Community School Coordinator Appreciation Week, Sept. 16-20

Community School Coordinator Appreciation Week, Sept. 16-20

We want to recognize all of the people who are doing great work as Community School Coordinators during Community School Coordinator Appreciation Week, Sept. 16-20. Please say congratulations to these folks in Adams 14 School District and Aurora Public Schools:

• Matias Iriarte from Adams 14 School District. Matias has been a dedicated community school coordinator at Central Elementary since August 2022! Before stepping into this role, Matias served as a high school and middle school Spanish teacher, fourth-grade teacher, and family liaison. As a community school coordinator, Matias has created a holistic and supportive environment where students thrive both academically and socially, fostering meaningful partnerships and offering enriching after-school programs and ESL classes for adults. Matias says the most fulfilling part of this work is seeing the direct impact of these efforts on students' academic success and well-being. “It’s all about collaboration, shared leadership, and addressing the unique needs of our community,” Matias said.
• Brandy Kramer in Aurora Public Schools. Brandy has been a community school coordinator at Boston P-8 since October 2022, bringing over 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector, working with diverse communities and creating responsive programs. Brandy is passionate about empowering parents to actively contribute to their school community, like a parent who, after completing a Digital Literacy class, will now lead her own class, drawing over 15 participants! Brandy loves connecting families to opportunities that enhance their lives and recognizing parents as key contributors to their child’s education. Her work at Boston P-8 embodies the true spirit of a community school, where everyone—parents, students, and partners—feels ownership and engagement.
• Maggie Lautzenheiser-Page in Aurora Public School. Maggie has been the dedicated community school coordinator at Crawford Elementary since 2019, where she has built strong relationships with students, families, and partners to create a vibrant school community. With a community engagement and refugee support background, Maggie is passionate about connecting people and resources to uplift Crawford and the wider community in Aurora, where she grew up. Under her leadership, Crawford has developed a strong school climate and offers students and families robust enrichment and engagement opportunities. This year, Maggie looks forward to deepening Crawford's partnership with the Adams County Health Department to address community health priorities, including dental screenings. 
• Susan Gershwin of Aurora Public Schools. Susan has been a community school coordinator since July 2019, working to build strong, inclusive school communities at Paris Elementary and now Montview Elementary. With a background in nonprofit management and advocacy, Susan focuses on building collective power and trust among families, teachers, and community partners to create transformative change. Susan says: "I love seeing over time the different initiatives and areas of passions that our families, teachers, partners, and students start dreaming up that can make small and big changes that impact our students’ lives for the better." Susan and families from the school have advocated for everything from new playgrounds to shaping local health plans and increasing enrichment offerings and for traffic calming measures in front of the school.
• Karina Delaney in Aurora Public Schools. Karina has been a dedicated community school coordinator at Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus since 2022, bringing over 20 years of experience as a school social worker to her role. She is passionate about creating a holistic school environment where students, families, and staff feel supported and connected. Karina’s work focuses on community engagement, integrated support systems, and providing real-world learning opportunities, all of which have led to increased student engagement and success. This year, she is excited to collaborate with the district to expand impactful programs like Parents in Action across more schools. 
• Morgan Norwood of Aurora Public Schools. Morgan has been a community school coordinator at Aurora West College Preparatory Academy for six years, after first joining as a site coordinator with Communities In Schools. She is passionate about ensuring every student feels a sense of belonging and is supported by caring adults. Morgan is proud of creating meaningful connections that bring parents, partners, and resources into the school day, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone works together for the students' success. This year, she's especially excited about supporting Aurora West's first international trip to Europe, giving over 20 high school students an incredible opportunity to explore new cultures!