The Communities In Schools of the Gulf South Story
Communities In Schools (CIS) of the Gulf South, was established in 1996 as Communities In Schools of Greater New Orleans. Communities In Schools of the Gulf South is an affiliate of Communities In Schools, a national nonprofit founded by Bill Milliken over 40 years ago.
Bill came up with the idea of bringing community resources inside public schools where they are accessible, coordinated, and accountable. Bill once said:
“It’s relationships, not programs, that change children."
He continued, "a great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children. Young people thrive when adults care about them on a one-to-one level, and when they also have a sense of belonging to a caring community.”
Following in the footsteps of Bill Milliken, a group of committed local volunteers including Margaret Wall, Claire Stahel, and the late Frances “Frankie” Wittenberg brought the national Communities In Schools model to New Orleans. Since 1996, CIS Gulf South has grown from serving students at one school to serving over 7,000 students across Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.
In the spring of 2018, Communities In Schools of Greater New Orleans changed its name to Communities In Schools of the Gulf South to reflect the growing needs of the broader community and to serve more students in our growing region. CIS Gulf South is continuing to expand and serve more students and families in the Greater New Orleans area, and will also begin serving students and families in Capital Area, Central Louisiana, and Acadiana in the near future.

Our Staff
Central Office Staff

Amanda Schroeder, LPC-S
President
amandas@cisgulfsouth.org
504-941-1236

Taylor Cox
Director of Operations
taylorcox@cisgulfsouth.org
504-421-4158

Shayne Latter, LCSW-BACS
Senior Director of Student Services
shaynel@cisgulfsouth.org
504-301-6434

Taylor Callais-Rusich, LPC-S, NCC
Director of Student Services
Acadiana
taylorcr@cisgulfsouth.org
337-207-1768

Tawana Colbert, LPC
Director of Student Services
Acadiana
tawanac@cisgulfsouth.org
337-298-9057

Max Davidson, LCSW
Director of Student Services
New Orleans
maxd@cisgulfsouth.org
504-312-1249

Brittany Helfenstine, LCSW
Director of Student Services
New Orleans
brittanyh@cisgulfsouth.org
504-247-6825

Kelli Rednour
Administrative Specialist
kellir@cisgulfsouth.org
504-486-8002

Erin Sims, LPC-S
Director of Student Services & Advocacy
Baton Rouge
erins@cisgulfsouth.org
225-975-4407

Donneisha Wilson, LPC, NCC
Director of Volunteer Services
New Orleans
donneishaw@cisgulfsouth.org
504-439-2565
School-Based Staff
Greater New Orleans Elementary/Middle School Staff

Emma Anderson, CSW
Site Coordinator
Esperanza Charter School
emmaa@cisgulfsouth.org
504-258-4826

Shautera Clofer, LPC, NCC
Site Coordinator
Jefferson Rise Charter
shauterac@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-1407

Bernell Elzey, PLPC, NCC
Site Coordinator
Phillis Wheatley
bernelle@cisgulfsouth.org
504-232-4052

Catheryn Major, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Live Oak Charter
catherynm@cisgulfsouth.org
504-247-8864

Jamilah Ayad, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Samuel J. Green Charter School
jamilaha@cisgulfsouth.org
504-941-0943

Kylan Dawson, PLPC, NCC
Behavioral Health Counselor
Arthur Ashe Charter
kyland@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-9557

Don Francis, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Lafayette Middle School
donf@cisgulfsouth.org
504-301-5449

Damara Malbrue, PLPC, NCC
Site Coordinator
Jefferson Rise Charter
damaram@cisgulfsouth.org
504-258-4129

Nicole Barnes, M.A., PLPC
Site Coordinator
Lafayette Lower School
nicoleb@cisgulfsouth.org
504-252-7637

Amy Earehart Lovelace, PLPC, NCC
Site Coordinator
Foundation Prep
amyl@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-1212

Felice Gaddis, LPC
Site Coordinator
Langston Hughes Academy
feliceg@cisgulfsouth.org
504-330-1956

Caitlin Riddle, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Elan Academy
caitlinr@cisgulfsouth.org
504-376-4797

Cat Bauske, LCSW
Behavioral Health Counselor
Live Oak Academy
catherineb@cisgulfsouth.org
504-352-3506

