Nonprofit CEO Showcase
Jon Heymann,Chief Executive Officer, Communities In Schools
Mission
Communities In Schools connects community resources to schools and students so that they stay in school and prepare for life. The dropout crisis is serious, but not hopeless.
Serving Jacksonville
Communities In Schools is the Jacksonville affiliate of the national CIS organization operating in 26 states, serving 1.5 million students. In Jacksonville, it began serving 50 students in October 1990 at Jeff Davis Middle School. We now serve 6,600 students in 45 schools in Duval. This is only 10 percent of the market share of students eligible to receive CIS services.
Those served
Students in Duval County public schools. Our programming is conducted exclusively in school buildings, eliminating capital costs. We hire staff members who are embedded in the local schools, using the physical resources already provided to CIS (office space, furniture, phone service and Internet connection). This is a cost-effective and efficient model, allowing us to serve students daily through our four major divisions:
• After School Team Up programs in 18 schools, three hours per day (funded by the Jacksonville Children’s Commission and the Jacksonville Journey).
• Mentoring and Scholarship, to include “Achievers For Life” (funded by United Way) and “Take Stock in Children” (funded by JCC, the state, The Scheidel Foundation and other foundations and donors).
• Student Enrichment Program, where embedded case managers serve 1,700 students in 17 schools (funded by United Way, the Jaguars Foundation, the DuBow Family Foundation, Bank of America, Jacksonville Community Foundation, grants and donors).
• Literacy tutoring provided to 21 schools by 60 full- and part-time AmeriCorps reading tutors (funded by Volunteer Florida, Chase, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and national grants).
Biggest challenge
The need is much more than our limited resources can reach; raising awareness, funds and volunteers is my biggest challenge.
Biggest satisfaction
Watching every child’s eyes sparkle as he or she succeeds. We have more than a 95 percent success rate with the students we serve. Moreover, we are closing the “Believement Gap” and changing the paradigm that high poverty schools can also become high-performing schools.
Your hometown
Born in Athens, Greece; dropped off at the Athens Children’s orphanage as a “Bread Box Baby” infant and spent first 5 years in a deplorable foster home; adopted by an American family, and raised in Succasunna, N.J. Moved to Florida 20 years ago.
First experience with community service
Youth Pastor to gang members in Paterson, N.J.
Your job before CIS
I worked for Northeast Florida Educational Consortium, serving 12 rural counties by consolidating services and technical assistance to better serve smaller communities. This model has been replicated into two more “Consortiums” throughout Florida.
Upcoming events
“Unsung Heroes” to honor mentors and volunteers, 11:30 a.m. April 27 at the University of North Florida Athletic Arena. Public is welcome, event is free. RSVP, please.
Contact information
www.cisjax.org or 354-5918