Plumas Charter School announces the creation of a community resource coordinator position this school year, thanks to funding from a California Community Schools Partnership Program grant that the school received. PCS announces that Rhonda Wayson has stepped into this role to guide PCS through the process of becoming a California community school.
The California Department of Education launched the CCSPP as a response to COVID-19 impact and challenges that schools and students continue to face, reports Rachel Goings, PCS public relations specialist. The program’s goal is to create a cohesive approach to ensure student success, enabling schools to better address the needs of students in terms of their cognitive and social development, emotional well-being, and overall learning experience to provide equity and accessibility to all.
Wayson brings 30 years of experience working in positions that support children and families to her new role. She has spent 25 of those years in Plumas County while raising her two children, who are now 21 and 17. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a master’s degree in human development and family studies; before coming to PCS, she was a student services coordinator at Plumas Unified School District.
“PCS is already doing a number of things that describe a community school,” said Wayson. Examples include the PCS therapy team that ensures accessible counseling services to all, school culture-building activities like school assemblies, the after-school program, and athletic teams. Wayson summarized the community school approach as building strong, trusting relationships; engaging in inclusive decision making; and creating a thriving school community, all in an effort to create “whole child” support for every student.
Wayson said she is excited to get started and for the process to be thorough and effective. “We are fortunate to have one to two years of grant funding for the assessment and planning process. This isn’t a race to get everything implemented ASAP — we are allowed the time to be collaborative and thoughtful.”
Because every county, town, and school are unique, each community school will approach the process a little differently, said Goings. To ensure cohesion among grant recipients, CCSPP outlines four main pillars of focus: integrated student supports, active family and community engagement, expanded and enriched learning times and opportunities, and collaborative leadership and practices. For more details about each pillar of success, visit http://www.communityschools.org.
Ultimately, PCS will work to eliminate barriers children may have to reaching their full academic and personal potential, reports Goings. In the planning stage, Wayson will be meeting with PCS administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, and community agencies to gain feedback and help to gather data to better assist with school needs to create a school culture of belonging, safety, and care.
Individuals and organizations interested in serving on the community-school advisory committee may contact Wayson at rwayson@plumascharterschool.org.
Plumas Charter School operates learning centers in Quincy, Taylorsville, and Chester. Visit http://www.plumascharterschool.org for more information.
Information submitted by Plumas Charter School
