We are excited to announce that Maine-Endwell has been selected to present at the 2025 National Community Schools & Family Engagement Conference in Minneapolis, MN. While our “Community Schools” program is still fairly new, (beginning in the latter half of the 2023-2024 school year) leadership at the conference have asked representatives from our district to showcase their work to schools from across the nation. So, what is a “Community School?” A Community School is defined as a public school that acts as a hub for their neighborhoods, offering a wide range of services and supports beyond traditional academics. They work in partnership with families, community organizations, and other partners to address the diverse needs of students and families, creating a more supportive and enriching environment for growth.
Presenting at the national conference, which begins May 28th and runs through May 30th, will be our Coordinator of Student Programs, Dana Calandra, and our Community Schools Coordinator, DeEtte Bready.
“I am excited to attend and present at the Community Schools National Conference. I am excited be able to share the process the district has taken to implement Community Schools. I am eager to learn about how other schools are implementing community schools in their district,” said Calandra.
“Attending the Community Schools National Conference is an exciting opportunity. I'm hoping to strengthen my professional skills and expand my network of professionals in the field. In addition, share our glows and grows with participants during our presentation, giving them actional practices to walk away with,” said Bready.
As our Community Schools Coordinator, DeEtte Bready’s work often takes her outside the walls of our four schools. She works with children to address everything from chronic absenteeism, working alongside parents/guardians, in addition to connecting families with crucial services relating to food, housing, and more. Bready also provides home visits, helps lead our Toys for Tots Program, and works to make connections with community organizations that may be able to assist our students. In the unfortunate event of a tragedy, Bready is the first one there to help. It’s all about building relationships - helping our community access our school district, and vice versa, in a more beneficial way.
“This is truly remarkable work, and it takes time to build. Over the past year, strong connections between schools and families have been made and continue to grow. Our data is also showing areas of improvement from past years. We continue to plan and prepare for next year and after. Bringing our families and community in as partners. We are aiming to strengthen our support system for students and create a more inclusive, collaborative environment for success,” said Bready.
“We have been so fortunate to have DeEtte and Community School to support our families and M-E Community. This has allowed the district to strengthen our community involvement and connection with the school,” said Calandra.
Maine-Endwell will partner with Broome-Tioga BOCES for the presentation. Also in attendance from our area will be the Binghamton City School District, and the Windsor Central School District. The theme of the national conference is “Amplifying Voices: Harnessing Assets and Addressing Needs for a Lasting Impact. We hope to gain valuable feedback from the conference to help our program grow in the years to come. While our Community Schools program is still in its infancy, we’ve already made tremendous strides in connecting with our students, families, and community. We know that a child’s experience in school goes far beyond the classroom, and we will continue to work to ensure all students are delivered a premier educational experience, receiving any support they need to succeed.
The Maine-Endwell Central School District Community Schools Mission Statement can be viewed below:
Community Schools is an ongoing collaborative strategy throughout the district and district partnerships. We are strengthening our support at all levels for our Spartans. Maine Endwell Community Schools is eliminating barriers and creating bridges to help foster students and their families to feel successful and have a sense of belonging and a shared voice within our community.