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