Community Schools Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary

The University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration’s Leadership in Community Schools Program celebrated its 10th anniversary during Reunion Weekend 2014. The program celebrated the induction of its tenth cohort. Alumni, sponsors, partners, and dedicated supporters, who have helped to prepare students for expanded leadership roles in schools, enjoyed activities on Thursday, October 23, 2014.

With almost 100 graduates, the Leadership in Community Schools Program has been a complement to SSA’s School Social Work program, a program for clinical licensed social workers in schools. The program is intentionally aimed at Social Administration students who will be working on a macro-level in order to fill a gap in administrative roles at schools, especially community schools. As part of the program, students learn to understand the broad aspects of various school systems (including public, private, magnet, and charter).

Community schools exist around the nation as places where school, health, family, and community can cohesively come together to provide necessary resources in one convenient place. These schools provide a number of services beyond education. A full-service community school will be open before and after school hours, and on weekends to  provide classes for children, youth and adults. There are a variety of opportunities to partner with the community in other significant ways.

Claudia Miranda, AM '12, a graduate of the Leadership in Community Schools program, says, “I can truly say that I have learned a lot more about the community school’s model by being in the program. Before arriving to Chicago I had never been exposed to the community schools model, but always knew the benefit that school-community partnerships have on our students, specifically students of color. I am now aware that the model exists all around the country.”

Graduates of the program have learned skills such as networking, the pooling of resources, creating established relationships, and a broader understanding of the school platform. They have gone on to work in community schools, other schools, local and federal government positions, and in community leadership roles.

A professional development lecture was given by SSA Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor Charles Payne on Thursday, October 23. The lecture explored the impact and showed how community schools have evolved in the last ten years.

SSA has been a pioneering school in offering the Leadership in Community Schools Program. In the past decade, the program has come a long way with the help of the JP Morgan Chase, the James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation and James and Judith K. Dimon which supported the program financially.

“Community schools remain the one place where you can affect [education, mental health, and community support] in meaningful, intentional ways. It is critical to provide the net for families in the community,” says Patricia Redd, the program’s current director.

Taylor Dougherty, AB '15