. We met for almost 4 years, on the 2nd Thursday of every month, and when you arrived, you may have been tired or distracted from another meeting, or Daisy was barking at the person who walked by and wanted time with you alone, but you demonstrated that your commitment to CSHA was an act of love, that policy is a tool for justice, and that a voice raised in passion can change a room—and an entire state! Please know that the seeds you’ve planted here will continue to grow. The decisions you helped make and the culture you helped build are woven into the very fabric of this organization. You are, and will always be, a part of our story. We are holding you and your family in our thoughts, sending you peace, comfort, light, and our deepest, most heartfelt thanks. We will call on your spirit to remind us of the legacy you will leave, because spirit is carried in the wind, and does not end or begin. With profound respect and affection. Sinceramente - Sergio J. Morales (and bringing in the spirit and voice of CSHA staff Judy, Amy R., Marcel, and Executive Committee Members: Jessica, Maryjane, and Dareen).

Deanna, It’s been one day since I heard about your transition, and I can honestly say you’ve been in my prayers and on my mind ever since. The beauty and frailty of life is something I don’t think I’ll ever fully wrap my head around—at least not on this side of eternity. I’ve found myself thinking about the first time I met you. You were willing and ever to pick me up from my house in Hercules and drive up to the Sacramento RTAV retreat, together. It was literally my first or second day at CSLX. We had such a fun time talking and getting to know each other on that drive that we missed our exit and ended up halfway into El Dorado County before we realized it. On my first day of work, I was late—and we laughed about it. That “late arrival” turned into a really meaningful working relationship and friendship. One thing I remember so clearly from that conversation was you sharing your faith journey, after you found out I was a pastor. You shared, how as a young girl in church, you realized that God is a God of love and moves in tremendous compassion. I appreciated being able to share freely about what I do and to hear about your understanding and relationship with God. Growing up in church and ministry, I’ve attended many funerals. In some ways, I’ve become sober about death. It’s something we will all face one day—it is inevitable, and we must walk through it. So as you transition, Deanna, lean into the God of your youth. He is still that God of unconditional love, he never wearys, and he ever gets tired. He is still kind, still compassionate, and will be waiting for you on the other side of this earthly body. Because of the Cross of Christ, death has no sting and the grave has no victory. I am grateful to have known you, Deanna. I learned a lot from you, and most of all, I treasured your friendship. I am a better person because of it. Journey well. God bless, Dawn

Deanna, I am so honored and feel so privileged to have known and worked with such a vibrant and brilliant individual. Our summer trip on the train will know be dream since summer is not here yet like we planned. I will take that trip for you, and bring you along through your memory. I love you, and am disheartened I never shared that with you. You and your family are in my thoughts, and prayers. I hope you have an easy journey to heaven. Can’t wait to see you there, my friend. I love you, Nan.

My friend, you have made such an impact on my life (and on the world around you). You always lead with love. You are fierce and forceful about all the right things. You are so curious and so smart and I leave conversations with you knowing more and thinking more than I did before. You always name injustice when you see it and you lean into the fight. Every time I see anything about an eclipse I think of you because I remember talking with you about them and the sense of awe and wonder and joy you have for them is infectious. I learned everything I know -- the right things, anyway -- about doing policy work with a heart from you. I remember the days when we would have those monthly "state policy calls" and trying to figure out what the heck MTSS was, REALLY, and doing our "little p/ Big P policy" presentations. I have always appreciated how generous you are with joy, love and spirit. You are a person who puts so much love out into the world -- for people, for animals, for community. When my daughter was a tiny baby you took time out of a quick trip to Chicago to meet me for breakfast, and I was so touched. My life and my humanity have been greatly enriched by knowing you, by working with you, and by the great privilege of being able to call you a friend. The world has truly been a better place because of you -- you have impacted so many people, you have made such a difference in ways small and large, you are a shining light. I'm sending you love, and am so grateful to you.

Deanna you are love and light to all you meet. I treasure our time together and you will live in my heart and in community schools for always. Hugs and love and smiles to till the end, honey. Rigel

Dear Deanna, I can’t tell you how sad I am to hear the news that you’re ill. It’s hard to find the right words in a moment like this, nothing is sufficient. But I want to tell you that you’re a very special person. My years at OI were so much more than they would have been without you. And I’m so happy to have had the chance to know you and spend time with you. They say that on the other side, everyone is light and pure love. You’ll fit right in. If I don’t get a chance to see you again here, I'll see you there. Your friend, Chiara

It has been a privilege to have worked with you, for your contribution has been impactful. I’m wishing you comfort and peace.