In the early days of Bridgeport-Communities In Schools, Nayla Aneed called a meeting with Dr. Huey Barnett, Elizabeth Glenn, Joy Muniz, and Joy Smitherman at the brand-new Bay Oaks Country Club. They discussed helping struggling students assigned to in-school suspension due to their classroom behavior. The philanthropic program began with two campuses, Webster Intermediate and League City Intermediate, and tutors helped students facing the largest struggles, including those with disruptive home environments, economic disadvantages, and language barriers.

Over time, the program evolved to Communities In Schools – Bay Area and, more recently, Operation Support Our Schools, reflecting the services provided. We partner with Nasa Vision Center, Dr. Thomas J Thomas to arrange for eye examinations and prescription glasses, shop for nutritional items, offer incentives for good behavior and academic achievements, and donate dental care contributed by member Dr. Cindy Castille.

Operation Support Our Schools serves 3,000 students over nineteen campuses and two clusters in Clear Creek and Dickinson Independent School Districts.

Communities In Schools – Bay Area and their Student Support Specialists partner with Campus Liaisons, who work continuously throughout the year to provide services and fulfill special requests.

Almost 30 years ago, a small but influential group of women joined and ignited a continuing movement. Their work is a testament to their initial meeting and is exemplified through the program’s impact today.