National Center for Community Schools

Checking-in from the National Center for Community Schools Community Schools Fundamentals Conference 2024 - our largest conference ever! #CSFundamentals2024 #communityschools

This is filling faster than I expected… still room though! Come join us. Dec 3 and 4- the National Center for Community Schools is in Rochester bringing their Fundamentals conference upstate. The NYS Community Schools Thruway Coalition has other events too, including a site visit at Geece CSD this Friday!

The National Center for Community Schools is pleased to announce that we are opening additional seats for the Community Schools Fundamentals Conference 2024. This in-person learning and networking opportunity is designed specifically for new and relatively new community school practitioners. Held over two days in New York City, the Fundamentals Conference provides the foundations and the "nuts and bolts" of the community school strategy. . This in-person learning and networking opportunity is designed specifically for new and relatively new community school practitioners. Held over two days in New York City, the Fundamentals Conference provides the foundations and the "nuts and bolts" of the community school strategy. Space is extremely limited and on a first come, first served basis. Registration closes October 31, so sign up your team today. https://lnkd.in/eSnsrcnh #CommunitySchools #ProfessionalDevelopment

Our friends at Every Hour Counts are expanding their national network! Every Hour Counts is inviting innovative intermediary organizations that are transforming afterschool systems in their communities to join the national movement! Committed to advancing equity and improving outcomes for young people furthest from opportunity, Every Hour Counts provides members with access to valuable resources, collaborative opportunities with visionary leaders, and a platform to influence national policies.    Learn more and apply by November 22: https://lnkd.in/dYmuaSgJ Join the informational webinar on October 16th at 2pm (ET) to hear from current members Dr. Traymanesha Lamy (Next Up RVA), Chris Smith (Boston Beyond), and Suzette Harvey (Prime Time Palm Beach County) about the benefits of joining! Register here: https://shorturl.at/ENY0B   #EveryHourCounts #YouthDevelopment #Afterschool #SummerLearning

Last Week Salomé Ureña Leadership Academy MS 322 achieved a significant milestone by being named a Top 3 finalist for the World’s Best School Prizes for Community Collaboration by T4 Education! As a Children’s Aid Community School, SULA stands out as the first public school in NYC and the only one in the U.S. to reach this stage this year. This reflects the dedication of our incredible staff and the strength of our community. Thank you to everyone who supported us during the voting process! Let’s keep this momentum alive and share the news! #StrongSchools #BestSchoolPrizes #BestSchoolPrizes24 #ChildrensAidNYC #SULA

Nicole Brogden is a community school coordinator and coordinator coach at Tyner Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Nicole has worked as a community school coordinator for four years. What inspires you? I am inspired by the wins of the students! Our students are the absolute best. Getting to support and witness their growth every day! My Why is to help make our school community a space that feels more meaningful, purposeful, inclusive and joyous for all. All meaning, ALL... all students, all faculty and staff, all community members and all stakeholders. What is one piece of advice you would give a new community school coordinator? There is a lot of new! New can be hard but you can do hard things! Lead with making connections, it is the bread and butter of our work. It will help make every step of your work easier. What is one thing happening at your school that you are most proud of? Our school is using an app that our lead agency partner, On Point, created to help our students navigate big emotions! It walks students through mindfulness and breathing techniques and some loving words of encouragement and reassurance from familiar voices in and around our community school. I am so proud to have been a part of the development of this tool.

Olivia Guerrero is a community school coordinator and counselor at Latimer School in San Jose, California. Olivia has worked in education for 15 years, and as a community school coordinator for one year. What inspires you? I am inspired by my students, including my visually impaired son, who perseveres through challenges and continues to work hard, achieving success despite the adversities they face every day. What is one piece of advice you would give a new community school coordinator? This work is challenging, but success begins with understanding the community's needs and prioritizing long-term sustainability. Additionally, stay organized—schools can pull you in many directions, making it easy to lose track of your goals. Focus on what matters most and prioritize commitments to keep advancing the mission of Community Schools. What is one thing happening at your school that you are most proud of? I am most proud of our Food Pantry and Mobile Clinic because, regardless of state funding, these are lasting, systematic changes that will continue to benefit the community long after my time here.