Maya Edwards, LMSW
Behavioral Health Counselor
Phillis Wheatley
mayae@cisgulfsouth.org
504-330-5254

Hena Kausar, LMSW
Behavioral Health Counselor
Langston Hughes Academy
henak@cisgulfsouth.org
504-442-8704

Arianne Stallings, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Arthur Ashe Charter
ariannes@cisgulfsouth.org
504-421-6827

Jess Tregle-Moore, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Fannie C. Williams
jessicatm@cisgulfsouth.org
504-312-2098
Greater New Orleans High School Staff

Vanessa Batiste-Leal, CRC, LRC, PLPC, NCC
Site Coordinator
Living School
vanessabl@cisgulfsouth.org
504-330-0706

Chris Beamon, PLPC
Behavioral Health Counselor &
DEI Coordinator
New Harmony High School
chrisb@cisgulfsouth.org
504-235-4663

Brittney Brown, PLPC
Behavioral Health Counselor
New Orleans Accelerated High
brittneyb@cisgulfsouth.org
504-232-0908

Tatiana Collins, PLPC
Behavioral Health Counselor
New Orleans Accelerated High
tatianac@cisgulfsouth.org
504-421-8074

Meredith Core, LPC, NCC
Site Coordinator
JCFA - West
meredithc@cisgulfsouth.org
504-239-0590

Joycelyn Hall, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Ben Franklin High School
joycelynh@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-6069

Christine LeGuizamo, LCSW
Program Director
New Harmony High School
christinel@cisgulfsouth.org
504-228-4303
Acadiana Staff

Keyera Byrd, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Iberia Middle School
keyerab@cisgulfsouth.org
337-296-5720

Teneka Gash, PLPC, RSW
Site Coordinator
St. Charles St Elementary
tenekag@cisgulfsouth.org
337-344-8958

Dana Judice, LCSW
Site Coordinator
Dapsit Elementary
danaj@cisgulfsouth.org
337-349-1570

Kimberly Clay, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Magnolia Elementary
kimberlyc@cisgulfsouth.org
337-349-6890

Dakota Haymon, LMSW
Site Coordinator
JCFA Lafayette
dakotah@cisgulfsouth.org
337-230-7341

Heidi Olivier, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Caneview Elementary
heidio@cisgulfsouth.org
337-967-1844

Reagen Davis
Site Coordinator
Johnston-Hopkins Elementary
reagend@cisgulfsouth.org
337-909-9177

Charlotte Jackson, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Westgate High School
charlottej@cisgulfsouth.org
337-241-3572

Bridgette Sonnier, LCSW
Site Coordinator
Park Elementary
bridgettem@cisgulfsouth.org
337-909-9194

Desiree Drexler, LPC
Site Coordinator
Sugarland Elementary
desireed@cisgulfsouth.org
337-909-9167

Senetra Joe, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Loureauville Elementary
senetraj@cisgulfsouth.org
337-380-5424

Alicia Walker, LPC
Site Coordinator
Anderson Middle School
aliciaw@cisgulfsouth.org
337-909-9188
Baton Rouge Staff

Errin P. George, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Advantage Charter School
erring@cisgulfsouth.org
225-955-7981

Tarness Narcisse, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Inspire Charter
tarnessn@cisgulfsouth.org
225-955-9522
Ali Bustamante, Ph.D
Chairperson
Louisiana Workforce Commission
Kate Barron
Secretary
Retired Educator
Julie Breitmeyer
Treasurer
Retired CPA
Amanda Schroeder, LPC-S
President
Communities In Schools of the Gulf South
Charline Gipson
Davillier Law Group, LLC
Jeffrey Hamm
Standard Mortgage
Gracia Hillmann
Retired Government Affairs and Elections Executive
David Perlis
Perlis Clothing
Elizabeth Rhodes, Ph.D
Retired Professor
Missy Sparks, Ph.D
Ochsner Health Systems
David Trautenberg, Ed.D.
Align K12 Educational Consulting
Dan Wright
U.S. Department of the Interior
Danielle Wright, Ph.D
Navigate Nola
Claire Stahel
Community Volunteer
Board Emeritus
Margaret Wall
Community Volunteer
Board Emeritus