County Spotlights

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

Kendra Sparks is a dedicated Communities In Schools (CIS) Site Coordinator (also referred to as a CIS Facilitator) serving in Wyoming County Schools, West Virginia.  She has been with Wyoming County Schools for many years, and her work focuses on supporting students through the Communities In Schools program, which helps remove barriers to learning by connecting kids and families to community resources, mentoring, attendance initiatives, and more.  Examples of her impact incl

If you are looking for a small place with a big heart and an even bigger impact on students and families, Tyler County never falls short. The Communities In Schools Coordinators of Tyler County go far beyond meeting basic needs; they provide safe spaces, open hearts, and listening ears for students who need to know that someone truly cares. Their presence in the schools creates an environment where students feel supported, valued, and understood. Sometimes at moments when tha

Taylor County is grateful to have a CIS Site Coordinator at all five schools supporting students and families in their most vulnerable moments. The Site Coordinators work tirelessly to fill in the gaps and ensure that all students have access to the supports and items they need.     One highlight of their work is their annual Back-to-School Bash started in 2022. This event, hosted at Grafton High School, invites families to an evening of fun and connection. Community partners

Monongalia County Communities In Schools serves three schools—University High School, Westwood Middle School, and Skyview Elementary School. While they may be a small team, they are truly a mighty one! The Monongalia County CIS team consistently demonstrates what strong collaboration and student-centered support can look like across their schools.  One powerful example of this work took place at University High School. With the support of Communities In Schools, MedEd student

Hampshire County continues to shine thanks to the dedication and heart of its six incredible Site Coordinators, who work tirelessly every day to support students and families. Hampshire County experienced an outstanding example of community collaboration through a generous donation from Lifted Hands Food Pantry. Their support went above and beyond, providing a substantial supply of essential items including body wash, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, feminine hygiene product

We are incredibly proud of the Calhoun Middle High School Changemakers group for turning compassion into action. With a shared goal of supporting every student in our district, they came up with the wonderful idea to send home bags of food to each student in Calhoun schools during Christmas break helping ensure families felt supported while school was out. This effort became a true team accomplishment. Our student services staff came together with dedication and heart to help

When it comes to supporting families, there are few places quite like this one. In Ohio County, Communities In Schools site coordinators have created something truly special for students and families who find themselves in need. They call it The Giving Tree —a once-ordinary building that has been lovingly transformed into a welcoming space filled with clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, and food.    But The Giving Tree is so much more than a storage area. It offers fami

Communities In Schools Site Coordinator Kristy Mullins is placing a strong emphasis on improving student attendance at Coalfield Elementary School while ensuring each child’s individual needs are met.  Through daily check-ins, relationship-building, and collaboration with families and teachers, Kristy works to identify the underlying barriers that keep students from coming to school consistently. Whether those challenges are academic, social, emotional, or related to basic ne

Marion County continues to experience the positive impact of Communities In Schools, strengthening its commitment to student success each year. CIS first launched in the 2023–24 school year at West Fairmont Middle School, Fairmont Senior High School, and Watson Elementary. Building on that strong foundation, the program expanded in 2024–25 to North Marion High School, Mannington Middle School, and Blackshere Elementary. This year, the momentum grows once again with the additi

I am Mrs. Jenna, and I am the Communities In Schools Site Coordinator at Horace Mann Middle School. This is my second year as a Site Coordinator at this school. Working in a middle school is a very unique population of students, and when I began this journey I knew I had to build trust with my students for them to be honest about their needs.   In this area of Charleston, there are families who live very close to the school and some who reside across the river, over a mountai

Grant County Communities In Schools, in partnership with the Child Nutrition Program, was honored to share Thanksgiving food boxes with 56 families across Grant County Schools. This incredible effort was made even more meaningful thanks to the generous support of Pilgrim's Prepared Foods, whose contribution allowed families to experience a little extra holiday warmth and gratitude.  What truly stands out about Grant County is their unwavering commitment to caring for their co

In Clay County—one of West Virginia’s most rural and economically challenged counties—Communities In Schools (CIS) isn’t just a program; it’s the difference between a child staying in school or slipping through the cracks. With poverty rates consistently above the state average, limited access to transportation, and families stretched thin, CIS site coordinators are embedded inside every Clay County school, working tirelessly to remove the barriers that too often push kids ou

For the 2025–2026 school year, Raleigh County Communities In Schools (CIS) is prioritizing two key areas of impact: improving student attendance and strengthening family engagement.  CIS recognizes that consistent school attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success and long-term student outcomes. To address barriers that keep students from attending regularly, CIS site coordinators will continue working closely with school staff, families, and community p

Putnam County, West Virginia, is a dynamic community recognized for its spirit of collaboration and pride in education. Serving more than 9,000 students, Putnam County Schools is consistently ranked among the top districts in the state, earning recognition as West Virginia’s #1 academic district. Communities In Schools (CIS) partners with the district to build on this tradition of success by addressing barriers to learning, supporting student well-being, and ensuring every ch