Kenya Smith is a Community School Director at Western High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Kenya has worked as a community school director for 7 years. What inspires you? What is your Why? My family inspires me deeply and is a major driving force behind my work. Their support, values, and the example they set motivate me to strive for excellence and make a positive impact. Whether it’s their work ethic, their resilience, or the way they encourage me, their influence is a constant reminder of why I’m passionate about what I do. What is one piece of advice you would give a new Community School Coordinator? Give yourself grace, and as a new coordinator, observe as much as you can in year one. Make time for self-care, and make sure there's work-life balance. What is one thing happening at your school that you are most proud of? I am proud to be an alum of Western High School and returning as an associate within the school community. I'm proud to lead our 180 years of existence celebrations this year.

Emily Lorenzen is a community school coordinator at Marion Elementary School in Wayne County, New York. Emily has worked as a community school coordinator for over a year. What inspires you? What is your Why? Growing up, I had the privilege of having many great role models and opportunities provided to me through my school. My wish is for every student to feel supported and equipped with what they need to be successful in all aspects of life. It is the students and the great things that their futures hold that inspire me to do the work that I do. What is one piece of advice you would give a new Community School Coordinator? Meet and start building strong relationships with just about everybody you can. Talk to the students and their families, teachers, staff, community members and everyone else in between. Listen to their experiences and learn from their stories. What is one thing happening in your school that you are most proud of? I am most proud of the collaboration that is taking place at Marion Elementary School. We are all working towards a common goal with the overall wellbeing of our students as the driving force of our work. It is amazing to see the district as a whole begin to incorporate the community schools strategy into its day-to-day.

Deanna Nix is the community school site coordinator at Greece Olympia in Greece, New York. DeAnna has worked as a community school site coordinator for 5 years. What inspires you? What is your Why? Growing up in the Greece Community, I had a wonderful experience that shaped who I am today. My desire to give back and help make our community even better is driven by wanting to be the person I needed when I was younger. Our community is rich in resources, and I feel it’s vital to ensure that people know about the incredible opportunities available. As our student population has grown more diverse, it’s been enhanced by including every part of our community—students, families, businesses, corporations, and more. By truly partnering with the community, we’ve come together to raise our youth with the support and opportunities they need to succeed. It’s important to me that our students feel empowered, have a voice, and feel a true sense of belonging in our schools. I love our community’s traditions and the pride we share, but I’m equally inspired by how we continue to evolve. The rich culture of Greece motivates me to help bring that vibrancy into our schools, ensuring that we reflect the best of who we are. What is one piece of advice you would give a new Community School Coordinator? As a new Community Coordinator, my advice is to stay flexible, open to growth, and embrace change. The community school strategy is new, and some may not immediately embrace it—change can be difficult. Be patient, listen, and trust the process. In time, you will earn their trust and respect. Speak up when needed; you were chosen for your unique strengths to help lead this work. Take time to learn your school’s culture, understand what it needs to be successful, and honor the traditions and attributes that make it unique. This role is about building connections, leading with empathy, and bridging the community and school. Challenges will come, but remember, you don’t have to do it alone—your team is here to support you. Rise up, stay empowered, and know we’ve got your back every step of the way. What is one thing happening at your school that you are most proud of? I’m incredibly proud of our Spartan Square Community Room and the growth we’ve seen with the Community Schools initiative in the Olympia building. Over the past year, we’ve evolved from a simple idea into a thriving presence within the school. Students are beginning to recognize Spartan Square and the valuable resources we provide to them and their families. What excites me most is how much we’ve been able to accomplish through partnerships with programs like Bob Johnson, Prime Time, Tops, Foodlink, and many others. These collaborations have brought meaningful programs and resources to our students, and I’m eager to see what’s next for our community!