Sanford School Department awarded grant from John T. Gorman Foundation
- January 17th 2025
- School News
The grant provides funds to the department to develop a pilot aimed at strengthening family-school connections and promoting academic growth.
Photo credit: Sanford School Department
The Sanford School Department has been awarded a grant from the John T. Gorman Foundation, whose mission is to make Maine a more equitable place where all children and families can thrive.
The grant provides funds to the department to develop and implement the Empowering Families, Elevating Early Learners Initiative, a pilot aimed at strengthening family-school connections and promoting academic and social-emotional growth for families at risk of or experiencing housing instability or homelessness.
“This work is really centered on prevention,” Sanford Assistant Superintendent Steve Bussiere explained. “It’s about trying to support families early on, identifying those who need assistance, and connecting them to resources.”
Cecilia Sirianni, the department’s outreach coordinator, said the team has carefully evaluated their approach. “We assessed areas of strengths and needs regarding connections between school, family and the community,” she said. “We aim to discover creative ways to strengthen these relationships, emphasizing the early years and increasing engagement in school by parents and students, as well as greater awareness and presence of community resources.”
This $235,000 grant will help Sanford schools better assist families experiencing housing challenges through early intervention and enhanced connections between families, schools and community resources. By identifying and supporting families early, the program aims to improve student success in school. The initiative begins planning this winter and launches in the 2025-26 school year
