CISTN April Newsletter

Newsletter | April 2025

What's ahead in our April newsletter:

CISTN awarded NBJ Best Places to Work
Join us on May 1 for our next school site visit
Stories from our schools
Partner Spotlight: Delta Dental of Tennessee
Volunteer Appreciation and Upcoming Opportunities

CISTN Awarded "2025 Best Place to Work"

We’re proud to share that Communities In Schools of Tennessee has been named one of the Nashville Business Journal’s 2025 Best Places to Work!

"Our team is on the front lines addressing the most critical issues facing our communities. This is hard work. They face and address challenges daily to ensure students can stay in school and achieve in life, and that their families and schools have what they need to support this success. Building and sustaining a supportive culture is of critical importance and I am incredibly proud of the team's commitment to this work.

"This isn't just something that's nice to do; it's mission critical to our work to ensure we have a workforce that is cared for so that they can care for others. Thank you to each team member who is a keeper of our culture and has deepened this work, even during record expansion and growth. We will continue to build and sustain a culture of belonging, support, care, and excellence."

— Meredith Benton

CEO, Communities In Schools of Tennessee

May 1: Join Us for a Site Visit

Don't miss the last opportunity to visit one of our schools this year! These visits are a great chance to learn more about our work up close, hear inspiring stories directly from our Program Managers and other school staff, and witness how we’re changing lives every day.

Thursday, May 1st from 9am-10am

Hattie Cotton Elementary

1033 W Greenwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37206

If you're interested in attending, please RSVP by emailing kwallace@cistn.org. We can’t wait to show you the difference we’re making together!

RSVP to Kennedy

Stories From Our Schools

#BeingPresentMatters

Here are just a few examples of how our Program Managers are making an impact by being present for our students across the state.

Bailey is Showing Up

Bailey Davis, a freshman at Clarkrange High School, has made a huge turnaround this year. With support from her #CISTN program manager, Brooke Clark, and the motivation of weekly attendance rewards, Bailey raised her attendance rate from 76% to an incredible 97.98%!

She’s now showing up to school on time, participating in small group sessions on time management, and even won the weekly attendance prize. Her next goal? The monthly reward - and she’s well on her way.

Click here to read more about Bailey’s journey.

Denny's Breakthrough

When Denny first started working with #CISTN program manager Jennifer Misener, he wasn’t ready to open up. But little by little, he did - and everything began to change.

Through daily check-ins, tutoring sessions, and lots of encouragement, Denny is now thriving at Park View Elementary.

His behavior has improved, his attendance is up, and his confidence grows every single day.

Click here to read more about Denny’s journey.

March Madness

At KIPP Kirkpatrick Elementary, students with 95% or higher attendance were invited to participate in a special March Madness-themed celebration organized by their CISTN program manager, Celeste Jones.

Students competed in basketball games, earned ribbons for their wins, and had the chance to feel like part of the real March Madness tournament they see on TV.

The event rewarded strong attendance and created a fun, memorable experience that kept students engaged and motivated.

Partner Spotlight: Delta Dental of Tennessee

We are proud to share that our longtime partner, Delta Dental of Tennessee, will serve as the inaugural Presenting Sponsor for this year’s All In For Kids Fundraising Breakfast. As the first organization to hold this special title, Delta Dental has made a generous $10,000 contribution to support the event and the students we serve across the state.

Over the years, Delta Dental has shown unwavering support for our mission—from donating thousands of oral hygiene products to students, to volunteering alongside us for Read Across America Day and other school-based initiatives.

This partnership is a reflection of Delta Dental’s deep commitment to supporting children and families - not just through oral health care, but through community engagement and educational opportunity. We’re grateful for their leadership and continued belief in our mission.

Thanks to their support, we’re excited to come together this September to celebrate the power of being present for kids.

Volunteer Appreciation Month

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month! At CISTN, our volunteers play a vital role in building stronger school communities. Whether they’re mentoring students, helping with events, or stepping in to meet urgent needs, they show up with compassion and commitment every time.

This Volunteer Appreciation Month, we are grateful for our 374 volunteers who have served 673 hours of volunteer service this year to support 27 different schools.

To every volunteer who’s helped make our work possible: thank you. You’re not just making a difference - you’re changing lives. Thanks for being All in For Kids!

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunties

Several of our schools are looking for volunteers to support a variety of upcoming events.

Volunteer at a School Attendance Store

Warner Elementary: April 30th or May 14th - click here to register
Schwab Elementary: April 25th or May 16th - click here to register

Help Out at Field Day

Paragon Mills Elementary: May 16th - click here to register
Neely's Bend Elementary: May 1st or May 2nd: click here to register
Bellshire Elementary: May 16th - click here to register

For more information on how you can get involved with CISTN, visit our website.