During a cold snap, when a family told Beverly Simmons they needed help with their electric bill, it kept her up at night. Worried about children and their family in the dark and without heat, Simmons - a community liaison at Roosevelt Elementary – literally couldn’t sleep.

“I’m the type of person that, if you ask me for help, I’m not going to stop until I get it,” she said.

So the next day, she plugged away at her computer, reaching out to organizations across the city.

True to her word, she found help.                                   

As a community liaison for Roosevelt, Simmons supports families in a way that helps them get kids to school ready to engage and learn.

Do they need help with transportation? She can help provide a gas card. Need a winter coat? She’ll lead students to Roosevelt’s donation closet. How about snacks for the weekend? No problem – students can leave their backpack in her office Friday morning and it will be full of snacks by the afternoon, thanks to a collaboration between Simmons and school counselors.

Liaison role reaches beyond the classroom

Community liaisons ensure families have resources at school and home so their child can be successful with their schoolwork and homework. Simmons also finds ways for families to feel comfortable inside the school by planning fun family events and asking them to volunteer.

“Some parents didn’t have success in their own school experience, so being in a school might not be a good experience for them even now,” Roosevelt Principal Jennifer Cooper said. “Beverly wants parents to feel good here, which also helps their children feel good here. She hands out coffee and donuts in the morning to say thanks for getting your child here on time. She’s always thinking outside the box on how to help people feel important and appreciated and welcome.”

This didn’t happen overnight. When Simmons started at Roosevelt right before the pandemic hit, she didn’t know the families. After remote learning started, it became a near impossible challenge.

But where Simmons senses a need, she digs in. It wasn’t long before she was delivering meals to Roosevelt families, knocking on doors and meeting students and their parents.

“I wanted them to know me and feel comfortable with me,” she said. “I wanted to show them what I can do to help them, which also helps their child succeed.”

It’s working.

“Beverly has developed deep, meaningful relationships with students, families and staff,” Cooper said. “She is seen as trustworthy and works with families when they are the most vulnerable.”

Simmons also works directly with students during the school day, putting her experience as a reading specialist to work. She works with small groups of students to help improve their reading skills, in addition to running lunches in the cafeteria. She is quick to support students in need by offering them an ear when they need to talk or a quiet place to complete work.

“She brings high expectations and love with her every day,” Cooper said. “She treats each Roosevelt child with respect and grace.”