Communities In Schools - Bay Area

My wife and I have been associated with CIS-BA as donors and volunteers since moving to the Clear Lake area over 20 years ago. For the past 6 years I have had the opportunity and pleasure to serve on the board of directors. I able to see and understand how the service delivery model works and the positive impact it has on at-risk children in our community.
What drew me to CISBA is that the outcomes are measurable. The value proposition is simple, a child who stays in school through graduation has a significantly higher chance of succeeding in life as documented by years of data. The national CIS service delivery model is also simple, place trained resources in those schools (all levels) identified to have the largest populations of at-risk students in order to provide a support system for those individuals most at risk. The majority of these children do not have a good support system at home. Many are from single parent homes, may live with relatives, move frequently, are economically challenged, suffer from food insecurity and don't have good role models to name a few. The Student Support Specialists that CIS employs and places in the school are many times the only caring and compassionate adults these children interact with on a regular basis. As Maslow theorized in his hierarchy of needs, the support specialists help those children with their needs in the lower tiers of the pyramid freeing them to focus on the upper levels of the hierarchy through education. This singular focus permeates the entire organization from the imbedded specialists up to the executive director.
All boats rise with the tide. CIS-BA supports the most overlooked youth in our society by focusing on education. By giving these at-risk kids an opportunity to succeed in life, all of society benefits.

As a donor, deciding which nonprofits to support starts with questions: Are their plans, programs, and mission completely aligned? What is the quality of the board and staff? How are funds raised and spent? How do they treat people? How do they communicate internally and externally? What counts as success and how is it measured? How collaborative and respected are they with other organizations and across the community? As important as these questions are, the number one question for donors is: Do I trust them? As a supporter of Communities in Schools – Bay Area (CISBA) for almost thirty years, I can enthusiastically report that they receive an A+ across the board. CISBA’s core mission is to keep kids in school and to do so requires empathy, integrity, creativity, and dedication - every day and suited to every every student's needs. The trust CIS inspires we have witnessed in graduates’ smiles and pride, in observing the staff’s extraordinary talents and the board’s steady leadership, and in the warm, deep, cohesive partnerships they sustain with each school they serve and each donor who contributes. Indeed, CISBA is a nonprofit exemplar, earning our trust and support every day.

Dr. Peter Wuenschel, executive director for Communities in Schools - Bay Area, has been an active member of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership and of its Education and Workforce Development Committee for many years. Through his participation and informative presentations from student support specialists, I have learned about the invaluable role that Communities in Schools - Bay Area plays in the Clear Creek and Dickinson Independent School Districts. The Bay Area Houston region can rightfully boast of excellent schools and limitless opportunity. Such opportunity can seem like only a dream to so many at-risk students with highly challenging needs. The student support specialists, staff, and board members of Communities in Schools - Bay Area provide the necessary tools and emotional support that these kids need to stay in school and live productive lives. This is community service at its best.

Bob Mitchell
President
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership

Communities in Schools - Bay Area is a tremendous organization! I served on the board for the max term because the board is very active, and the organization's executive director, Dr. Peter Wuenschel, and his staff run the one of the best non-profit organizations I have ever seen. The evidence-based program has significant positive impact to enable students with extremely challenging needs find hope, guidance, love, and accountability to stay in school and live successful, meaningful lives.

Joy Kelly, PhD Jacobs

I first learned of Communities in Schools - Bay Area, (CIS-BA), its mission and its effectiveness, through my service on the Clear Creek ISD Board of Trustees. A major challenge for the School District was, and remains, addressing the acute needs of its at risk students. CIS-BA puts specifically trained case managers on many of the School District's neediest campuses who work, each school day, with the at risk student, that student's teacher and the school's principal to provide individualized emotional support, adult guidance and academic help that is otherwise unavailable that at risk student. Such critical, daily delivered support is often the key component for advancement of the at risk student to the next grade level, to final graduation from high school and to successful life outcomes. CIS-BA's funding model extends limited public funds by linking them to our private donations to insure the individualized student support CIS-BA provides is extended to the maximum number of students possible, on a sustained basis, that is aligned with campus and School District goals and measured in accordance with State provided guidelines. In other words, CIS-BA takes private funds, aligns them with limited public funds and delivers services in partnership with the local school district and the State of Texas that reaches the neediest student in a manner that no other programs does or can do.

