When CISCC student support specialist Mrs. Rosa first drove down the long gravel driveway to meet Joel and his family, she knew she was being invited into something special.
Years earlier, Rosa had worked in their community and built relationships with many local families, including Joel’s. That familiar connection opened the door to trust before she had even introduced herself.
During that first visit, Joel’s mother shared something Rosa has never forgotten:
“Very few people are welcomed down this driveway and into our home.”
Those words were more than a compliment. They were a reminder that trust is earned, especially with families who have face some of life’s biggest obstacles. As Rosa met Joel for the first time, she could see his cautiousness. He wasn’t ready to trust yet, and she respected that.
Over the next two years, Rosa became a consistent presence in Joel’s life as his Communities In Schools Student Support Specialist at Siler City Elementary School. As their relationship grew, she came to understand what many people could not see.
Joel wasn’t simply a child who struggled to express his emotions. He came to school carrying an invisible backpack filled with challenges from beyond the classroom.
Before he could focus on learning, he needed someone to help him carry the weight.
Those challenges affected his ability to manage frustration, regulate his emotions, and remain engaged in learning. Rather than asking, “What’s wrong with Joel?” Rosa approached every interaction differently:
“What has Joel experienced, and how can I help?”
Together, they worked on emotional regulation, problem-solving, and learning that mistakes are part of growing. Joel wanted to succeed and cared deeply about doing well, but when things became difficult, his frustration could quickly overwhelm him.
Sometimes the most powerful interventions were also the simplest.
During particularly difficult moments, Rosa would take Joel outside to blow bubbles.
To someone passing by, it might have looked like a fun break from class. In reality, it was a carefully chosen strategy that encouraged slow, controlled breathing while helping Joel calm his body and mind. Without even realizing it, Joel was practicing lifelong coping skills in a way that felt safe, joyful, and free of judgment.
As the school year progressed, something remarkable began to happen.
One day, Joel’s teacher asked Rosa if she would be meeting with him that afternoon. She admitted she didn’t always know exactly what happened during their sessions, but she had noticed a consistent pattern. Every time Joel returned from spending time with Rosa, he came back calmer, more focused, and ready to learn.
That day, she knew he needed one of those moments.
For Rosa, hearing another educator recognize the impact of relationship-centered support was incredibly meaningful. It was a reminder that the most important work often happens quietly—one conversation and one caring interaction at a time.
Near the end of the school year, Joel proudly shared some exciting news. He told Rosa he had been following her advice: focusing on being a student, listening to his teacher, following directions, and choosing not to get pulled into unnecessary conflicts.
Then he smiled. “It makes my day so much easier.”
For Rosa, those words meant everything. They represented months of encouragement, patient conversations, and unwavering belief finally taking root. Joel wasn’t simply repeating advice. He had discovered for himself that he could make different choices and create a better experience at school.
She wanted nothing more than to give him a big hug, but Joel was much too cool for that. So instead, she smiled and told him how incredibly proud she was.
Joel’s story is a reminder that lasting change rarely happens all at once. It happens through consistency, patience, and the presence of one trusted adult who refuses to give up.
Every day, Communities In Schools Student Support Specialists walk alongside students like Joel, helping them navigate challenges, discover their strengths, and build the confidence to succeed inside and outside the classroom.
Because when a child knows someone believes in them, they begin to believe in themselves. That is the difference your support makes.
We’re asking our community to Be Present by helping us raise $10,000 this week to support students as they begin the school year.
Together, we can make sure that when a student walks through the school doors carrying a backpack full of obstacles, they also know they have someone in their corner to help them find their path to success!
Let’s be present. Because relationships change lives.