Chris Welch, principal of Buckingham Elementary School, told the Worcester County Board of Education the school has spent the past year coordinating three programs to expand services for students and families. Buckingham staff combined the Buckingham Judy Center, Title I resources and a new community-school coordinator to avoid duplicating services and extend outreach to younger siblings and adult family members.

The effort, Welch said, began after a directive from curriculum staff to “collaborate with our Judy Center, our Title I program, and our concentration-of-poverty funds,” and the team convened monthly to plan events and family supports. Tanya Morris Davis, site manager of the Buckingham Judy Center, described the Judy Center as a “full-day, four-year service” that promotes school readiness for children from birth to age 5 and provides programs such as free home education and Tiny Tot Time playgroups.

Amanda Chaffee, Buckingham’s community-school coordinator, said her first-year role uses a needs-assessment approach to survey families about barriers and gaps so the school can target wraparound services. Jocelyn Brittingham, Buckingham’s Title I specialist, explained Title I funding pays for additional teachers, support staff, professional development, instructional materials and family-engagement activities.

The Buckingham team described several braided events. A Title I–led “Math Trails and Campfire Tales” night combined literacy and math activities aligned to the county’s Wit & Wisdom curriculum and distributed math fluency materials to families. Including community partners at events enabled on-site connections to nonacademic services, the team said. The Judy Center used events to engage families with pre‑K and younger children who might otherwise be missed.

The schools also piloted a Fathers Forward initiative that brought male role models into the building to support a positive transition back to school after winter break. Staff created “Buc-ee’s Family Den” workshops that provide childcare, programming for parents (topics such as bedtime routines and managing strong emotions) and opportunities for student volunteers to earn service-learning hours. Buckingham reported receiving local donations for events and said volunteers included current students, former students and staff.

Board members commended the team. William Buchanan, president of the Worcester County Board of Education, praised the collaboration; board member Bill Gordy called the results “amazing” and said the work is producing measurable family engagement.

School leaders said the braided model is intended to create a pipeline of services from early childhood through the elementary years and reduce duplication so district funds are used efficiently.