Emily's Story-Central Elementary 2003
by Christine Windlinger

I met Emily three years ago when her mom called me saying that Emily was refusing to come to school. She had nineteen absences. She was only in the second grade. I told Emily's mom to tell Emily that she could come to my office and not go to school that day. Emily agreed to let her mom bring her to my office.

Once Emily was in my office, she was very quiet and shy. She did not want to talk about not wanting to come to school. I spoke with mom, and she filled me in on what was going on at home. Mom was a single parent who had been very ill, and Emily was an only child. Emily was afraid that something would happen to her mom, so she wanted to stay at home with mom.

Well, that day in my office, Emily and I made a deal. If she came to school on time, she could come to my office every day for 45 minutes. That first week, Emily came to school 4 days. During that time, Emily and I would talk and we got to know each other. We would talk and play games. During the games, we would talk about different things. Slowly, Emily started opening up about her fears about her mom. We talked about her fears and she began to trust me and gained the confidence of coming to school every day.

Emily began coming to school regularly. She only missed a handful of days the remainder of the year. Through seeing her everyday, she was doing so well, she started coming three days a week to see me. It has been three years now and Emily is thriving. She comes to school everyday and she still comes to my office twice per week.

Through the three years, Emily has received additional services. She has received a pair of glasses through out sight for students program, holiday assistance and uniform assistance. Emily also attended the CIS summer program. I have a great relationship with Emily and her mom. Her mom will call me when Emily needs more time with me due to circumstances at home. Emily is doing great and is looking forward to going into the 5th grade.

David's Story-Griffin Middle School 2003
by Correne Lynch

I first met David during summer school, 2002. He needed to attend both sessions in order to be promoted to the 7th grade. I was able to help him be successful in the first session where he was taking math, a subject he struggled in, by tutoring him daily. David was independently successful during the second session.

At the beginning of the school year, David appeared in my office among the first to sign up for CIS. I worked with him on a weekly basis, sometimes almost daily basis on all his subjects throughout the year. We often talked about issues he or his friends were facing as teenagers and ways for them to make better choices. He was an active participant every day for two weeks in The Consequences program I facilitated during Texas History Classes. This program discussed the Texas Juvenile Justice System and looked extensively at the consequences for choices made by young people while providing them a glimpse of being locked up in the Texas Youth Commission. During the Spring semester, I placed David with a college tutor on a weekly basis to give him a different perspective and to help him start planning for his future.

David not only benefited from CIS but referred his sister and several friends to CIS so that they too might benefit. With the support and services of CIS, he was able to avoid summer school completely this year! His teachers all remarked on his progress and success during the year, citing improvement in academics, attendance, behavior, self esteem and completed daily homework assignments. Way to go David!

Jose's Story-Denton High School 2003
by Mario De La Garza

Jose Salazar has been involved in Communities in Schools for three years. During that time, Jose has faced many challenges here at Denton High and overcome several barriers in his effort to continue his education and receive his diploma.

This past year, Jose had to really focus on math. He was a regular presence in the Communities In Schools office during 2nd block when he had Algebra/Geometry. Jose writes, "This year I worked real hard to pass my class, but when I needed help I would go to CIS to get help on my Geometry."

Because of his hard work this year, Jose received credits for both of those subjects. Now that he has that barrier out of the way, he can focus on regaining other credits and graduating in the near future.