Witnessing the Impact of Community Schools in Hawaiʻi

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by Christa Rowland, IEL Western Regional Director

Hawaii, September 2024

In mid-September, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Community Schools in Hawaiʻi. I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating alongside amazing Hawaiʻi Community School professionals for the past 2.5 years, and I was thrilled to witness the early impact they are making.

A highlight was observing the collaboration between a Community School Team at Waiʻanae Elementary School. I was inspired by the shared ideas, shared decision-making, and shared commitment to supporting local students and families. These powerful collaborations have led to Hawaiʻi’s first School Based Health Center (SBHC) at an Elementary School, the SBHC has become an embedded resource on this school campus for supporting the physical and mental health of students.

The impact of this shared leadership is evident. This school has experienced steady academic growth every year since the pandemic, and teacher turnover has decreased.

While visiting with nonprofit agencies that serve as lead agencies and employ Community School Coordinators (CSC), I heard stories of the pivotal role CSC’s are playing in fostering sustainable and deeply connected partnerships between schools and communities. CSC’s and their Community School Hui (Community School Family, or Steering Committee) are identifying and addressing barriers to learning, ensuring students and families have the support they need.

A story shared the Keelikolani Middle School CSC demonstrated the power of Community School collaborations in identifying local assets and aligning for impact. By transforming an abandoned school room into a resource hub, the Community School has been able to provide resources to address food insecurity and create space for positive interactions and mentorship between law enforcement and students.

Hawaiʻi Afterschool Alliance and Ceeds of Peace provide invaluable intermediary support to these Community School professionals. By providing ongoing professional development, role alike networking, and tools and guidance grounded in indigenous culture and language, this intermediary team is walking alongside the development of Hawaiʻiʻs Community Schools and helping Community School professionals navigate barriers.

I am so grateful to Hawaiʻi Community School professionals for inviting me into their space and allowing me to witness the transformational impact of their collaborations. Looking ahead, I’m eager to continue witnessing the evolution of Hawaiʻi’s Community Schools and the positive impact they will continue to have on schools, students, and families.

 

 

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