My Why
A closer look into our Regional Specialists and what drives their passion for Communities In Schools West Virginia
Ginny Ratliff - My Why
My passion for working with Communities In Schools West Virginia is rooted in a deep belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed—no matter their circumstances. With my background in social work and public administration, I’ve always been drawn to the ability to remove barriers and help children thrive both in and out of the classroom. I joined CIS in 2021 because I saw an opportunity to be part of a mission-driven team that puts children first and creates a lasting impact in West Virginia schools.
There have been many moments that continue to inspire and motivate me in empowering Site Coordinators and students. One of my favorite things to do is simply walking the halls with a Site Coordinator and seeing how students light up when they see them—it’s such a simple thing, but so powerful. That kind of connection—the genuine care and individualized support—perfectly captures the heart of what CIS is all about. Every day, I try to support and empower our Site Coordinators so they can be that same steady, caring presence for their school and students. It’s what keeps me going and why I believe so strongly in the mission of CIS—making sure every kid has the support they need to show up and thrive.
Carla Snell - My Why
My why of working with Communities In Schools (CIS) isn’t a simple explanation but is one that matters and is deeply rewarding for personal reasons rooted in impact and purpose. The CIS program focuses on empowering students to stay in school and succeed by addressing barriers like attendance in schools, poverty, lack of resources, and social challenges through community-based support. This is currently my 6th year working with CIS (2 years as a Site Coordinator and 5 years as a Regional Specialist). I also worked in the classroom for 12 years as a special education teacher. My philosophy is that being present matters…showing up for others matters most. Here are some of my personal reasons why: by making a difference, making connections to the community, inspiring personal growth, providing inspiration to be resilient, and aligning my values in education to make a difference in the lives of students and their families. Being present matters!
Ashlie Ellis - My Why
After more than a decade serving students and families in Title I schools, I’ve witnessed firsthand the many barriers that prevent students from being fully present and successful in school—challenges rooted in poverty, trauma, and limited access to essential resources. These experiences have deepened my commitment to ensuring that every student has a genuine opportunity to learn and thrive, no matter their circumstances. Partnering with Communities In Schools allows me to be part of something greater than myself—an enduring support system designed to make a lasting impact on students’ lives, well beyond the span of my own career. My “why” is grounded in building lasting change that uplifts entire communities and opens doors for all students—change that so often begins with a consistent, caring relationship between a young person and a trusted adult
Brittney Hopkinson- My Why
With a master’s in social work and over a decade of experience working with adolescents, I’ve witnessed firsthand how transformative supportive relationships can be. I was drawn to Communities In Schools of West Virginia because of its mission to surround students with a community of support and to be that one caring adult that can change a student’s trajectory. Starting as a site coordinator, I was able to build meaningful relationships, remove barriers, and help students recognize their own potential. Today, I’m passionate about supporting the site coordinators who do this vital work every day.
One moment that stands out in my journey with CIS was watching a student, once chronically absent and disengaged, begin to thrive because of the consistent care and encouragement from their site coordinator. Being part of the team that supports that kind of change is deeply fulfilling. Seeing the ripple effect of empowered site coordinators uplifting students reminds me why this work matters. I remain committed to CIS’s mission and proud to play a role in creating lasting change for our schools and communities.
Jonathan Paul - My Why
After working in special education for almost 22 years I wanted to engage with students and families more. Communities In Schools was just the answer. I have been working in Communities In Schools for 5 years—3 ½ years as a Site Coordinator and the last 1 ½ years as a Regional Specialist. I am passionate about helping students overcome barriers to education, such as poverty, lack of resources, or family challenges, by connecting them with community support systems. Working with them allowed me to foster partnerships, strengthen local networks, and create opportunities for collective growth.
Moving into the Regional Specialist position has only encouraged me to share my knowledge and experience as a Site Coordinator with other new and seasoned site coordinators in my region. Hopefully what I share can help them develop into the best Site Coordinators they can be. As this school year is upon us and we tackle Chronic Absenteeism we need to take down the barriers that are keeping our students from school. We need to build those relationships and remember that Being Present Matters.
Emma Damron - My Why
Raised as the daughter of an Educator, I was no stranger to the education system and the outside obstacles that many students faced. As a young child I can remember going with my mother to take students without transportation home, delivering meals over breaks and buying winter coats for those in need. I developed a passion for serving overs at a very young age, volunteering with many local organizations whenever I had the opportunity. It came as no surprise that I later pursued a degree in Social Work.
I remember the very day that I decided to go back to school for a BSW. I was working in Early Childhood Development at the time and had a student whom I had immediately bonded with that was in the foster care system. Her case worker came in one day and attempted to remove her from our care stating that her adoptive family had changed their minds. I knew this family and I knew their deep love for her. I requested additional paperwork and called her now Mother and Father. The Case Worker had made a mistake; he had the wrong child’s paperwork present. I enrolled the following year to obtain my BSW.
I knew then just how important it was to have a caring adult in a Child’s life. I am passionate about this program because we are providing the students in West Virginia with a caring adult to help them navigate the barriers of life. We all make mistakes, and we all need help every now and then.
Trista Parsons - My Why
Helping children in my community has always been my heart song. Spending almost 20 years working with children in WV has been an amazing experience. Having the opportunity to continue that work through Communities In Schools not only to help children and their families in a way that is directly impactful and matters in the moment but also making a difference in a way that is long lasting and that can be future brightening is so rewarding. Being a Regional Specialist not only gives me the chance to help children and families but to help Site Coordinators, who are out on the front lines serving those children and families, be the best they can be and that means the world to me.
My biggest moment of clarity doing this work was when I heard a teacher talking to a class about her busy personal schedule the upcoming week. One of her students told her she should just take that day off work. She replied by asking the student what sort of role model she would be if we were working on improving attendance, working to earn incentives and being our best school selves, and she took a day off when she didn’t absolutely need to. She explained that this would make it seem to some students that her attendance wasn’t just as important as theirs. At this time another student, who happened to be a case managed student with CIS, agreed and said that if everyone just took the day off when they didn’t want to come our attendance would never improve and that everyone should be working hard to show up as much as possible.
Working with people who believe in me, see the vision, know the importance and encourage students to be their best selves is the greatest asset I have ever found. Instilling the importance of presence and hearing a student deliver that idea on their own was a shining moment for me and pushed me to extend my dedication and commitment to CIS by applying to be a Regional Specialist.