The CIS Gulf South Story
CIS Gulf South, was originally established in 1996 as CIS of Greater New Orleans. CIS Gulf South is an affiliate of Communities In Schools, a national non-profit founded by Bill Milliken in New York City over 40 years ago. Bill came up with the idea of bringing community resources inside public schools where they are accessible, coordinated and accountable. “It’s relationships, not programs, that change children,” Bill once said. “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 6,500 students across Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.
In the spring of 2018, CIS of Greater New Orleans changed its name to CIS 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, but will additionally begin serving students and families in Capital Area, Central Louisiana, and Acadiana in the future.
Our Mission
The mission of CIS Gulf South is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
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Our Staff
Central Office Staff
![ASchroeder ASchroeder](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/ASchroeder-circle.jpg)
Amanda Schroeder, LPC-S, NCC
President
amandas@cisgulfsouth.org
504-941-1236
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Brittany Helfenstine, LCSW
Director of Student Services
brittanyh@cisgulfsouth.org
504-247-6825
![SLatter SLatter](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/SLatter-circle.jpg)
Shayne Latter, LCSW-BACS
Director of Student Services
shaynel@cisgulfsouth.org
504-301-6434
![Communities in Schools - CIS - Staff Communities in Schools - CIS - Staff](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/BThomas-circle.jpg)
Brittney Thomas, LPC
Director of Student Services
brittneyt@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-3522
![ADalDegan ADalDegan](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/ADalDegan-circle.jpg)
Annie DalDegan
Director of Operations
annied@cisgulfsouth.org
504-676-5168
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Lindsey Jakiel Diulus, PhD
Director of Development
lindseyd@cisgulfsouth.org
504-247-7221
School-Based CIS Site Coordinators
Elementary and Middle Schools in Greater New Orleans
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Mariel Aken, LPC-S, NCC
Cypress Academy
mariela@cisgulfsouth.org
504-421-6827
![SBarnes SBarnes](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/SBarnes-circle.jpg)
Sarah Barnes, PLPC, NCC
Foundation Preparatory Charter School
sarahb@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-1212
![Communities in Schools - CIS - Staff Communities in Schools - CIS - Staff](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/RBrown-circle.jpg)
Rachel Brown, LCSW, QSSW
Success Preparatory Academy
rachelb@cisgulfsouth.org
504-676-0900
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Shautera Clofer, M.A. PLPC
Jefferson RISE Charter School
shauterac@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-1407
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Max Davidson, LMSW
Phillis Wheatly Community School
maxd@cisgulfsouth.org
504-330-5254
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Andrea DiBlasi, LPC-S
Phillis Wheatly Community School
andread@cisgulfsouth.org
504-232-4052
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Hannah Knipp, LMSW
SEL Coordinator
Bricolage Academy
hannahk@cisgulfsouth.org
504-250-2163
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Stephan Pruitt, PLPC
Pierre Capdau Charter School
stephanp@cisgulfsouth.org
504-941-1228
![Communities in Schools - CIS - Staff Communities in Schools - CIS - Staff](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/ESims-circle.jpg)
Erin Sims, LPC
ReNEW Schaumburg Elementary
erins@cisgulfsouth.org
504-247-8864
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Donneisha Wilson, PLPC
Morris Jeff Community School
donneishaw@cisgulfsouth.org
504-232-2390
High Schools
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Trisha Botello, LPC
The NET Charter High school
trishab@cisgulfsouth.org
504-252-6409
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Lanier Clement, PLPC
Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy - East
lanierc@cisgulfsouth.org
504-444-2259
![place holder place holder](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/place-holder-circle.jpg)
Evelina Jagminaite, PLPC
The NET2 (Gentilly)
evelinaj@cisgulfsouth.org
504-228-4303
![p195706873-6 p195706873-6](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/p195706873-6-circle.jpg)
Christine LeGuizamo, LMSW
Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy - Algiers
christinel@cisgulfsouth.org
504-301-5449
![place holder place holder](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/place-holder-circle.jpg)
Justin Baird
justinb@cisgulfsouth.org
504-418-4730
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Unitra Long, PLPC
JCFA - West
unitral@cisgulfsouth.org
504-239-0590
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Shannel Cunningham, PLPC,
Langston Hughes
shannelc@cisgulfsouth.org
504-442-8704
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Melissa Mendieta, LMSW, QSSW
Langston Hughes
melissam@cisgulfsouth.org
504-330-1956
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Kimberly Davis, PLPC,
Cypress Academy
kimd@cisgulfsouth.org
504-252-8256
![place holder place holder](https://cisgulfsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/place-holder-circle.jpg)
Misty Vix, LPC, NCC
ReNEW Early Childhood
mistyv@cisgulfsouth.org
504-444-3182
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Leonis Woods, MSW, LCSW, QSSW
leonisw@cisgulfsouth.org
504-941-0943
David Perlis
Chairperson
Owner
Perlis Clothing
Kate Barron
Secretary
Retired Educator
Isidore Newman School
Julie Breitmeyer
Treasurer
Retired CPA
Geri Brumfield
Retired Educator
Orleans Parish School Board
Ali Bustamante, Ph.D
Chief Economist
Louisiana Workforce Commission
Jeanne Foster
Publisher
Gambit Weekly
Charline Gipson
Attorney
Davillier Law Group, LLC
Jeffrey Ham
Producer/Business Development
Standard Mortgage
Elizabeth Rhodes, Ed.D.
Retired Professor
Xavier University
Missy Sparks, Ph.D
Asst. VP for Talent Management
Ochsner Health Systems
Sally Suthon
Owner
Suthon Solutions, Inc.
Danielle Wright, Ph.D
Executive Director
Navigate Nola
Dan Wright
Policy Analyst
U.S. Department of the Interior
Claire Stahel
Community Volunteer
Board Emeritus
Founding Board Member
Margaret Wall
Community Volunteer
Board Emeritus
Founding Board Member
Amanda Schroeder, LPC-S
President
Communities In Schools of the Gulf South