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 daytime care. We...

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 utilities...

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 are, providing...