This year, the last week of September was full of love and appreciation for our Community School Coordinators. That’s because September 24-28 was National Coordinator Appreciation Week, when communities across the country get together to highlight the accomplishments, dedication, and contributions of their Community School Coordinators.
Coordinators are integral to the Community Schools model, and play many roles in the school and surrounding community. They ensure that all students have access to quality education and resources. They also identify the needs of their individual school community. They increase access to job opportunities, healthy foods, clothing, and emotional health services.
Since 2016, Philadelphia’s Community School Coordinators have sent students and their families home with 73,000 pounds of fresh produce, connected 267 students to summer jobs, and helped more than 200 adults enroll in free Adult Education classes. And they’re just getting started!
Check out some other ways, and reasons, Philly took the time to show how much our #CoordinatorsRock:
1. Our Coordinators work closely with all of Philly — both with the Philadelphia School Board and City to ensure success for all! Chief Education Officer Otis Hackney and the Philadelphia School Board started the week off with some shoutouts to all the Coordinators working in Philadelphia’s 12 Community Schools!
To our city’s #CommunitySchoolsPHL Coordinators, thank you! Your work ensures that 6,500 students at 12 schools have the means to succeed, and those numbers will only grow! Student outcomes are important for the success of our city, and you are too! #CoordinatorsRock pic.twitter.com/6BoTpj4UeG
— Otis Hackney (@OtisHackney) September 24, 2018
Happy #CoordinatorsRock week! Thank you to all of the community school coordinators for all of the hard work that you do to improve the lives of students, families, and community members. #CommunitySchoolsPHL @PHL_MOE #PHLed pic.twitter.com/ju0a5DIMQR
— Philadelphia Board of Education (@PHLschoolboard) September 24, 2018
2. South Philadelphia High School and George Washington High School showed Coordinators Janelle Harper and Caitlyn Boyle some love for all the amazing work that they do, for their schools, and so many others!
#CoordinatorsRock @PHL_MOE ❤️ them & we appreciate everything you do for all of our children @PHLschools @SDPHighSchools pic.twitter.com/MMKn2HX53z
— South Phila. HS (@SouthPhilaHS) September 25, 2018
Thank you @CaitlynBoyle_ pic.twitter.com/qlLnagO2kr
— George Washington High School (@GdubEagles) September 26, 2018
3. Did you know? Alumni of Murrell Dobbins CTE High School are continuing to love Philly and its schools by working as Coordinators. Pam Evans is the Alain Locke School Coordinator and Charles Reyes is the Murrell Dobbins CTE High School Coordinator!
These Dobbins alumni are giving back to @PHLschools as #CommunitySchoolsPHL Coordinators. We ❤ their commitment to their schools! #CoordinatorsRock pic.twitter.com/ZAbM66SHWC
— Andrea DiMola (@a_dimola) September 28, 2018
4. The Free Library of Philadelphia reminded us of the delicious field trip some Gideon Elementary students went on to learn how to cook — one of many amazing things made possible by Coordinators like Gregory Wright, of course!
Thank you, #CommunitySchoolsPHL Coordinators, for your hard work across the city and for allowing us to come along for the ride: https://t.co/JZ6ae6fXaU #CoordinatorsRock pic.twitter.com/rWrnbr3Hp1
— Free Library of Philadelphia (@FreeLibrary) September 25, 2018
5. It wouldn’t be a week of celebrating hard work without Coordinators supporting fellow Coordinators! Look at how our team cheers each other on with shoutouts to Beth Dougherty at Southwark School, Rennie Parker at Samuel Gomper School, plus the whole team!
@bdougherty1656 your passion for the students and parents @southwarkschool doesn't go unnoticed. You are awesome in your approach, as you continue to advocate for your school and its community. Keep up the great job, embracing the community one block at a time.#CoordinatorsRock pic.twitter.com/iRa9vAY7zL
— Charles Reyes (@CharlesReyesPHL) September 24, 2018
THANKS @rennieparker85 for joining the community school team year 2 . His vision aligns with Gompers vision to prepare the students for high school, college and career of their choice by removing the barriers and and adding resources.😉#CoordinatorsRock #CommunitySchoolsPHL pic.twitter.com/vfwV7YUyJs
— JanelleH_ (@jharper_jh) September 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/rennieparker85/status/1044219869695279105
6. STEMCityPHL shouted out our amazing group of Coordinators with an awesome selfie!
Thank you, @PHL_MOE Coordinators for all the amazing work that you do for @PHLschools students each and every day! Join us this week in celebrating how much #CoordinatorsRock! pic.twitter.com/y9TwpI4geA
— STEMcityPHL (@STEMcityPHL) September 25, 2018
7. PHENND celebrated by shouting out their former VISTA, William Reed – who now works as a Coordinator at William Cramp Elementary School!
A special #CoordinatorsRock shout out to former @PHENND_VISTAs and now @PHL_MOE Coordinator Will Reed. The students at @crampschool are lucky to have you! #CommunitySchoolsPHL pic.twitter.com/UoDX7TTSXB
— PHENND (@PhenndUpdates) September 26, 2018
8. We celebrated the incredible services provided by coordinators – here’s a sample of what Robin Torrence provides at F.S. Edmonds Elementary School!
Community days, trauma conversations, and resources for all are just some of the things that Robin Torrence brings to the @FS_Edmonds community! Thank you @rmtorrence724, for always looking out for our students and improving lives! #CoordinatorsRock pic.twitter.com/4rKobb7UO8
— Philadelphia Office of Children and Families (@PHLfamilies) September 26, 2018
9. We also shouted out how Community Schools are able to distribute free produce to families because Coordinators like Regina Young at William T. Tilden Middle School rock!
Regina Young has worked tirelessly over the past two years to make @tildenmiddle a stronger resource for students and community. Thank you, @ryoungcsc, for your efforts to create community spaces inside the school, including the very popular Food Pantry! #CoordinatorsRock pic.twitter.com/6T0pwPTsTA
— Philadelphia Office of Children and Families (@PHLfamilies) September 27, 2018
10. We couldn’t forget Richard Washington, former Coordinator, still working hard to serve James Logan Elementary students!
Once a Coordinator, always a Coordinator! Richard Washington is now the Climate Manager for Logan Elementary, and he will always be a member of the @PHL_MOE Family! Thank you @RichJWashington for all the great work you continue to do for the Logan Community. #CoordinatorsRock pic.twitter.com/v6rhSRsnWp
— Philadelphia Office of Children and Families (@PHLfamilies) September 24, 2018
11. We also celebrated “IRL” with notes of appreciation hanging on our office wall for all to see!
#TBT to #CoordinatorsRock Week when we celebrated #CommunitySchoolsPHL Coordinators and all that they do each and every day! We are so grateful and so are students! Check out the board of appreciation in our office! ⭐💯 pic.twitter.com/eXsjw5eoGA
— Philadelphia Office of Children and Families (@PHLfamilies) October 4, 2018
Thank you to our Community Schools Coordinators for being amazing each and every day! Keep sharing your appreciation by showing us how you think #CoordinatorsRock!
#CoordinatorsRock is hosted by the Coalition for Community Schools, Communities In Schools, the National Center for Community Schools at the Children’s Aid Society, the Beacon National Network, and the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania.
