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PRESS ROOM

For media requests, contact Leah Susi

lsusi@cistn.org | 615.812.4283

September 12, 2023

NFL Player LaTrell Bumphus Inspires Grand Junction Elementary School Students

GRAND JUNCTION, Tenn (Hatchie Press) LaTrell Bumphus’ visit to GJES was in conjunction with College Colors Day and students, faculty, and staff came dressed in the colors of their favorite college teams. Arrangements for LaTrell’s visit were made by the Communities In Schools® (CIS®), that has a mission to “surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.”

September 13, 2023

NPR: This school-based nonprofit offers extra help to families so that students can focus on learning

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WPLN) Providing daily student supports in schools is key to our program managers role in schools across the state. This story takes a deeper look into our Paragon Mills staff, Abby, and the impact she is having in the lives of students and families. 


August 31, 2023

NFL Star from West Tennessee Visits Grand Junction Elementary School

GRAND JUNCTION, Tenn. (WBBJ) Grand Junction Elementary School and Communities In Schools of Tennessee welcomed LaTrell Bumphus, a former University of Tennessee football star who signed with the Seattle Seahawks last spring, to speak at the school’s annual College Colors Day assembly. To celebrate the start of football season, students at Grand Junction Elementary have decorated their classroom doors in the colors of their favorite college teams.

August 25, 2023

Communities In Schools expanded partnership with MNPS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) Communities In Schools of Tennessee (CIS) has expanded its partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools to five new schools bringing CIS’s total footprint in Nashville to 19 schools. Watch this Today In Nashville Clip to learn more about the expansion. 

August 8, 2023

Nashville Post: Education nonprofit names CEO

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (August 8, 2023) – Communities In Schools of Tennessee (CIS of Tennessee), a nonprofit that works inside 41 schools across the state to ensure that every student has what they need to succeed in school and beyond, today announced that Meredith Benton has joined the organization as its new CEO. Benton brings extensive philanthropic and public sector leadership experience to her new role.

April 27, 2023

The Grundy County Herald: Children Helping Children

Grundy County High School students are helping to ensure that all children have at least one basic need, a bed in which to sleep.

March 23, 2023

The Tennessean: Nashville must make children and youth central to its vision | Opinion

Thirteen years ago, before Nashville was named the “it” city, cross-sector leaders authored a Child and Youth Master Plan that laid out guiding principles for what our youngest residents should experience in Nashville, and then established ambitious strategies to get us there.

March 16, 2023

WKRN News 2: ‘Transform lives for generations to come’ through CIS’s volunteer reading program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — My journey in community service within the News 2 Gives Back initiative began with the group, Communities In Schools (CIS) at Tom Joy Elementary School in East Nashville. Many of the students are below the reading average, a lot of them are in single-parent households, and some are even experiencing homelessness.

February 23, 2023

WTVF Channel 5: Bingo + Bourbon event held Thursday night to benefit students across Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — How about spending the day playing some bingo and trying some bourbon for a good cause? The Bingo + Bourbon event is happening Thursday night, benefiting students in our area. It is all for Communities in Schools Tennessee, and they connect students to resources to help them stay and thrive in school.

February 8, 2023

Main Street Nashville: Bellshire Elementary sees cultural transformation with help of Communities in Schools

Five years ago, Dr. Donald Black arrived at Bellshire Elementary School in North Nashville as the new principal. Staff turnover was high, few students were reading on grade level, fights were frequent and kids would often run out of the building. But Black knew the school could be better.

February 8, 2023

WSMV 4: "Bingo and Bourbon" - Details on the annual fundraiser benefitting Communities in Schools of TN

Chief Development Officer, Leah Susi, joins Channel 4 to share about upcoming Bingo + Bourbon, fundraiser that benefits Communities in Schools of Tennessee.

February 6, 2023

WKRN News 2: Bingo + Bourbon fundraiser to benefit Communities in Schools

Communities in Schools of Tennessee is an organization working to help kids get ahead in the classroom. Find out about an upcoming event benefiting the organization that is putting the fun in fundraiser.

January 24, 2023

The Tennessean: Report: Nashville schools primed for growth after successful work-based learning pilot

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce released its latest report on Metro Nashville Public Schools on Tuesday, highlighting areas of innovation and recommending ways the district can improve.

November 10, 2022

The Tennessean: This School Restocks Family Pantries to Reward Attendance. Here's How.

Chronic absentees have been a challenge for most of Metro Nashville Public Schools. Though it is improving, some schools are looking for new ways to help. Warner Elementary School has found a creative way to incentivize parents to bring their children to school: the Warner Exchange.

November 7, 2022

The Nashville Post: Metro School Works To Decrease Chronic Absenteeism

Warner Elementary Arts Magnet School in East Nashville has partnered with nonprofit organization Communities in Schools of Tennessee to help incentivize attendance by establishing a program, called Warner Exchange, that allows parents who get their children to school to shop for household items using so-called Warner Bucks.

October 24, 2022

Bolivar Central High School Site Coordinator Sherry Hoyle Wins National Award

BOLIVAR, Tenn. – (October 24, 2022) – Sherry Hoyle, a Communities in Schools of Tennessee site coordinator at Bolivar Central High School, was recently named the national Communities in Schools All In for Students Award recipient. The award is given annually to recognize the exemplary dedication of one site coordinator from the 2,900 schools that Communities in Schools and its affiliates serve across the country.

October 28, 2022

Bolivar Bulletin Times: Getting National Notice

Sherry Hoyle, a Communities in Schools of Tennessee site coordinator at Bolivar Central High School, was recently named the national Communities in Schools All In for Students Award recipient.

September 7, 2022

Main Street Nashville: Nashville's Warner Elementary Arts Magnet School Lets Families Exchange Attendance for Household Items

Once a month, Warner Elementary Arts Magnet School families can come buy cleaning items, food and hygiene products from the Warner Exchange. The currency? Simply sending their child to school.

October 12, 2022

Morgan County News: Rep. Windle visits Communities in Schools program at WCHS

Rep. John Mark Windle  recently visited War tburg  Central High School to learn  more about the Communities  in Schools of Tennessee (CIS  of Tennessee) program an  affiliate of the national organization working to ensure  ever y student, regardless  of race, zip code or history  of marginalization has what  they need to succeed in  school and beyond.

October 5, 2022

Fentress Times: Clarkrange Seniors Explore College and Career Opportunities

On Tuesday, September  20, students from Clarkrange  High School’s senior class  attended a college and  career night organized by  Communities in Schools of  Tennessee Site Coordinator,  Misty York.

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