About Us
In the U.S., approximately 1 in 5 children under the age of 18 live in poverty, shouldering more than they should have to.
Communities In Schools works directly inside schools, building relationships that empower students to succeed inside and outside the classroom.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Amy Gordon
Executive Director
Amy Gordon has seen our community from many angles. As a licensed social worker, a parent, and a non-profit professional, she knows Central Ohio’s challenges as well as its assets. Her persistent focus on the latter has earned her the top leadership position at Communities In Schools of Central Ohio (CIS).
“What strikes me is her orientation toward the positive and her dedication to putting the organization’s mission first,” says Board Chair Tim Rieder.
Having previously worked as the Afterschool Program Director at CIS from 1999-2006, Amy returned to the organization in 2012. She was asked to take on increasing responsibility through the years, culminating in a promotion to Associate Director in 2014. Last year, the CIS board and former Executive Director Jane Wiechel unanimously decided that Amy was the best choice to become the next Executive Director for Communities In Schools of Central Ohio beginning January 1, 2017.
Amy has worked to champion the needs of young people and struggling families for over twenty years. She was an Area Director with a faith-based non-profit afterschool program in the Short North, Weinland Park and formerly Windsor Terrace neighborhoods; a Family Specialist/Supervisor of a home-based program with Crittenton Family Services working with juvenile felony offenders and their families; a consultant with the Ohio Department of Education; a certified assessor and an Independent Consultant. Amy has also served three terms as an Afterschool Alliance Ambassador to promote the expansion of afterschool programs at the local, state and national level.
A graduate of Columbus City Schools, Amy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University and is a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio. She has been married for more than 20 years and has a teenage son and daughter.
Amy was featured in 2019 on the Columbus Leadership Podcast. It is a regional podcast featuring the stories of diverse leaders in Central Ohio. Listen to the interview.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Vincent Coleman
Program Director
Phone: 614.268.2472, ext. 17
Email: vcoleman@ciskids.org
Eboney Eldridge
Program Manager
Phone: 614.268.2472, ext. 29
Email: eeldridge@ciskids.org
OUR BOARD
Communities In Schools of Central Ohio is a locally governed non-profit organization that exists to serve the needs of the community and is guided by a talented, dedicated and diverse group of business leaders, educators, philanthropists and nonprofit executives.
Our directors generously donate their time and resources to develop strategy and set policy to guide our organization.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018-2019
C. Reggie Thomas
Board Chair
Vice President Community Development
Huntington National Bank
Adam Gough
Vice President, Investment Advisor
PNC Bank
Jennifer Mundorf SPHR
Manager, Talent Development
Big Lots
Anne D. Saxon
Vice President, Office of the Chief Legal Officer Government Relations
Nationwide Insurance
Cheryl L. Ward
Director, Social-Emotional and Student Support Services
Columbus City Schools
Wendy Sherman Heckler, PhD
Board Vice Chair
Provost & Senior Vice President,
Academic Affairs Division,
Otterbein University
Ben Richards
Data Analyst
CompDrug
Dennis M. Sparks, Jr.
Director, Learning & Organization Development
LBrands
Steven Williams
Enterprise Sales Manager
Spectrum
Tim Rieder
Past Board Chair and
Interim Treasurer of the Board
Senior Vice President
US Bank
Catherine F. Burgett
Member
Frost Brown Todd LLC
Lashana Crone
Human Resources Specialist,
DLA Training
Defense Logistics Agency
Betsy Walker
Secretary of the Board
Philanthropy Consultant
OUR FUNDERS
Recognized for its sound business practices and financial transparency, Communities In Schools continues to attract the support of a diverse group of partners, even during tough economic times. We wish to acknowledge all who have supported our work, here are some of our most ardent supporters.
21st Century Community Learning Centers
ADAMH Board of Franklin County
Arby’s Foundation
AT&T Foundation
Bricker and Eckler
Cardinal Health
Columbus City Schools
Columbus State Community College
Communities Properties of Ohio Management
Crowe Horwath LLP
Franklin County Children Services
GPD Group Employees Foundation
Honda of America Manufacturing
Huntington Bank
Ingram White Castle
Nationwide Foundation
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
OCLC
Otterbein University
PNC Bank
Siemer Family Foundation
South-Western City Schools
Squire, Patton, and Boggs
Subaru Foundation
The City of Columbus
The Columbus Foundation
The Jeffrey Foundation
The Ohio Department of Education
The United Way of Central Ohio
US Bank
Youth to Youth, a CompDrug Program
