Community Schools: A Model Locally, a Model Nationally
Community Schools: A Model Locally, a Model Nationally
A discussion led by José Muñoz will address community schools in this special program in partnership with United Way of Erie County. American University Professor Reuben Jacobson will be among the panelists.
In 2017, José Muñoz joined the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), where he is director of the Coalition for Community Schools initiative.
Previously, Muñoz was the executive director at the ABC Community School Partnership between the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Public Schools, the City of Albuquerque, and the Hispano Chamber of Commerce.
At ABC, Muñoz expanded the strategy for community schools, adding 22 new schools to the program in just five years, obtaining upwards of $3 million in funding through policy advocacy and working on behalf of community schools with state and local governments, school districts, teachers' unions, and local businesses.
Muñoz, for his efforts, won the 2014 Community Schools Initiative Leadership Award. He has also dedicated his time to the Boys & Girls Club, where he developed extracurricular activities, gang prevention, intervention, and re-entry programs.
Muñoz and his family dedicate their spare time to serving their community and church. He brings more than 25 years of cross-sector partnership experience for youth, family, and community development across the United States to his talk at the Jefferson titled "Community Schools: A Model Locally, a Model Nationally."
The distinguished panel will be introduced by Tim NeCastro, CEO, Erie Insurance, and will feature:
José Muñoz, Director of the Coalition for Community Schools at the Institute for Educational Leadership
Dr. Reuben Jacobson, Director of Education Policy and Leadership Program and Sr Professorial Lecturer School of Education at American University
Brian Polito, Superintendent, Erie's Public Schools
This engaging conversation will address:
- How education inequities and poverty are intertwined
- Why Community Schools are an equitable strategy to support student success regardless of geographic location including rural, urban, and suburban districts
- Why the Community School model is getting so much national as well as local attention and how research shows evidence-based approaches to student social, emotional, and academic outcomes
- How does removing the non-academic barriers to learning align with the academic curriculum and what can the local community realistically expect in terms of overall results and success?
- Why the impact of additional funding of Erie's Public Schools will be limited to such critical needs as addressing updating school building infrastructure and technology.
Location: Jefferson Educational Society – 3207 State St. Erie, Pa 16508.
Date/Time: Thursday, November 3 @ 7:30 p.m.
Admission: Early Bird: GA $25, VIP $50 / Regular Price: GA $35, VIP $60.
Parking: lot behind building, State St., French St. 32nd St., 33rd St.
Please read our full Covid-19 policy here (updated July 21, 2022).
In 2017, José Muñoz joined the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), where he is director of the Coalition for Community Schools initiative.
Previously, Muñoz was the executive director at the ABC Community School Partnership between the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Public Schools, the City of Albuquerque, and the Hispano Chamber of Commerce.
At ABC, Muñoz expanded the strategy for community schools, adding 22 new schools to the program in just five years, obtaining upwards of $3 million in funding through policy advocacy and working on behalf of community schools with state and local governments, school districts, teachers’ unions, and local businesses.
Muñoz, for his efforts, won the 2014 Community Schools Initiative Leadership Award. He has also dedicated his time to the Boys & Girls Club, where he developed extracurricular activities, gang prevention, intervention, and re-entry programs.
Muñoz and his family dedicate their spare time to serving their community and church. He brings more than 25 years of cross-sector partnership experience for youth, family, and community development across the United States to his talk at the Jefferson titled “Community Schools: A Model Locally, a Model Nationally.”
Dr. Reuben Jacobson has worked at the intersection of education research, policy, and practice for 20 years. He is committed to educational change and equity and has substantial experience designing and implementing strategies that bring stakeholders together to work on common challenges.
Reuben served as the Deputy Director for the Coalition for Community Schools at the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) where he helped grow and strengthen community schools by mobilizing national partners and local leaders. He has researched and written about the growing field of school and community partnerships for organizations such as the Brookings Institution and the Center for American Progress. His first book, Community Schools: People and Places Transforming Education and Communities, examines the different roles that support community schools.
Reuben worked at the American Institutes for Research as an education research analyst and taught fifth and sixth grade students in D.C. Public Schools as a D.C. Teaching Fellow. He lives in Washington, DC with his family.
Brian J. Polito, B.S., serves as the Superintendent of Erie’s Public Schools. He is a certified public accountant with more than 16 years of administrative experience in public education. He has also served as Assistant Superintendent and Business Manager for the North East School District and Business Manager for General McLane School District. He started his career in public accounting working for Schneider Downs and Buseck, Barger, Bleil & Company. Brian earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Penn State Behrend and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Mercyhurst University.
