Communities in Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania

40+ parents attended the Kindergarten Meet & Greet organized by our Community School Coordinator at Paxinosa School 🤝

For many parents, the first day of comes with countless questions and this event created an opportunity for families to meet the principal, ask questions, learn about resources in the community, and even join the PTA.

Exciting news 🎉 We're thrilled to announce that is expanding into six new schools this year - spreading our support across three new districts and two counties for the 2024-25 academic year.

A warm welcome to:
Pocono Mountain School District:
✔️ Clear Run Elementary Center
✔️ Clear Run Intermediate School
✔️ Pocono Mountain West Junior High School
✔️ Pocono Mountain West High School
Southeast Delco School District
✔️ Academy Park High School
Northwestern Lehigh School District
✔️ Northwestern Lehigh High School

We can't wait to support more students and help them thrive and succeed 🎓

: last school year, Lincoln Elementary School set out to improve attendance - and was thrilled to be a part of it 💙 Community organizations joined as and ArtsQuest volunteers made mornings shine by welcoming students with stickers, pencils, and erasers.

A big, big thank you to everyone who helped make each student’s start to the day a little brighter 🌟
Bethlehem Area School District

We had a fantastic time collaborating with Wilson Area Intermediate School last year for a Mix-It-Up Lunch 🍽️ The goal? To encourage students to connect and make new friends.

It was great to see them step out of their comfort zones, break barriers, and build new relationships. A big thanks to everyone who made this event a success! 🤝
Wilson Area School District

In the days leading up to the new school year, our team came together for the annual multi-day development seminar, "Kickoff" 🎉 Held at the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania; this year's event was packed with inspiration and growth.

Highlights included:
🗣️ A Principal’s Panel discussion, which focused on the collaboration between CIS and school leadership, featured representatives from five districts: Bethlehem Area School District, Kutztown Area School District, The Foundation for Easton Schools, Reading School District-Reading, Pa., and Wilson School District.
🌐 A Reentry Simulation facilitated by Connections Work allows our staff to experience reintegration challenges for individuals involved in the justice system.
💬 An insightful DEI presentation led by Tyrone Russell from Faces International.
💡 Peer breakout sessions encouraged the sharing of programming best practices among site professionals.
🥪 And finally, the Staff Picnic at Kutztown Park, where our team enjoyed the CIS Olympic Games, featuring activities like Human Ring Toss, Dodgeball, Pickleball, and Jeopardy!

: Emma Irizarry 🎓

Emma, of East Penn School District, is a recipient of the Chandler Barnes Scholarship. She first learned about while experiencing a rough time and site coordinator, Amy Williams, reached out to lend a hand.

“Knowing I had someone there for me, ready and willing to help, to talk to me, and to want the best for me completely changed my mindset. I realized I didn’t have to face life alone.”

Read more about Emma's inspiring story by visiting https://brnw.ch/21wLP5O 🔗

At our Champions for Education event, we will honor and induct two individuals into the Leadership Circle. Kim Capers is one of the inductees, recognized for her transformational leadership, courage, and enduring support of our mission 💙

Help us celebrate and honor Kim on October 25. To reserve your tickets, visit https://brnw.ch/21wLLm6 🎟️

CONGRATULATIONS to a site coordinator, Nancy Ruiz, on receiving the "You Are the Light of the Year" Award from Sheridan Elementary School 🌟

Thank you for the impactful work you do in Allentown School District and for being , always 💙

Data Master Award recipient: Dominique Connor from Harrison Morton Middle School 🌟

This award recognizes an individual demonstrating a commitment to using high-quality data to drive timely improvements to support students and families.

Dominique's work with attendance data sets a standard for how site coordinators should approach data-driven decision-making and program development. She continues to utilize attendance data to celebrate success and identify smart interventions for attendance.

Congratulations, Dominique! Allentown School District

Easton Area School District 2024 graduate Ayana Beals received our Chandler Barnes Scholarship. As a student, she deeply appreciated how our staff fostered a safe haven in her school community, ensuring every student felt respected and supported.

Ayana plans to attend Northampton Community College this fall to become an ultrasound technician. READ more about Ayana and her inspirational journey: https://brnw.ch/21wLDTT 📚

Take a proactive step in securing your legacy. National Make a Will Month is an annual reminder that by creating a will, you empower yourself and your loved ones with the certainty of your wishes 💫

Leave a lasting impact by including and empower future generations of learners. For more information on including CIS in your legacy giving plan, visit https://tinyurl.com/3eukwhu6 or contact Maria Esposito at [email protected] 💙

: Rondiel Quinones 🎓

Rondiel, our second Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School scholarship recipient, plans to study political science at Penn State this Fall.

For his senior year service learning project, he collected supplies for the Peaceable Kingdom Inc. - a local no-kill animal shelter. His efforts benefitted the community and strengthened his bond with support staff.

