County Spotlights

Sarah Linger, CIS Site Coordinator at Lewis County High School, highlights a long-standing event that celebrates Communities In Schools in Lewis County while recognizing the hard work and achievements of students. “Robert L. Bland Middle School and Lewis County High School host the “All in for Me” Awards each April to recognize case-managed students who have demonstrated growth, perseverance, and dedication throughout the school year. Inspired by the Communities In Schools

If you’re looking for schools where students are truly seen, supported, and encouraged to thrive, Hancock County is a place that stands out. The Communities In Schools Site Coordinators here go far beyond their roles, showing up each day with compassion and dedication to ensure every student and family feels welcomed and cared for, no matter the challenge, and in every season of the school year. Whether it’s helping coordinate medical appointments, supporting English language

Berkeley County site coordinators have been creating exciting, student-centered opportunities to boost attendance, engagement, and school spirit across their schools! Here is a quick glimpse into the Berkeley County magic! At Martinsburg North Middle School, Nichel Griffin hosted a Glow Up & Love Yourself event focused on self-confidence, positivity, and student wellness. At Eagle Intermediate School, Kathleen Cunningham shared that ESI has been busy since returning from h

Communities In Schools (CIS) in Roane County, West Virginia, plays a vital role in supporting student success by addressing barriers to learning, with a strong emphasis on improving attendance. Site Coordinators are present inside of Spencer Elementary, Spencer Middle, Roane County Highschool, Geary and Walton. Site Coordinators actively promote the importance of being present, celebrating consistent attendance with recognition programs that reinforce positive habits and buil

Communities In Schools (CIS) is proud to be present in every school in Barbour County, ensuring students across the county have access to the supports they need to succeed. A shining example of this work is led by longtime Site Coordinator Paula Daniels, whose dedication has transformed the way basic needs are met for students and families. One of the most impactful initiatives in the county is “The Store.” With the gracious support of the Barbour Community Health Association

The Communities In Schools (CIS) Site Coordinators in Pendleton County make a meaningful difference in the lives of students every single day. They go above and beyond to ensure that every child feels supported, valued, and cared for. Whether it meets basic needs, such as providing weekend food bags, school supplies, and clothing, or assisting with social, emotional, or academic challenges, CIS coordinators are a consistent and compassionate presence. Most importantly, they s

Pleasants County Schools is more than just a place where students come to learn each day, it is a place where they are welcomed, valued, and truly supported. A large part of that supportive environment is made possible through the work of the Communities In Schools site coordinators who serve there. Their dedication ensures that students can come to school feeling cared for and ready to focus on learning. These coordinators understand that sometimes the barriers students fac

Lezli Baker serves as the Community In Schools (CIS) Site Coordinator for Peterstown PreK-8 schools (including Peterstown Elementary School and Peterstown Middle School) in Monroe County, West Virginia. As a site coordinator, she supports students by connecting them with community resources, addressing basic needs, coordinating events (such as donation drives, Trunk or Treat, and Read Across America activities), and serving as a liaison to help students stay engaged in schoo

Joy Bowling serves as the Communities In Schools (CIS) Site Coordinator at two elementary schools in Summers County, West Virginia: Talcott Elementary and Jumping Branch Elementary. She has been recognized for her dedication in this role, including being named the 2023-2024 Professional Support Person of the Year by Summers County Schools. This award highlights her work in supporting students through the CIS program, which connects community resources to help address barrie

Communities In Schools plays a key role in supporting students across Randolph County. Site Coordinators are part of the county attendance team and work to create and support attendance initiatives that help students show up each day. Site coordinators create fun Incentives such as parades, bulletin boards, certificates with prize drawings, Attendo (BINGO), “Attend”dances, no tardy parties, movies and special lunches to recognize improvement in attendance. Randolph County CIS

From the moment you walk through the doors of any school in Marshall County, you can feel it: the warmth, the support, and the unwavering commitment to every child who enters. At the heart of that spirit are the Communities In Schools coordinators, whose compassion and dedication help make this sense of family possible each and every day. These incredible women work tirelessly behind the scenes, often without recognition, to ensure that students and families have what they n

Logan County, West Virginia, is a close-knit Appalachian community known for its strong spirit of resilience and deep-rooted pride in its people. The county’s residents share a remarkable sense of unity and care, especially visible through the dedication of its schools and local organizations. Logan County Schools serve a diverse student population, many of whom face challenges related to poverty and limited resources. Despite these obstacles, programs like Communities In Sch

Communities In Schools (CIS) of Jackson County, West Virginia, plays a vital role in supporting local students by connecting them with essential resources to help them overcome challenges and thrive academically and personally. Through dedicated site coordinators embedded in Jackson County schools, the organization facilitates access to services such as tutoring, counseling, clothing, food assistance, and family support programs, fostering stronger ties between schools, famil

Communities In Schools is proudly serving students at Nutter Fort Primary School, Nutter Fort Intermediate School, and Liberty Middle School. Communities In Schools has been present within Harrison County since 2022. The site coordinators named their CIS offices as the “Helping Hub,” creating a consistent, welcoming space where students know exactly where to find support as they transition from primary to intermediate to middle school. The Harrison County CIS team meets s

A 17-year-old student had taken on immense responsibility: marrying to emancipate herself from her mother and then gaining custody of her 4-year-old sister after the mother lost parental rights. The weight of it all led her to consider dropping out of school to focus entirely on caring for her sibling. With the school social worker, Communities In Schools intervened decisively. We successfully enrolled the younger sister in CHOICES pre-K for early education and reliable dayti

Recently, our Communities In Schools Site Coordinator learned that one of our school families might be staying in a local hotel. Initial attempts to reach the mother failed—her phone had been shut off. Undeterred, the coordinator searched social media, located her profile, and reconnected to get an updated number. What emerged was a heartbreaking cascade of hardships: the mother had lost her job, totaled her only vehicle in an accident, faced multiple hospitalizations, had ut

At Van Elementary School, one name is spoken with deep appreciation and gratitude—our exceptional Communities In Schools Coordinator. His daily presence on campus is far more than a job; it’s a true lifeline for students, staff, and families alike. Every morning, long before the first bell, he’s already there—greeting children with a warm smile, helping a student find a winter coat, or quietly checking in on a family facing hardship. He meets every child exactly where they ar

Over the holiday season, a family at our school lost much of their home to a severe fire. The principals quickly alerted me to the emergency and asked me to reach out. What I learned was heartbreaking: the children were temporarily staying with friends, the family had no insurance and no funds for repairs, and the guardians were sleeping in their truck to stay close by. Drawing on my knowledge of community resources, I immediately connected the family with a local non-profit

At West Side Middle School, Communities In Schools launched “Saturday Wash Days” in our Student Support Center, opening the building on weekends so students and families can access free laundry facilities, supplies, and a safe, welcoming space to handle this essential need. One family faced significant barriers: they lacked transportation and couldn’t bring their laundry to school. For several weeks, the Family Support Worker and I picked up their laundry from home, washed an

A dedicated Communities In Schools team member successfully kept two separate families from remaining on the streets and helped them secure permanent housing. While the families faced homelessness, she quickly arranged temporary safe places to stay and ensured the children attended school consistently by personally providing transportation by picking them up and dropping them off before and after school until reliable bus services could be established. She worked closely with