I have been a volunteer and donor of CIS-BA for over eight years now. My husband and I consistently choose CIS because the organization does a great job actively helping students have the tools and resources they need to navigate their challenges. The Executive Director also does a great job with financial transparency, training his staff, being actively involved in the community and offering engaging fundraiser events each year like their popular golf tournament and wine event. Our community is thriving thanks to the resources CIS-BA provides those students in need.

AMAZING is what I can say! Our campus is so blessed to have CIS and the work we do together benefits so many students and staff! I am the School Counselor and my CIS specialist goes above and beyond to assist with the needs of our campus. Personally, her case load has helped me see so many more students in need. Keep up the FANTASTIC work!

As president of Assistance League of the Bay Area, I greatly appreciate our chapter's partnership with Communities in Schools - Bay Area. I recently participated in a task force during meeting of the board for its strategic planning. The commitment of the board in diligently seeking the best use of its resources for the students is admirable. I also work with the CIS student support specialist at one of the Dickinson elementary schools. Her requests for items which will nourish and support the students are on point. CIS-Bay Area provides invaluable assistance to the local school system.

Communities in Schools is doing great work in the Bay Area! We've been blessed to help with food drives, donations, and we also participate in the wonderful golf tournament each year. Together we are changing lives and providing opportunities for kids who need help. This is an awesome organization, and we're extremely thankful for their mission here in Clear Lake.

Our partnership with Communities in Schools is a blessing that words cannot adequately describe or define. Our CIS Liaisons provide clothing, access to medical/dental care, and food for students when needed. In addition to meeting the physical needs of our students, our CIS offices provide a safe place for students who unfortunately find themselves in a crisis for which they [students] have no resources nor family support to work through. In addition to our counseling staff, our CIS Liaisons are vital members of our school support team meeting the needs of our students so that they [our students] stay in school and successfully complete high school. We are eternally grateful for all that our CIS partnership and our CIS Liaisons do for our school.

Communities In Schools Bay Area changes students' lives. I served on the board for 7 years and I have seen first-hand the commitment the student support specialists, staff, and board members have toward supporting students in need. Helping students in their efforts to graduate and reach their goals is priceless. The community truly works together to make CIS-BA so successful. Love this organization and the work they do in helping children!

I was on the board of Communities In Schools - Bay Area for seven years. I served as president for two of those years. This experience was my favorite of my many years serving on various nonprofit boards. Their mission is so important. Their success rate is impressive. I left each meeting I attended with a gratitude for the staff performing this essential work and the board members who volunteered to help the most at-risk students in Dickinson and Clear Creek ISDs. Communities In Schools- Bay Area is truly making a difference in the lives of the students and their families!
i was fortunate to witness this transformation first-hand several times!

Dickinson ISD is extremely grateful for our partnership with Communities in Schools-Bay Area. We have seen fantastic progress in students that are impacted by this organization. "It takes a village" and we are thankful CIS is apart of our Gator Village. We look forward to the continued success from this partnership.

CIS-BA is the best non-profit organization that I have been involved with. I have seen first hand the difference it can make in a students life from providing clothing, food, school supplies, turtoring and mentoring.

Communities in Schools is about helping troubled youth stay in school so they can break the cycle of failures, addictions and abuse that may have plaqued their families for generations. Communities in Schools recognizes that education is key to a successful and happy life.

THis organization does an amazing amount for our community. It is overwhelming to see so many community leaders pull together for a great cause!!!