By Esteban Fernandez, Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia First Lady Cathy Justice stopped by Waterfront Plaza in Morgantown on Tuesday with the governor and the gubernatorial dog in tow to celebrate the success of Communities in Schools.
The support program expanded to all 55 counties in the state in February.
“Everyone in this room, you all have washed clothes at school, gotten a child out of class who doesn’t feel well,” Justice said. “You have collected food on Fridays to put in backpacks, for them to take home so they’ll have food to eat over the weekends. They know to come and talk to you, and you all find a solution to their problem. You go out in the community and you all help them.”
The visit was part of a multi-day conference that runs through the week for CIS site coordinators and members of the West Virginia Department of Education.
Communities in Schools started in New York City. It’s founder, Bill Milliken, started with the idea that it’s not programs that change kids, but relationships, said Cynthia Sorsaia. Sorsaia is a coordinator in the Office of Student Supports at the West Virginia Department of Education. The program got a big boost in West Virginia after First Lady Justice championed the program for the state’s school children.
