Communities In Schools President and CEO Rey Saldaña has a compelling origin story. It’s one recently told by reporter Bekah McNeel in The 74. As McNeel writes, the child of Mexican immigrants grew up in a low-income home in a low-income community; he eventually went to Stanford University and then went on to a career in public service. It’s the kind of story one might find in an inspiring video at a fundraiser, or a year-end report for an education nonprofit.

Communities In Schools® (CIS) issued a statement about the growing number of school closures triggered by the coronoavirus pandemic and the outsized impact on the nation’s most vulnerable students.

For many young people, social distancing means missing milestones and public recognition of their academic achievements. As students begin to wrap-up their final months of remote classes, Communities In Schools ® (CIS) affiliates across the country are finding creative ways to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our students.