Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine | Page 20
Encouraging school
success and engaging
students at League
City Elementary
By Hillary Gramm,
CIS Bay Area
[email protected]
Since 1989, Communities In Schools – Bay Area (CIS - Bay Area), has strategically worked to combat the
troubles that lessen the likelihood of a student becoming a statistic. CIS – Bay Area counselors are on 14
campuses in Clear Creek and Dickinson ISDs. Annually, our program works intensively with over 1400
students. Principals, teachers, nurses, and parents refer the most at-risk students to be served by our
program. Individually, these students work with a CIS – Bay Area counselor to identify his or her needs and
together they connect with the community to ensure success. Our CIS – Bay Area counselors are placed in
elementary, intermediate and high schools where the campus needs are highest.
Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, Communities In Schools – Bay Area began serving League City
Elementary School. Principal, Xan Wood, welcomed our program and Campus Coordinator, Kaitlyn
Thompson, with open arms!
League City Elementary has a 94.7% at-risk population of students. These students have indicators, out of
their control, that may influence them to drop-out of school. Fortunately, the attendance rate for League
City Elementary is nearly 96%, which means students are attending and receiving the support they need to
thrive.
Communities In Schools – Bay Area plays a role in
encouraging attendance by providing a multitude of
services and support. Kaitlyn Thompson shares her
story:
My name is Kaitlyn Thompson, I am the CISBA
Program Coordinator at League City Elementary.
This is my second year at LCE but this is my fifth
school year working with Communities In Schools. I
love what I do because I get to see and work with
kids every day. At League City Elementary, we have
so many students in need and I am honored to be
able to help meet some of those needs. A lot of my
time is spent helping students secure social services,
such as increasing their access to food, linking them
with dental and eye exams and helping them get new
clothes.
I am also dedicated to networking within the community and finding resources from the community to bring
into our school. One of the most positive programs that has been put in place is my mentoring program.
Several community members have dedicated their time to meet with a student each week, usually during
their lunch, to read with them and mentor them. The students love this and look forward to their buddy
visiting them every week. Additionally, I spend time working with students on building character, improving
classroom behavior, maintaining good attendance, and improving academic work.
I love the students and staff at League City Elementary and have such a great time serving them all as I can!!
Communities In Schools – Bay Area keeps students on a path of success through graduation and beyond. For
more information, visit our www.cisba.org and our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/cisbayarea.