ABOUT COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF JACKSONVILLE Communities In Schools of Jacksonville is a leading dropout prevention organization that has provided wraparound services to struggling students for more than 30 years. Our team provides Case Management, Afterschool and Literacy Tutoring programs within 39 Duval County Public Schools that have changed the lives of thousands of students. We are dedicated to breaking down barriers students face in order to help them be successful in school and in life. Last year, 95 percent of CIS students were promoted to the next grade level and 97 percent of CIS seniors graduated. Mission: To surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Values: To provide a personal one-on-one relationship with a caring adult; a safe place to learn and grow; a healthy start and a healthy future; a marketable skill to use upon graduation; and a chance to give back.
Tracy Arthur | Sonny and Cheryl Martin | Rudy Rivera
A Letter From Leon Baxton Thank you for joining us for our Rising Stars: Senior Celebration hosted by Communities In Schools of Jacksonville. This week-long virtual event is an exciting opportunity to recognize our graduates while thanking our staff and community for their never-ending support. Rather than the talent show we’ve done in the past, this year our leadership decided to reimagine Rising Stars as a full week of senior student recognition. Across our website and social media channels the week of May 9th, we’ll be celebrating the graduating seniors we serve and featuring some “stellar seniors” – all of whom have been selected by their site coordinators for their amazing achievements. Our hope is that each and every CIS student planning to walk the stage this spring feels the immense appreciation they deserve. Our students have faced serious challenges over the last four years, as the global COVID-19 pandemic brought with it semesters full of uncertainty and after-effects. Despite this, they never backed down and never gave up – and neither did we. While things haven’t been easy for our students, and while many of their high school experiences have been atypical to say the least – their steadfast determination has ultimately opened the door to a bright future. For more than 30 years, Communities In Schools of Jacksonville has helped tens of thousands of students overcome life’s challenges and set them on a path for success. Our Case Management, Afterschool and Literacy Tutoring programs are embedded within schools, allowing our staff to work one-on-one with students to help them overcome obstacles to graduation. This week of celebration will shine a light on the importance of these programs, as our successful students are the ultimate outcome. Thank you to all of our donors and community partners for their ongoing support. Without your help, none of this would be possible. In fact, we’re proud to say that over 99% of our CIS seniors are on track to graduate graduating this year! Finally, a word of appreciation for our dedicated staff, board members, and sponsors. Your work has helped these students achieve amazing things, and I hope you enjoy seeing all their accomplishments this week!
Leon Baxton CEO, Communities In Schools of Jacksonville 3
STELLAR SENIORS
ALIZA PHILLIPS
ANDRE BODISON
HARLEY KEMPF
Age 17 | Westside
Age 18 | Andrew Jackson
Age 18 | Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology
JA’NYA WILSON
JAMIE CARTER
JOSHUA DELPHONSE
Age 17 | The Bridge to Success Academy at A. Philip Randolph Academies
Age 18 | Riverside
Age 17 | Jean Ribault
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STELLAR SENIORS
MADISON TABB
MI’KIYAH WALKER
MICHAEL UBEDA
Age 17 | A. Philip Randolph Academies of Technology
Age 18 | William M. Raines
Age 18 | Edward H. White
MIRACLE MOBLEY
ZARIYANA GREEN
Age 18 | Terry Parker
Age 18 | The Bridge to Success Academy at Westside High
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SENIOR CELEBRATION A. PHILIP RANDOLPH HS
Anglin, Armontae Beal, Samaj Boone, Alexia Bush, Jamari Cartmel, Elizebeth Clark, Koven Daniels, Kah’mari Davis, Jerome Hopson, Jasanti Hopson, Sequoia Howard, Alicia Johnson, Calijah Moore, Alexis Parson, Seliah Recino Ortiz, Diana Rhodes, Eryn Robinson, Trevon Salgado, Jhetzahic Simpson, NaKisha Singletary, Adam Singleton-Trimmimgs, Jamaris Smith, Joshua Taylor, Ja’quaze Terry, Lakayiis Thomas, Antoria Tukes, Alyssa Walker, Darrion Walker, Pilar Walker, Shania Washington, DeAndre Washington, Gwinnette Washington, Sion West, Jamesha Williams-Grant, Kristopher Williams, Tynaijah Wilson, Ja’nya Wilson, Mary
ANDREW JACKSON HS Alls, Jerome Bodison, Andre Buggest, Pebbles Clark, Jeremiah Clark, Joshua Daniels, Rayna Dawson, Sha’niya DiChiara, Simon Edmonds, Jayla Finley, Tatiyana Gilbert, Amariona Griffin, Nigel Hester, Shurron Johnson, Derona Johnson, Jairus Kirtsey, Ar’marion Littlejohn, Ayriah Magby, Taniya McCool, Durance Merritt, Matthew Mitchell, Tyrell Mitchell, Tyrese Muhammad, Nai’lah Odom, Mario Smith, Taria Swain, Dicyn Towers, Sanaa’ Whitney, Kelly Williams, Michaela
