Family Resources
Communities in Schools (CIS)
The mission of Communities in Schools (CIS) is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
While the program was first initiated in New York City by Bill Milliken, Gov. Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice have allocated monies to expand the CIS program from an initial three counties to the current 31 of 55 in the state.
The Communities In Schools program (CIS), a grant funded program, surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. The evidence-based approach, adapted to meet each community’s unique needs, is the key to the program's success. CIS coordinators leverage partnerships to connect students and families with community resources, tailoring them to their specific needs. The site coordinators are school employees and work with principals, teachers, and other student support personnel to forge community partnerships that bring resources into the school to help remove barriers to learning. CIS coordinators can help connect students with resources such as food and clothing, school supplies, eyeglasses, tutoring, help with extracurricular activities, life skills, enrichment activities, family engagement events, and overall well-being. Pendleton County has a CIS site coordinator in every school; Elizabeth Warner (PCMS), Manda Teter (BES), Elizabeth Harper (NFES), Lesley Cook (PCHS), and Wendy Kisamore (FES). This program has been a vital service for Pendleton County schools for three years; the program has fostered improved student outcomes. Please contact CIS coordinators or Nicole Hevener if you would like additional information, would like to collaborate with the program, or would like to request that your student receive services.
Elizabeth Warner, Manda Teter, Elizabeth Harper, Lesley Cook, and Wendy Kisamore
“I have worked for twenty years providing School-Based Behavioral Health services to students in Pendleton County Schools. My role puts me in a position to be aware of the wide range of needs that may challenge a student's ability to be successful in school…All of the CIS workers in our community have stepped up to the work because they care about young people. They are capable, flexible adults in the school environment, able and willing to address needs as they arise, without the direct burden of classroom responsibility. It is essential to have this capability in our schools…The CIS program adds connection in our schools - to warmhearted adults who have no other agenda than to ensure that children's needs are met. I have worked for several years with a young person with a very high Adverse Childhood Experiences score. This young person is not very trusting of adults, with good reason. At the start of the school year, as this young person moved up to high school, I inquired as to whether any teacher or other adult was standing out as a person who might be trusted. Without knowing the adult's name or role, the student described an adult to me. I immediately knew the person was our CIS. Here's a high need student whose first connection, made through eye contact alone, is to our CIS. Needless to say, I took steps to introduce them. Such a connection can make the difference for a student between committing to school or mentally withdrawing, feeling safe enough or shutting down. This program increases each school's ability to meet the fundamental needs of young people on which their education depends.”
Jennifer Taylor-Ide, LPC
School-Based Behavioral Health Counselor, Pendleton Community Care
CIS Holds Collaborative Meeting
Pendleton County Schools hosted a CIS Collaborative meeting on May 4, 2023 with Randolph, Grant, and Hardy County, and WVDE regional specialist Erin Boyd and Carla Snell led the meeting.
Buffalo Snow Catering Company volunteered to cater the lunch for the CIS county contacts and coordinators.
CIS Host "Batman of West Virginia" Across County
CIS coordinated an assembly at each Pendleton County School with John Buckland (Batman of WV). As an overcomer of terrible child abuse, bullying, addiction, depression and self-destruction John (Batman) brings a message of HOPE & empowerment which is fine tuned for all ages. Each grade level receives an age-appropriate message to impact them as they grow up.
Collaborative CIS Meeting
Community in Schools Coordinators (CIS) and County Contacts from Grant, Hardy, and Pocahontas County joined together in a collaborative meeting with WV Department of Education CIS Coordinators and Regional Specialists hosted by Pendleton County Schools. Best practices, student services, community programs and supports, and several excellent ideas were shared with the goal of fostering on-going student and school support.
CIS attended the Summer Conference at Stonewall Jackson Resort July 9-12, 2022
Click on the school image below to learn more about CIS and our coordinator's impact at each of our locations.
Pendleton County Middle School
Pendleton County High School