Educators, students thrive in community schools

Community schools in Maryland provide students with a holistic learning experience, where they not only receive an education but a full support system. Professionals in each community school tailor learning opportunities to support students in every aspect of their educational journeys, including focusing on their physical and mental health. Educators run clubs. Staff invest in in-house food pantries. They organize medical and dental care. Simply stated, staff at community schools find the needs of their students, and they address them.

Enter Towson University’s Maryland Center for Community Schools (MCCS).

The MCCS, housed within the College of Education at TU, engages in relationships with community schools around the state to support their work as they implement a strategy to use community school funds. Through professional development opportunities, like peer-to-peer mentoring and a certificate program, staff in community schools can enhance their skills and elevate their strategies to better serve their student populations.

Jessica Shiller, director of the MCCS, understands the value that community schools bring to students and their families. “Community schools increase the quality of education for students around the state. They don’t just provide reading, writing and arithmetic. They go well beyond that, trying to provide families and young people with all the things they need to succeed.”

Current TU pre-service teachers are completing their student internships at community schools, seeing firsthand the positive impact they have on students. Reveca Molina ’25, an early childhood and special education major, is in her second semester interning at Baltimore Highlands Elementary School, one of the more than 600 community schools in Maryland.

Inspired by her own challenges overcoming dyslexia, Molina wants to be the teacher who gives encouragement so other students who face challenges can develop confidence in the classroom and beyond. “Getting to know the students and seeing their growth is so rewarding, and observing their progress over the year makes me so proud,” she says.

“Working in a community school has highlighted how life circumstances outside of school impact the learning of students,” Molina continues. “It helps me understand the importance of involvement in the education setting—from families and the community. Being at a community school helps us foster stronger connections between the educators and the families and students.”

Student interns like Molina and staff at community schools can take advantage of webinars and consulting services, in addition to virtual professional development opportunities, provided by the MCCS. The MCCS also works with research partners to learn about the impact of community schools on families, students and communities, which can help the public understand the current impact and help leaders understand how community schools can be improved.

Allison Goldbloom ’04, principal of Baltimore Highlands Elementary School, works closely with her staff to create the best possible experience for her students. “This work is what our school needs and community school funding has supported an increase in student achievement. These kids are going to be successful.”

In response to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future legislation passed in 2021, Maryland will go from 454 to nearly 700 community schools over the next decade. MCCS is part of the Blueprint and funded by a grant as a result.