Communities In Schools Welcomes Two New Fellows

Communities In Schools announces two new Bill & Jean Milliken Alumni fellows, for the 2019-2020 school year, Rosaura “Rosie” Martinez and Tres’Rionna Whitlock. This annual fellowship seeks to advance CIS' collective work and give voice to the next generation of CIS leaders and thinkers, while honoring Bill and Jean Milliken’s unique contributions to this organization.  

The Bill & Jean Milliken Alumni Fellowship through its Milliken Center for Innovation and Student Success provides a unique opportunity to CIS alumni working to tackle a public policy development or problem of practice related to integrated student supports.  

Over the course of six to nine months, the Fellows will work alongside CIS National staff in a collaborative, cross-functional exploration of some of the most important and compelling issues facing CIS and the students we serve. This year’s fellowship is focused on improving school climate. 

Rosie and Tres’Rionna were selected for their vision, passion and commitment to CIS. Rosie will be focusing on college and career readiness and working on developing a toolkit for the network to help site coordinators prepare students for life after graduation. Rosie is an alumna from CIS of Houston and a recent graduate of the University of Houston. She also serves as a member of the national Communities In Schools Alumni Leadership Advisory Committee, which serves as ambassadors, advocates and advisors to the national office. Read more about Rosie here. 

Tres’Rionna will focus on developing a curriculum to engage school resource officers in creating safe, inviting and supportive environments for students. Tres’Rionna is an alumna from CIS of Mid-America who will graduate this December from Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma. She also serves on the Alumni Leadership Advisory Committee. Read more about Tres’Rionna here. 

Photo courtesy of LeVern Danley.