Sessions
Conducting a Comprehensive Assets and Needs Assessment
3:15 PM - 4:45 PM Tue
Chronic Absence
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Wed
Community School Coordinators/Directors: Leading with Purpose and Passion
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Wed
Kick Off
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Thu
Community School Messaging
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Thu
Jorge Blau built his career in Children's Aid community schools by leveraging his passion for developing and sustaining systems to remove equity barriers. Early in his life, Jorge experienced inequities when living abroad and caring for his disabled brother. These experiences fueled his passion for working with disadvantaged communities. Jorge started at Children's Aid as an Educational Coordinator in Manhattan's Washington Heights/Inwood neighborhood. His experiences adjusting to the dominant culture and reintegrating into American life drove the kinship he found with the community since most were newcomers and first-generation immigrants.
Jorge has held various positions at Children's Aid; Program Director, Assistant Community School Director, and Community School Director before joining the National Center for Community Schools (NCCS) as a Client Engagement Associate. As a Community School Director, Jorge leveraged chronic absence to improve climate and culture, eliminate silos and integrate supports. With this approach, C.S. 211 reduced chronic absenteeism by 30% in 5 years, reaching above 95% average daily attendance and a chronic absenteeism rate below 11%. The strategy changed the school's trajectory enabling them to become the flagship school in the Bronx, more importantly, a welcoming place for students and families. Now, at NCCS, Jorge leans on his practitioner lens when supporting districts, schools, and coordinators. Jorge holds a B.S. in Computer Science and Finance from St. John's University.