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

Annie DalDegan
Director of Operations
annied@cisgulfsouth.org
504-486-8002

Brittney Thomas, LPC
Director of AmeriCorps and Professional Development
brittneyt@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-3522

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

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

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

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

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

Taylor Cox
Operations Coordinator
taylorcox@cisgulfsouth.org
504-421-4158
School-Based Staff
Greater New Orleans Elementary/Middle School Staff

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

Chris Beamon, PLPC
Behavioral Health Counselor
The NET: Gentilly
chrisb@cisgulfsouth.org
504-421-6634

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

Monique R. Jones, PLPC, NCC
Site Coordinator
Lafayette Middle School
moniquej@cisgulfsouth.org
504-235-6175

Tatiana Pino, PLPC, NCC, MMT, MT-BC
Site Coordinator
Lawrence Crocker College Prep
tatianap@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-7694

Victoria Vasquez, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Esperanza Charter
victoriav@cisgulfsouth.org
504-258-4826

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

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

Andrea DiBlasi, LPC-S, NCC
Site Coordinator
Phillis Wheatley Community School
andread@cisgulfsouth.org
504-232-4052

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

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

Vanessa Batiste-Leal, CRC, LRC, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Fannie C. Williams Charter
vanessabl@cisgulfsouth.org
504-330-0706

Shannel Cunningham, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Langston Hughes Academy
shannelc@cisgulfsouth.org
504-442-8704

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

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

Briana Stigger, PLPC, NCC
Behavioral Health Counselor
Jefferson Rise Charter
brianastigger@cisgulfsouth.org
504-494-0328

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

Kimberly Davis, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Foundation Preparatory Academy
kimd@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-1212

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

Janee' Mitchell, MAMFC, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Success Preparatory Academy
janeec@cisgulfsouth.org
504-676-0900

Donneisha Wilson, LPC, NCC
Site Coordinator
Morris Jeff Community School
donneishaw@cisgulfsouth.org
504-232-2390
Greater New Orleans High School Staff

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

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

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

Tawana Colbert, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Westgate High School
tawanac@cisgulfsouth.org
337-241-3572

Katie Simon, LMSW
Site Coordinator
Willow Charter
katies@cisgulfsouth.org
337-296-5720

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

Emily Terrell, LCSW
Site Coordinator
Johnston-Hopkins Elementary
emilyt@cisgulfsouth.org
337-909-9177

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

Alicia Walker, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Anderson Middle School
emilyt@cisgulfsouth.org
337-909-9188

Bridgette Mouton, LCSW
Site Coordinator
Park Elementary
bridgettem@cisgulfsouth.org
337-909-9194
Baton Rouge Staff

Tarness Narcisse, PLPC
Site Coordinator
Inspire Charter
tarnessn@cisgulfsouth.org
225-955-9522

Lauren Gonzales, PLPC, NCC
Site Coordinator
Advantage Charter
laureng@cisgulfsouth.org
225-955-7981
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