The Robert H. Spitz Foundation, administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation, has awarded a $10,000 grant during its Spring 2025 Grant Cycle to the United Way of Wyoming Valley. The funding will expand the School-Based Community Navigator Program to GAR Middle School in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District.
This program, a position housed through the Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18 and funded by the United Way of Wyoming Valley, places dedicated Community Navigators in schools to help remove barriers to learning and increase student attendance.
GAR Middle School serves students in grades 6 through 8, with 86.8% of students classified as economically disadvantaged. Chronic absenteeism is a significant challenge, with a current attendance rate of 51.9% and a chronic absenteeism rate of 48.1%.
“Chronic absenteeism is one of the most serious obstacles to a child’s educational future,” said Sara Peperno, president/CEO of United Way of Wyoming Valley. “Students who are chronically absent risk falling behind, with long-term consequences such as struggling to read at grade level and a significantly higher likelihood of dropping out of high school. This generous grant from The Robert H. Spitz Foundation allows a dedicated Navigator at GAR Middle School to proactively address these challenges and help more children reach their full potential.”
The School-Based Community Navigator Program works to increase school attendance, foster student success and engagement, strengthen family stability through resource connections, and enhance community engagement to create a supportive learning environment.
This will be the second Navigator in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, building on the success of the program at Dr. David W. Kistler Elementary.