This week is Community School Director Appreciation Week, and we’re celebrating the people at the heart of United Way Community Schools.
But first, what exactly is a Community School Director?
When you think of a school, you probably think of teachers, principals and students. But in United Way Community Schools, there’s another person working behind the scenes to connect the school with the people, resources and opportunities around it: the Community School Director.
Community School Directors are relationship builders. They listen to students, families and school staff to understand what’s needed, then work with community partners to help meet those needs.
They may be the person handing a student a new winter coat or pair of boots, but their work started long before that moment. They built the partnership, found the resource and made sure it was there when that student needed it.
hey bring organizations into schools to provide new experiences and opportunities. They work alongside teachers and staff to better understand what students and families are facing. And when they plan a school event, it’s about more than having fun. It’s about creating opportunities for students, families, staff and the community to connect.
Community School Directors do a little bit of everything, but at the center of it all is relationships.
Because while Community Schools is a model, it’s the people who make it work.
This week, we hope you’ll join us in recognizing our Community School Directors and thanking them for the relationships they build, the partnerships they strengthen and the work they do every day for students and families.