In City Connects schools across the nation and in Ireland, students are being connected with the out-of-school supports they need to thrive. City Connects Coordinators are on the front lines, working with students, teachers, families, and community partners to identify and support students’ strengths and needs.
Behind the scenes, there is a whole network of people supporting the Coordinators, providing coaching and professional learning opportunities throughout the year.
With the blog on summer vacation, this week we’re sharing past posts on the people and the processes supporting Coordinators.
City Connects Coordinators bring educators, school leaders, support staff, students, families, and community organizations together around a common goal: to foster the strengths and address the needs of students. It’s not easy, but they don’t have to do it alone. City Connects has a robust professional learning structure that ensures Coordinators have the tools they need to succeed.
“City Connects is a very comprehensive practice. There’s a lot of complexity to it. So Coordinators need training in how to execute their role, how to set up structures and be the steward of the City Connects system in their school,” said Judith Alexander, Senior Manager of Learning and Development at the Mary E. Walsh Center for Thriving Children.
For new Coordinators, this process starts with a three-day, in-person training during the summer. Once the school year begins, all Coordinators receive training from their Program Managers while learning from one another in a community of practice. They also receive one-on-one coaching from their Program Managers.
“We want to make sure Coordinators know they aren’t alone; they are part of a community of practice and there are a lot of resources and support, like coaching and professional development, that will help them get through,” said Alexander.
Behind the Scenes: City Connects Coaches and Program Managers Build Community
April 17, 2026
Every City Connects Coordinator has a Program Manager, who offers ongoing support and coaching throughout the year. And every Program Manager has a City Connects Coach, who provides one-on-one coaching sessions, professional development opportunities, and in-person support.
Jen Bouckaert, City Connects’ Lead Manager of Coaching and Networks, meets virtually with the Program Managers she supports at least once a week and makes frequent trips to visit in-person.
“Sometimes, if I’m really lucky, I get to observe Whole Class Review meetings. That really helps me see how I can best coach the Program Manager, who then coaches the Coordinators. We can talk about what their next steps could be, what they noticed from their observation, what they see from their perspective of working in the district compared to what I might see from a City Connects lens,” said Bouckaert.
Bouckaert and the other City Connects Coaches collaborate with Program Managers to review data from Whole Class Reviews, brainstorm services that could meet the students’ strengths, needs, and interests, and talk about how to support students on the individual, classroom, and school levels.
“What I most value about my partnership with our City Connects coach Jen, is our shared commitment to creating a cohesive pipeline of resources and services for the Poughkeepsie City School District. She not only understands the vision, but proactively and seamlessly engages in the work, helping to build strong, lasting systems of support for every student and family. As a Program Manager, her support is priceless and valued beyond words,” said Diandria Williams, Program Manager for City Connects in Poughkeepsie.