Read more about Rondiel and his journey to success by visiting https://brnw.ch/21wLzOv 🔗

Join at our Champions For Education ceremony to honor some of our most active volunteers, who went above and beyond to ensure students could create the bright futures.

Kathleen and JB Reilly will be honored with the 2024 Champions of Education Award, alongside Bill and Denise Spence 🎓

To secure your spot at this year's event, visit https://brnw.ch/21wLw0R 🔗

Congratulations to Nancy Ruiz, Community School Coordinator at Sheridan Elementary School, on receiving our 2024 Collaborative Impact Award 🎉

This award recognizes high-level integration, collaboration and consultation that highlights the ability to leverage school-based and community resources to drive wide system change to benefit students.

Congratulations, Nancy!
Allentown School District

: Isaac Sabater 🎓

At Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School, Isaac's journey was not a smooth one after the pandemic. The transition from virtual to in-person learning was a significant hurdle. However, he persevered and built a meaningful relationship with J.P., Director of Operations at the school. This level of support remained important through Isaac's senior year when he was introduced to and assigned Heather Annunziata as his .

Read more about Isaac and his road success: https://brnw.ch/21wLqG7 🔗 Lehigh Carbon Community College

Our at Reading School District-Reading, Pa. recently organized a special event for students transitioning from 10th and Penn Elementary School to the Middle School next year. Students and parents met with school leaders, counselors, teachers, safety officers, our team, and more.

The event focused on introducing expectations and familiarizing families with the support team that will assist teachers in day-to-day operations 🤝

Congratulations to Heather Annunziata from Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School on receiving the 2024 Milliken Leadership Award 🏆

"She seamlessly transitioned from a long-time home at Building21 to a new site, new model, and new school type. She effectively built her caseload and created an amazing program for families. Heather embodies an expertise and mastery of the CIS model and is a stand-out leader for our network."

Let's show Heather some love in the comments 💚

and Centro Hispano Daniel Torres teamed up to make an Impact at Reading School District-Reading, Pa..

Parents recently celebrated their graduation from the Opening Doors program, Centro Hispano's bilingual education and empowerment initiative. Families enjoyed a delicious meal and each graduate received a certificate and an Amazon Kindle Tablet.

We’re appreciative of our ongoing partnership with Centro Hispano and look forward to connecting more parents with the program 💙

Join our team at 🌟 Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of students and families? Our organization is seeking dedicated individuals who are committed to empowering students to stay in school and succeed in life.

Visit https://brnw.ch/21wLfqK to learn more about the available positions and how to apply.

Congratulations to Amy Williams on being this year's Innovative Project Award recipient 🌟 This award recognizes a project that demonstrates creativity and accomplishes large-scale impact.

At East Penn School District, Amy stepped into the advisor role of the now-flourishing Emmaus High School Aevidum Club. Under her leadership, the Club has undergone a remarkable transformation. It has evolved into a beacon of support within the school - offering a wide range of resources and activities that contribute to a nurturing and supportive environment.

Thank you, Amy, for being !

We're thrilled to announce that Bill and Denise Spence will receive the 2024 Champion of Education Award at our Champions for Education ceremony on October 25 🎉 This award celebrates their tremendous dedication to education, support, and partnership with .

Join us to celebrate Bill and Denise, grab your tickets today at https://brnw.ch/21wL8QY 🔗

Congratulations to our award recipient, Ana Acosta Colon, Student Support Specialist at Reading School District-Reading, Pa. 🎉

This award acknowledges a great program, project, or individual that genuinely engages or embodies all of the five basics of . Ana goes above and beyond every day to help students and her role is integral to our team - we are proud to have her with us!

Show some love in the comments below ⬇️

Let the celebration commence 🎉 We can't wait to honor our most active volunteers from 2023 at our Champions For Education event. These honorees went above and beyond to ensure our students could create the bright futures of their dreams.

We are currently looking for sponsors to support our event on October 25. If you’re interested in learning more about our sponsorship opportunities or other ways to support our organization, visit https://brnw.ch/21wL0bE 🔗

Our dedicated site professionals were on-stie to help newcomer students and families at Easton Area School District 📚

With representatives from each school we serve, we offered translation services and connected those new students and families with the resources necessary for their success.

At , we proudly celebrate - a pivotal moment in American history marking the end of slavery. Let's educate, reflect, and honor the journey towards equality.

Together, we embrace diversity and empower our students with knowledge that shapes a brighter future ♥️💛💚

In the Integrated Student Support model, are the key to student success 🌟

We have site coordinators working in schools throughout the , Berks, and Chester counties, who act as a vital link between students and their support systems. Without them, lasting relationships and change would not be possible 💙

To read more, visit https://brnw.ch/21wKNnQ 🔗

Join our team at 🎓 Our staff is dedicated to creating positive change in the community and beyond.

Apply now to be part of an organization that's passionate about making the world a better place for all. View our current open positions: https://brnw.ch/21wKKc6 🔗