Deepening Our Work Community-Wide: A CIS Success Story
In the 2022-2023 school year, Communities In Schools® (CIS®) of Houston began work at Clemente Martinez Elementary School, a Title I school where 99 percent of students are considered economically disadvantaged and 73 percent are considered “at-risk.”*
Diana Cordova, Student Support Manager at CIS of Houston, began laying the foundation for CIS services for her students, teachers and families at the school. When she arrived, she first worked to identify the major challenges and opportunities that CIS could address.
She discovered that the pandemic disrupted two full years of campus activities, leading to higher levels of disengagement from parents and caregivers. With input from parents via surveys and direct conversations, CIS of Houston began to strategize a way to raise family engagement by working in collaboration with the Houston Independent School District’s Wraparound Specialist and the Family & Community Engagement Department.
Together, they created monthly family events to bring the community back into the school building. Parents became more comfortable visiting the campus and felt empowered to engage in their children’s education. From literacy events with free books to coordinating a PTO group, CIS became the trusted connector to help form relationships throughout their campus community.
Next, CIS of Houston began to implement programs that directly serve students and helped them build stronger relationships with each other and with the broader community. For example, the Power Pack mediation program for students in conflict helped them learn how to resolve their challenges. Power Pack students began to excel in their schoolwork and now volunteer outside of class to create a digital newsletter for parents.
A new partnership with Houston Boychoir led to 25 male students singing together in weekly sessions. These students were carefully chosen by staff based on the daily challenges that they faced. It quickly became apparent how music helped — within the next few weeks, the boys grew in their academics, behavior, and social interactions.
The model of CIS is so effective because we bring a community of support directly inside the school building to help students succeed, removing barriers to access and opportunity. Our partners play a crucial role in providing the support and resources that our students need. We are so grateful to be able to rely on an expansive partnership network to work together to break down barriers, ensure basic needs are met, and expose students to new opportunities.
– Kathryn Medina, Director of Strategic Partnerships, CIS of Houston
The work that CIS of Houston does at Clemente Martinez Elementary School is representative of the type of deep work Communities In Schools does at every one of the more than 3,000 schools and community sites it serves around the country. By working hand-in-hand with parents, families, caregivers, educators and other caring adults, CIS helps students access important resources that put them on a path to success in school and beyond.
*Source: The Texas Tribune
