Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Our Program

We place a dedicated staff member inside partner schools to identify students at risk of dropping out. We then engage community partners and volunteers to effectively and efficiently address both the academic and human service needs of students. The result is improved attendance, behavior, academic performance, retention rates and graduation rates.

Our History

Incorporated in 2004, Communities In Schools of the Nation’s Capital (CIS) is the local affiliate of the nation’s largest dropout prevention program which has been successfully helping young people stay in school and transition to adulthood since 1977. The program was developed by Bill Milliken, a passionate youth advocate, who came up with the idea of bringing community resources inside public schools – where they are accessible, coordinated, and accountable. Learn more about the national network and its work at communitiesinschools.org. CIS exists to removes barriers to student success by coordinating and connecting students to services aligned with their individual needs.

Our Staff

  • Dr. Rustin Lewis

    Executive Director

  • Asyja Smith

    Site Coordinator

    Burrville Elementary School

  • Jovan Johnson

    Site Coordinator

    Stanton Elementary School

  • LaTroy Bailey

    Site Coordinator

    Brookland Middle School

  • Monique Baker

    Program Director

  • Shantia Douglas

    Finance and Operations Manager

  • Tom Hay

    Development Manager

  • Vickie Freeman

    Site Coordinator

    H D Woodson High School

  • Adonis Garcia

    Site Coordinator

    Eastern High School

  • Dylan Amankwaah

    Site Coordinator

    J.O. Wilson Elementary

  • Angeline Pino-Silva

    Site Coordinator

    Stuart Hobson Middle School

  • Jordan Frazier

    Site Coordinator

    H D Woodson High School

  • Joshua Bailey

    Site Coordinator

    MacArthur High School

  • Aylin Reyes

    Site Coordinator

    Cardozo Education Campus

Our Board

  • Margaret Vassilikos, MBA

    Chair

    EVP/CFO, News Media Alliance (Retired)

  • Andrew Kay, Esq.

    Vice Chair

    Partner, Venable LLP

  • Megan Carlyle, J.D.

    Secretary

    Founder, Capital Leadership

  • Brian Reid, Ph.D.

    Treasurer

    Chief Economist, Investment Company Institute (Retired)

  • Donna Givens

    Principal, Givens & Associates

  • Su-Lin Cheng Nichols

    Principal, Lafayette Strategies

  • Dianne Rudo, MBA

    Principal, Rudo International Advisors, LLC

  • Amelia DeGory

    Associate, Jones Day

  • Jennifer L. Kowalski

    Vice President, Public Policy Institute, Elevance Health

  • Eric S. Berman, Esq.

    Partner, Steptoe