Zy’ire is a CIS student in Concord. He was referred to Communities In Schools because he struggled to make positive connections with his teachers and peers. 

“Zy’ire was guarded and hesitant to trust anyone, including me. During our early interactions, he kept his distance emotionally and rarely opened up,” his CIS Specialist, Ms. Haynie, said.

Despite that, Ms. Haynie continued to engage with him, hoping to instill trust. She made sure to be a consistent person who showed up for him, encouraged him, and listened without judgment. Over time, that consistency made a difference, and she could see a shift in Zy’ire’s attitude.  

Ms. Haynie invited Zy’ire to lunch with her, offering him one-on-one support and a safe place to talk. The conversations started off short. But he began to engage more each week.  Over time, their lunches became a routine that Zy’ire looked forward to.  

“I’ll never forget the first time I asked him where he saw himself as an adult. He replied, “I’ll probably be in jail.”  It was hard to hear. That response showed he had little hope for his future” recalls Ms. Haynie. She was determined to change that.  And she did.

One day, during one of his lunch sessions, Zy’ire shared with Ms. Haynie that he was looking forward to going to middle school because he wanted to run track. Another time, he said he wanted to start his own business after graduating from high school. “Those moments to me were more than just words. They were signs of growth and hope.” Says Ms. Haynie.

When Ms. Haynie accepted the role with CIS, she wondered if she would make a difference. She did not begin the school year with the students and questioned if that would impact her relationships. Zy’ire’s transformation showed her the power of being present, being patient, and building genuine connections.

A few months of showing up from a caring adult can make a lasting impact — and in Zy’ire’s case, it helped him see a brighter path forward. That is the impact of finding community in school.