Communities In Schools Announces 2010 Baldwin Fellows

2010 Class of Robert H.B. Baldwin Fellows Will Help Build the Next Generation of Education Leaders

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Communities In Schools, the leading organization dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life, is pleased to announce that three leaders in education have been awarded the 2010 Robert H.B. Baldwin Fellowship.  

While social and demographic shifts are expected to increase the demand for services provided by many nonprofits, projected leadership turnover in the nonprofit sector will mean a significant loss of experience and skills.  The Baldwin Fellowship was established to help address this loss.  Named after CIS's founding Board Chairman, the Robert H.B. Baldwin Fellows program brings together current and emerging leaders to exchange best practices, participate in leadership development programs, and conduct original research that will strengthen leadership across the non-profit sector.  Members of the 2010 Fellows Class are:

• Carole Levine has more than 12 years experience with Communities In Schools, having worked extensively with local and state offices on program and leadership development.  Ms. Levine has served as an at-large board member of the National PTA, as well as a faculty member for National Louis University and Oakton Community College.  Ms. Levine's fellowship will focus on talent recruitment and development for the Communities In Schools network.  

• Maxine Elliott has more than 15 years experience with Communities In Schools, having served as executive director of CIS of Robeson County, North Carolina, and consultant to the state office of CIS of North Carolina and the CIS National Office.  Ms. Elliott's fellowship will focus on executive leadership development, with a particular focus on the development needs of local Communities In Schools executive directors.  

• Judy Frick has more than 19 years of experience with Communities In Schools, having served as executive director of local affiliate CIS of Wichita / Sedgwick County, Kansas and consultant to the state office of CIS of Kansas.  Ms. Frick will focus her fellowship on succession planning and executive transition at the state and local levels, crucial areas of study given the projections for turnover in the sector.  

"Even as today we serve more than one million young people, we have to be building tomorrow's leadership," said Daniel J. Cardinali, president, Communities In Schools, Inc. "The Baldwin Fellowship is one part of an integrated strategy to prepare Communities In Schools for the next generation of service to America's young people. "  

About Communities In Schools

Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.  Through a school based coordinator, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs.

Working in more than 3,200 schools, in the most challenged communities, in 26 states, and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.4 million young people and their families every year.  Communities In Schools has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates.  

Visit our website at www.communitiesinschools.org.

SOURCE Communities In Schools