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Community Schools
In 2020, the Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) designated all seven of its schools as Community Schools. The decision behind the designation was to create schools that serve as community beacons, bringing together school and community resources to improve student success and create stronger families and healthier communities. Given the fact that a child’s waking hours between kindergarten and high school amounts to 20 percent in the school environment and 80 percent in the community, it is imperative that a school, home and community approach is employed to holistically address the evolving and emerging needs of children. Across the country, community schools build bridges between school, home, and community to facilitate a holistic approach that will better guarantee that children find success in and out of school.
Meet the Staff and What They Do
Community Schools provides:
- Partnerships with an array of community organizations and stakeholders interested in the positive youth development of PCSD students
- Arts and Music programming in every school
- Full-time School Librarians
- Social Workers in every school
- Crisis Intervention Specialist in every school
- Liaisons to increase new and cultivate existing community partnerships and parental engagement
- Mental Health Clinics (PMS and PHS)
- A Parent Empowerment Center in PMS
- An emergency food pantry in PMS
- Funding to increase the number of school fieldtrips
- Extended learning opportunities
- 1:1 Instructional devices to students and instructional staff
- Parent supports and Free Workshops and Credentialing classes
- Online age and developmentally appropriate literacy resources
- Festivals at the beginning and end of every school year, in addition to holiday parties
- And much more…..
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Dr. Yvonne PalmerAssistant Superintendent for Student Support Services and Family & Community Engagement
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Jessica OrtizInterim Community Schools Administrator
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Gilbert ColonCommunity Schools Liaison (PMS / PHS)
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Justinne RodriguezCommunity Schools Liaison (Truth)
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Lorraine BoughtonCommunity School Liaison (Krieger)
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Helen PurnellParent Empowerment Center Manager
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Raquel GonzalezCommunity Schools Department Secretary