SJU Supports Gompers Elementary, a Philadelphia Community School

In July 2017, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney declared that Samuel Gompers Elementary School would become a community school. The University’s Overbrook neighbor, with whom it partners on educational initiatives, joins nine other community schools, which serve as community centers and improve access to resources and supports for students, families, and the neighborhood.. The new status will strengthen Saint Joseph’s ongoing involvement with Gompers and its program effectiveness.

The University’s education unit works closely with Gompers’ faculty and administration, offering student tutoring and autism awareness training; supporting its Big Brothers Big Sisters program; student-teaching; and overall program support. SJU's Faith-Justice Institute, Office of Campus Ministry, the Department of Biologyt and Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support also offer resources to Gompers’ students and families under the direction of the education faculty.

Aimee LaPointe Terosky, Ed.D., associate professor of educational leadership, who is also a member of the Gompers Elementary School Advisory Council, hopes the school’s new designation will make SJU’s work with the school more successful.

“Before Gompers was a community school, there was less communication between partners and project coordinators,” says Terosky. “If a person working on a project left the school, it might fall by the wayside. Now with Rennie Parker working with all of Gompers’ partners, there is more coordination between Gompers and our departments here at SJU.”

Parker, a West Philadelphia native who attended Philadelphia public schools including Gompers, is the city-paid community coordinator for Gompers, who is charged with developing and maintaining community partnerships and programming. Along with the Mayor’s Office and the School District of Philadelphia, Parker has been tasked with conducting a needs assessment and prioritizing the needs of the school community

About Philadelphia’s Community Schools: Kenney made a promise during his campaign for 25 local educational institutions to be made community schools, acting as a home for a community’s needs and allowing students to have all the opportunities and resources available to them to succeed in the classroom. Kenney cites the success of community schools around the country as his motivation to start the program in Philadelphia. The cities of Austin, Los Angeles and Cincinnati have observed significant academic growth among their students who attend community schools with added support services.