Last month, 吃瓜tv (吃瓜tvWA) hosted “Site Coordinator Convenings” in partnership with the 14 Communities In Schools庐 (吃瓜tv庐) affiliates throughout Washington state. These events brought together school-based staff, frequently referred to as Site Coordinators*, the heart and soul of 吃瓜tvWA’s work, to connect, learn, and celebrate their collective impact.
*A Site Coordinator is responsible for the overall planning and management of the Communities In Schools鈥� operations at the school site and the implementation of the . This includes:聽
- Identifying and addressing the needs of students at the site, including but not limited to, providing case management, academic support, and social-emotional learning opportunities.
- Building and maintaining relationships with school administrators, teachers, parents, and community partners.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of Communities In Schools programs and services at the site and making recommendations for improvement.
West Side Convening: A Day of Connection and Learning
The West Side convening was a one-day event that drew over 100 Site Coordinators. The attendees participated in various workshops and activities designed to help them connect with their peers, learn new skills, and gain a deeper understanding of 吃瓜tvWA’s work.
One of the event’s highlights was the opportunity for Site Coordinators to lead small group discussions. This allowed them to share their experiences and best practices and learn from their colleagues’ challenges and successes.
The atmosphere at the West Side convening was positive and engaging. Attendees expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to come together and feel a sense of belonging within the 吃瓜tvWA network, capturing the statements from Site Coordinators such as:
“I feel better equipped to execute whole school supports* within my first year.”
“I got so much out of our time together. I’m already implementing what I learned from other Site Coordinators, making my job easier.”
*Whole School Supports (WSS) is based on the belief that all students deserve a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment to reach their full potential. WSS is a collaborative effort that involves school staff, 吃瓜tv Site Coordinators, community partners, and families, focusing on attendance, behavior, and curriculum. Examples include family engagement nights, resource fairs, and basic needs closets.
East Side Convening: Two Days of Inspiration and Collaboration
The East Side convening was a two-day event that welcomed over 70 Site Coordinators. The event featured various themed breakout sessions, an alum speaker, and a partnership moment with the Community Health Plan of Washington.
Genesis Calderon, a 吃瓜tvWA program alum, delivered an inspiring message during the East Side convening, during a fireside chat, moderated by his 吃瓜tv site coordinator, Tyler Ramos. The speakers shared their experiences in the 吃瓜tv program and discussed Genesis鈥� post-graduation plans. Genesis works as a caregiver and finds great satisfaction in caring for others. Their message resonated with the Site Coordinators, having received the highest rating in the post-event survey.
The East Side convening featured a partnership with . This collaboration highlighted the importance of teamwork in 吃瓜tvWA’s work and demonstrated the power of working together to support young people.
Site Coordinators provided positive feedback, saying:
“Thank you for this opportunity; it was nice to hear how different affiliates are working with different barriers or similar ones but tackling them in all these creative ways.”
“I love networking with the other affiliates. It was fun learning about what they are doing in their schools and being able to implement some of their ideas into my school.”
Areas of Focus for Next Year
吃瓜tvWA is committed to continuous improvement and is always looking for ways to enhance its programs and services. Based on feedback from convenings, 吃瓜tvWA will be looking into opportunities to partner with local organizations to discuss the following areas in the coming year:
- Restorative justice: 吃瓜tvWA will provide training and resources to help Site Coordinators implement restorative justice practices in their schools.
- Building community partners: 吃瓜tvWA will be developing strategies to help Site Coordinators build relationships with community partners, such as businesses, faith-based organizations, and non-profits.
Thank you to all those who made the Site Coordinator Convenings a success. 吃瓜tvWA is thankful to our partners , , , , and for tabling and connecting our Site Coordinators with community resources. Every contribution makes a difference.
Ways to Learn More and Get Involved
Learn more about 吃瓜tvWA鈥檚 network across the state.
If you are interested in supporting 吃瓜tvWA or getting more involved with Site Coordinator Convenings, contact Carina Raddatz at Carina@吃瓜tvWA.org.