ED WHITE HS
Akins, Briniyah Anthony, Stanley Berriosvillafane, Joesean Edenfield, Samantha Floyd, Yasim Gallagher, Jamie Glass, Anaiah Granger, Ja’nae Hatcher, Aleeshia 6
Jean Mari, Ronika Jones, Isaiah Kinch, Mauricia Knight, Janiyiah Kohn, Aaron Logan, Asia Maningsay, Rosalily Maxi, Midjaclle Montgomery, Kizzy Norman, Chancellor Patrick, Isaac Patrick, Zackory Pickford, Raheem Quail, Naillah Robins, Mikaela Shoemo, Josiah Swinton, Jasmine Teasdell, Erica Terrell, Ryan Ubeda, Michael White, Ja’Niya
FRANK H. PETERSON HS Alexander, Caitlyn Beale, Hailey Britt, Diontay Fortenberry, Alicia Holland, Katelynn Jenkins, Shaniyah Jones, Lindsay Kempf, Harley Lebron, Jasmine Lickliter, Makayla Martinez, Cristina Rovera-Dejesus, Danna Smith, Emma
JEAN RIBAULT HS Benjamin, Jah’Noah Brown, Akoi Delphonse, Joshua Durden, Diamond
Evans, RiKeria Francis, Jeffrey Green, Donovin Harris, Jazmine Holland, Tressie Hunter, DeNaysha James, Jordyn Johnson-Lee, Thaddeus Lewis, Je’leah Long, Maiyah Mapp, Shakeelah Nance, Adelaide Oliver, Brianna Peters, Jaden Rackley, Kaleah Spivey, Ar’jaynaye Thames, Daeshawn Worrell, Darrell Youngblood, Jarmoni
RIVERSIDE HS
Alston, Kayla Bell, Marcayla Carter, Jamie Ford, Marcus Frazier, Dinah Johnson, Tatiana Lee, Chanice Lopez, Isabelle Sherwood, Breyonce Townes, Trinity
TERRY PARKER HS Anderson, Simone Anthony, Honesty Beaudoin, Cody Bormotko, Rufina Brandon, Charity Claxton, Makyla Collins, Audrey Douglas, Brandon Douglas, Kiyana Evans, Jawon Harding, Samaiah Harris, Elijah Harrison, Xavier Hess, Derek
Hutchinson, Mya Kelly, Elijah Landers, Corey Lanier, Amaris Martinez, Tracymar Maysonet, Miah Mestre, Anthony Mobley, Miracle Nosheu, Ampereur Ramirez-Martinez, Sara Rogers, Tara Simmons, Ja’Kayla Stephens, Rowan Thomas, Tiara Williams, Ja’Kecea Williams, Jeffery Zephir, Angelo
WESTSIDE HS
Alexander, Angel Bailey, Cheyanne Banks, Kamarion Bates, Kelis Borrow, Kemoni Brown, Demetrius Brown, Devon Burns, Demya Cash, Ja’vaughn Damian, Crisha Mae Doan, Tristin Edwards, Jari Fervius, Solvan Green, Zariyana Guyton, Alexander Harris, Dyrushio Harris, Nyah Hoffon, Kayla Houston, Trenelle Howard, Shamar Johnson, Aryn Joseph, Maxamillion Kayla, Person Lawton, Robert Marshall, A’yona McCoy, Michaella Melton, Brandon
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Moore, Brianna Nelson, Tramell Person, Milton Phillips, Aliza Pride, LaMeek Reyes, Kurt Rhymer, Jahmai Rivers, Khyasia Roman, Angelina Sadiq, Zahir Shropshire, Ronald Smith, Dakota Torres, Jerimemiah VanDyke, Brianna Workman, Aiesha
WILLIAM RAINES HS Brittian, I’Doniya Clark, Chanice Davis, Rainier Ellis, James Gill, Marcelle Hall, Timothy Hampton, Ramiyah Jones, Gharvas Jones, Sidney Jordan, E’Mya McReynolds, Kelanda Nelson-Ramos, Leah Poole, Camren Reid-EL, Aset Reid-EL, Nebthet Reid-EL, Neith Reid-EL, Selket Rivers, Jailynn Robinson, Harrison Sams, Jakhia Walker, Mikiyah
Black Knight understands the importance of leadership development, community giving and volunteer service. That’s why Black Knight is proud to support Communities in Schools of Jacksonville’s Rising Stars, an event that helps support tomorrow’s talented leaders.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Josh Woolsey Chair; Attorney, Woolsey Morcom Law
Dr. Diana Greene Superintendent, Duval County Public Schools
Abena Horton Vice Chair; VP & Managing Division Counsel, Black Knight
Matt Kruse Senior Director, RISC Shared Services Athena Mann Retired, JEA
Janel LeGard Secretary; Architect, Senior Design Manager, Haskell
Robert Martin Retired General Manager, Florida Times-Union
Jesse Forst Treasurer; Vice President of Infrastructure Operations, RS&H
Sonny Martin Retired CPA, GunnChamberlain, P.L.
Chris Greene Immediate Past Chair; Attorney, Purcell, Flanagan, Hay & Greene, P.A
Honorable Melissa Nelson State Attorney, The Office of the State Attorney for the 4th Judicial District
Leon Baxton Chief Executive Officer, Communities In Schools of Jacksonville
Bob Ohrablo President, Jacksonville IceMen
Arthur Adams, Jr. Vice President of Sales and Customer Engagement, CSX
Jay Plotkin Attorney, Jax Litigation Group
Tracy Arthur Associate General Counsel, Rayonier
Ed Pratt-Dannals Senior Advisor, District Management Council
Honorable Martha Barrett Vice President of Market Development, Bank of America
Rudy Rivera Chief International Counsel, Fidelity National Financial
Honorable Lenny Curry Mayor, City of Jacksonville
Honorable Anthony Salem Duval Circuit Court Judge
Honorable Betty Burney Founder/Executive Director, “I’M A STAR” Foundation
Ken Sanders SVP, Global Distribution and Logistics, Tapestry
Honorable Eleni Derke Duval County Court Judge
Michael Stewart Director of External Affairs, Jacksonville Aviation Authority
Nancy Dreicer Retired, Nokia Corporation
Honorable Mike Williams Sheriff, City of Jacksonville
Linda Edwards Retired, Duval County Public Schools
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