Community Learning Support Organization

The philosophy of the Community LSO (CLSO) is reflected in five core values:

•    Excellence for every child, in every school, in every community;
•    Learning is communal;
•    Lifelong learning and continuous growth are vital for every member of the community;
•    The home/school/community partnership is integral to the success of every child;
•    Schools must promote equity, social justice, and civic responsibility. 

It is important to know that the CLSO holds each Principal in high esteem and works to support principals in their vital role.  All CLSO Network Leaders are former Principals and they understand the complexity and challenges of today’s school leaders.

The CLSO excels in leadership development, academic/instructional professional development in all content areas and grade levels, academic intervention, data analysis, program/curriculum development, parent engagement, student leadership development, grant writing, and community engagement. The CLSO helps develop learning communities that cultivate the development of the whole child and respond to students’ basic needs for safety, belonging and autonomy. Because we know that schools play a critical role in the social and emotional growth of children, the CLSO provides professional support to schools and facilitates access to external agencies and organizations that support schools in their efforts to engage families and communities. Read our fall and winter issues of the CLSO Newsletter “Community Matters” to see highlights of some of this outstanding work.

The Community LSO offers a wide range of workshops and workshop series, study groups, institutes, on-site and off-site professional development, conferences and celebrations for the various stakeholders in a school community including, but not limited to, Principals, assistant principals, teachers, coaches, parents/parent coordinators, and guidance counselors.

Each school that joins the Community LSO selects a Network Leader. Network Leaders are in regular contact with Principals, providing coaching, support for Quality Reviews and other visits, leading study groups, and serving as a resource for information and experience.

Network Leaders lead a team of three or four Instructional Specialists who specialize in ELA, mathematics, ELL, special education, science, social studies, or intervention. Instructional Specialists work directly in the schools in various roles: coaching, modeling best practices, leading workshops and study groups, facilitating curriculum planning, and other supports depending on the school’s needs and goals. In addition, Instructional Specialists provide CLSO-wide professional development workshops. We offer an extensive catalogue of workshops across all content areas and grades. Here are excerpts of our 2008-2009 Elementary, Middle School or High School Professional Development Catalogue. We also offer additional specialized professional development for CTT, Wilson, Schools Attuned, QTEL and gifted and talented instruction. The CLSO provides expertise that enables schools to craft and implement differentiated support for all students with particular concern for students with special needs, English language learners and students achieving far above or below grade level expectations. All members of the Community LSO team are knowledgeable in all accountability tools (Acuity and ARIS) and have assisted schools in preparation for their Quality Reviews.

For schools that choose the Premium or Elite Package, the CLSO provides community facilitators who develop school-community partnerships, connect schools with external organizations, write grants, assist with youth leadership development, and work with SLTs, parents/parent coordinators, and student leaders; These two packages also offer schools the support of an arts coordinator. 

and numerous other institutions.

Schools with values that align with our five core values, which appear in the overview, and prefer a Network Leader who has been a Principal would be a good fit with the CLSO. Our unique pricing structure offers choice based on need – the cost of each package varies with the amount of support that is provided. In addition, if a school finds that they need additional support during the year, the CLSO works with each school to customize offerings.

Feedback from Principals

The Community LSO is proud to note that 92% of our Principals responded to the Principals’ Satisfaction Survey  and, in our first year and a half of operation, 93% of our Principals reported being satisfied or very satisfied with our services. Click here to read testimonials from some of our Principals. 

Please click here to learn more details about our unique packages and pricing structure. 

ESSENTIAL:      $24,900
BASIC:                $29,900
PREMIUM:          $34,900
ELITE:                 $59,900

View a printable version of the profile data. 

Note: This SSO offers one or more Children First Networks. View additional details and a list of networks.