This week, Las Cruces Public Schools had the honor of welcoming Alec Greenwald and representatives from the North Carolina Community Schools Coalition, comprising of members from Duke University and North Carolina Central University, for an in-depth visit at each of district’s community schools.
They were joined by LCPS Superintendent Ruiz, district leaders, Senator Bill Soules, Representative Raymundo Lara, community schools’ coordinators, and partners from New Mexico State University for a collaborative experience focused on learning and exchange.
The visiting team explored how the community schools’ model is implemented across LCPS. Collectively, the team engaged directly with community schools’ coordinators to discuss key priorities, resource identification, the value of strong community partnerships, and what it takes to build and sustain thriving campuses.
“The community school coordinator is really the changemaker,” said Johnny Rivera, LCPS Community School Manager for Federal Programs. “They’re the facilitator in these spaces, ensuring our students and families are truly connected to the campus. They’re not just recipients of services; they’re active participants in the school community. To me, it’s the coordinator who drives this work and does the heavy lifting on our campuses.”
Dr. Rachel Boren, Director of Evaluations and Effectiveness and Director of the SOAR Evaluation and Policy Center at New Mexico State University, joined the discussion to share data collected from community schools over the years. She explained how partnerships like these help address issues such as chronic absenteeism by analyzing data and identifying resources that support attendance and improve math and literacy scores.
Through collaborative and shared leadership, every member of the school community is invited to have a seat at the table. Voices are represented through principals, site-based leadership teams, and community school coordinators. The results include students who are engaged in learning, consistently attending school, and thriving academically, socially, and emotionally. Families are more involved, and schools are healthier and more connected.
At LCPS, the mission of community schools is to empower students, families, and communities to thrive in a nurturing environment that enhances their full potential. Community schools bring key stakeholders to the table including students, parents, educators, school leaders, community members and community-based organizations, along with support from local government and health services, to provide wraparound support for students and their families.
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