During the pandemic, we found out! Our small division of 3,700 students in Fredericksburg, Virginia knew we could not do it without the support from our community. Even though we had an effective, Family and Community Engagement program in each school, we did not realize how much we would need to connect our families and community to support and adapt to the educational needs of our students. We built our partnerships from 15-20 local organizations, businesses, law enforcement, and faith-based groups to over 200 at this time. Local organizations funded a “school on wheels” , The Super Cat Bus, that travels into neighborhoods with school supplies, family support, resources, and educational experiences for all. Community members join us every three months for our Superintendent Community Roundtables where our superintendent and division leadership teams come together to discuss local topics, concerns, or to showcase student success. These events have gone from 50 attendees to over 200 local citizens wanting to be a part of making a difference. My presentation will be on how we “brought the village” together and how we have increased our connections and conversations to build a stronger community.
