Utah Coalition for Community Schools

The Utah Coalition for Community Schools is made of members from across sectors who are passionate about increasing the impact of Community Schools across the state of Utah. The coalition envisions confident children who are thriving now and in the future with families that are engaged and empowered in a connected community that is safe, vibrant, and accessible to all.

Community Schools are more than just places of learning; they are vibrant hubs of the community, nurturing the growth and development of our students and families, ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive. They are a strategy that utilizes the strengths of students, families, community organizations, and schools. They are a system that educates and meets the needs of the whole child and intentionally functions the way the name implies – like a community.

For more information about the Utah Coalition for Community Schools, email uccs@promisepartnership.org.

Upcoming Events

Learning Opportunities & Events

Fall 2025 Learning Network Schedule

The Utah Coalition for Community Schools hosts regular online Learning Network opportunities for both Coalition members and non-members. Learning Network meeting links are also available on the UCCS webpage, and session descriptions will be posted there closer to each event date.

Utah STEM FEST

UCCS Learning Network: Community Schools 101

Secretaries Conference

National Assembly for Family Engagement in Education

UCCS Learning Network: Early Learning and Literacy

Meeting Link

National Center for Community Schools Fundamental Conference

Virtual: 2025 National Family Engagement Summit: The Homecoming

In Person: 2025 National Family Engagement Summit: The Homecoming

Utah Association of Secondary School Principals Assistant Principals Conference

UCCS Learning Network: College and Career Readiness

Meeting Link

Utah Association of Secondary School Principals Mid-Winter Conference

Coalition Meetings

IN PERSON Quarterly Coalition Meeting

October 21, 2025

The Utah Coalition for Community Schools is led by a steering committee of dedicated individuals from across sectors.

Steering Committee Leaders

Cassy Saxton

Steering Committee Vice Chair

Alpine School District

Luciano Marzulli

Steering Committee Coordinator

Promise Partnership Utah

Kyndal White

Steering Committee Chair

Granite School District

Steering Committee Members

Angelee Aedo

Utah PTA

Alexis Bucknam

Weber State University

Susie Estrada

Utah State Board of Education

Savannah Hunt

Utah State Board of Education

Robby Kinghorn

Davis School District

Viridiana Najera

Promise Partnership Utah

Kamille Noor Sheikh

Utah Education Policy Center

Amie Sisam

Alpine School District

Lisa Marie Wisham

Utah Education Policy Center

Barbara Leavitt

United Way of Utah County

Laura Barragan

United Way of Utah County

Michelle Coy

Park City School District

Monica Gil

Ogden School District

Betty Jimenez

Utah State Board of Education

Max Lang

Utah State Board of Education

Val Lopez

Davis School District

Bianca Mittendorf

Utah Education Association

Cassy Saxton

Alpine School District

Amy Torres

USU Extension

Michele Vogeler

Canyons School District

Graphic courtesy of the Institute for Educational Leadership.

The Four Key Functions of a Statewide Coalition

There are four key functions of a state coalition for Community Schools: Partner Engagement and Governance, Policy and Advocacy, Professional Learning Networks, and Communications. The Utah Coalition for Community Schools uses this framework to set priorities and create strategies to support Community Schools work in Utah.

Learn More

Community Schools Resources

Read more about the Community Schools strategy:

Framework: Essentials for Community School Transformation | Community Schools Forward
Theory of Action for Community School Transformation | Emily Germain, Jeannie Oakes, and Anna Maier
Outcomes and Indicators: A Guide for Implementers and Evaluators | Jeannie Oakes, Emily Germain, and Anna Maier
The Community Schools Revolution | Martin Blank, Ira Harkavy, Jane Quinn, Lisa Villarreal, and David Goodman
Key Practices of Community Schools Fact Sheet | Learning Policy Institute
2025 Utah Community Schools Materials

The Utah Coalition for Community Schools is a state coalition aligned with the national Coalition for Community Schools. Click here to learn more.

To sign up for the Utah Coalition for Community Schools quarterly newsletter, please email uccs@promisepartnership.org.

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