What is a Community School?
A community school is more than just a place of learning. It's a hub that brings together academic, social, and health services to support not just the student, but the whole family and community. At the core of a community school are the integrated support services, which address health, mental well-being, and personalized academic needs.
Key Projects for this office include:
- Managing COP funding through the Maryland Blueprint.
- Creating Community Hubs for families, communities, and partnership collaboration.
- Using school-based data to address needs for students and families.
- Providing wrap-around services such as healthy food, vision and dental services, safe transportation.
- Providing additional social workers and counselors, as well as mental health supports.
What Community Schools Do
Community Schools identify the needs of our school and use the strengths of the community to meet them. They provide a wide array of wraparound services that enhance students' ability to be successful.
These wraparound services aim to improve academic performance, build stronger family-community ties and enhance student well-being.
Examples of wraparound services:
- Supports that improve student attendance
- Enhancing student enrichment experiences and improving the learning environment
- Family and community engagement
- Expanding health, vision, and dental services
How Does This Impact Students
Students in Allegany County will now have access to vital resources they didn't before. The community school model can address any barriers they face, such as physical and emotional health, academic struggles, food insecurity, or other factors that make it difficult for them to thrive.
-ACPS Community Journey-
There are currently 17 Community Schools in Allegany County!
- 2020 -
Launch of Schools
South Penn Elementary
John Humbird Elementary
George's Creek Elementary
Westernport Elementary
- 2022 -
Welcome the Duo
- 2025 -
The Trifecta
Flintstone Elementary
Fort Hill High School
Parkside Elementary
Community School Resource Links
Framework for Community Schools
The community schools strategy transforms a school into a place where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development. As partners, they organize the in-and-out-of-school resources, supports, and opportunities so that young people thrive. The school community, led by a community school coordinator/manager, works to develop a vision and goals for the school, student and family well-being, and student learning. (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. Essentials for Community School Transformation
Outer Ring: Supportive Infrastructure.
- Professional Learning Opportunities, Data Systems, Continuous Improvement, Shared Governance Structures, Sustainable Resources, and Strategic Partnerships.
First Inner Ring: Key Practices.
- Culture of belonging, safety, and care; rigorous, community-connected classroom instruction; expanded & enriched learning opportunities; collaborative leadership; shared power and voice; powerful student and family engagement; and integrated systems of support.
Middle Ring: Enabling Conditions.
- Inclusive Decision-Making, Actionable Data, Trusting Relationships, and Shared Vision.
Fourth Inner Ring: Who drives this work?
- School Staff & Coordinators, Community Partners, and Youth & Families.
Center of Circle: Why we do this work?
- All students flourish in thriving school communities.
Community School Infographics
Jenny Ramsey
Administrative Coordinator of Community Schools/Acceleration & Enrichment
Jenny Ramsey oversees the Community Schools initiative, supervising the Community School Coordinators and managing program budgeting and professional development. She also works closely with community partners and stakeholders to expand physical and mental health services, as well as academic and extracurricular support for students.
Kaleigh Boyd
Secretary of Community Schools
Community School Coordinators
Shelby McGregor
Ashley Drake
LuAnne Kesecker
Cash Valley Elementary
Lakyn Strietbeck
Career Center
Christa Brakell
Cresaptown Elementary
Keri Pfitzenmayer
Flintstone Elementary
Tanya Gomer
Fort Hill High School
Autumn Symons
George's Creek Elementary
Julian Gates
John Humbird Elementary
Brett Gearing
Mt. Savage Elementary
Jordyn Green
North East Elementary
Candy Ness
Park Side Elementary
Maddie Frank
South Penn Elementary
Veronica Crites
Washington Middle
Jill Wyer
West Side Elementary
Ethan Adams
Westernport Elementary
Julie Snyder
Westmar Middle