

PRESS ROOM
For media requests, contact Samantha Wigand
swigand@cistn.org | 615.414.0839
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.
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.
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 2, 2022
'A Mighty Voice' Barbecue Cookoff to Benefit Four Nonprofits Focused on Serving Children
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Saturday, Nashville hosted good eating for a good cause at the "A Mighty Voice" barbecue competition at OZ Arts from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event benefits four local nonprofits that serve kids in different ways, so the cookoff is raising money to help those organizations continue to be a voice for children.
September 30, 2022
Communities In Schools Gets Visit From State Representative Jeremy Faison
Communities In Schools is a program that helps students, especially those in under privileged or troubled households. They help with food, clothing, and much more. State representative Jeremy Faison was at the Cosby High School Thursday morning to meet with representatives and coordinators with the Communities In Schools program.
May 4, 2022
News Channel 5 School Patrol: Warner Arts Magnet Elementary School rewards attendance Copy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — With the landscape of Metro rapidly changing, some local schools find their numbers increasing. However, many other schools find that while more students might be enrolling, they don't always show up. In tonight's School Patrol, we visited Warner Arts Magnet Elementary School, where they've developed a program that gets students and parents actively involved.