LEWISBURG, WV (WVDN) – First Lady Cathy Justice and Gov. Jim Justice joined the 20th anniversary celebration of Communities In Schools in Greenbrier County.
During the event at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, First Lady Justice was honored with an award of appreciation for being a driving force behind the success of the program, leading its statewide expansion.
Under her leadership, CIS has grown from serving three pilot counties in 2018 to reaching every corner of West Virginia, providing essential resources to at-risk students, helping them stay in school and succeed. West Virginia is the only state in the country to have CIS operating in every county.
Communities In Schools West Virginia has had a significant impact, employing over 250 site coordinators who work in more than 270 schools and support over 114,000 students. Their combined salaries total over $18 million annually, supporting hundreds of local families.
“Communities In Schools has become a beacon of hope for so many students in West Virginia,” First Lady Cathy Justice said. “Jim and I are proud to celebrate this incredible milestone for Greenbrier County and to support an organization that is dedicated to taking care of our children. This program only works because of our amazing site coordinators, teachers, and administrators who deeply care about the well-being of each and every student. They are truly the ones guiding them through life’s challenges to build a brighter future. I could not be more thankful for the people here tonight and those making an impact across the state. Thank you all for having me, because I am so honored to receive this award.”
“Cathy truly deserves all the recognition in the world for her commitment to Communities In School,” Gov. Justice said. “Over the years, we’ve had the honor to visit tons of CIS schools, meeting thousands of students and teachers in every corner of West Virginia. We’ve witnessed first-hand the heart that goes into this program. We see that our students know there are people who genuinely love and care for them, and that makes a huge difference. I am beyond proud of Cathy. It’s her vision that paved the way for this Communities In Schools success story. Let’s keep it going.”
Bill Milliken, the visionary founder of Communities In Schools, and Rey Saldana, the current President and CEO of the organization, were also in attendance, celebrating the impact CIS has on the state of West Virginia.
“First Lady Cathy Justice has the biggest of hearts for all students and families in West Virginia,” Bill Milliken said. “Under her leadership, CIS has expanded throughout the state to reach more students in all counties. This recognition by CIS of Greenbrier County shows leadership will be wide-reaching and long-lasting. Because of First Lady Cathy Justice, hundreds of thousands of children in West Virginia will have hope.”
“The national conversation across all of education is how we can best support students,” Rey Saldana said. “First Lady Cathy Justice has established not only a track record but a legacy in how to successfully accomplish this. She has set the standard for supporting students with her work here in West Virginia. We are thrilled that Communities In Schools can be behind the inspiring vision and leadership of the First Lady and the Governor leading the way in West Virginia. Their approach is effective, sustainable, and an incredible example for others to follow nationwide.”
