07/08/2025
SAMPSON COUNTY SCHOOLS PARTNERS WITH NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COALITION TO LAUNCH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MODEL IN LAKEWOOD DISTRICT
By Valerie Newton
Sampson County Schools is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the North Carolina Community Schools Coalition (NCCSC) to implement the community schools model in the Lakewood district. This initiative has launched at Roseboro Elementary, Salemburg Elementary, Roseboro-Salemburg Middle, and Lakewood High schools, making Sampson County the first school district in the Sandhills region to join the NCCSC’s Sandhills expansion.
Each of the four Lakewood schools has a full-time dedicated Community Schools Coordinator. At Salemburg Elementary, Mikasa Melvin is the coordinator, while at Lakewood High, Wilson Simpson will lead that school’s program. Roseboro Elementary’s coordinator is Samantha Flores, and Roseboro-Salemburg Middle’s coordinator is Camille Logan.
“I am incredibly excited to be part of the Community Schools Program at Roseboro Elementary,” said Flores. “As someone who deeply values connection and collaboration and someone who grew up in Sampson County, I believe community schools have the power to transform not just education but entire neighborhoods. One of my biggest goals is to create meaningful opportunities that bring families and schools closer together, because when we work as one, our students thrive.
“It's truly an honor to join the fantastic team within the Lakewood district where our unwavering goal is to bridge educational gaps and empower students, parents, guardians, and educators to thrive,” said Logan. “ This year at Roseboro-Salemburg Middle, we're proud to launch our Family Resource Center, an initiative designed to foster meaningful collaboration among families, students, administrators, and community stakeholders. If you're interested in volunteering or getting involved, please don't hesitate to reach out. We'd love to have you join us!”
The coordinators facilitate the implementation of the community schools model within their respective schools, connecting families, educators, and community partners. By convening leadership teams, coordinating resources, and fostering strong relationships among school staff and the broader community, the Community Schools Coordinators will play a pivotal role in uniting efforts to support student learning, development, and well-being.
“One of my plans is to start a Big Buddy mentor program for some of our youth who need a good role model and have a food pantry available for any family in need,” said Melvin. “I am working at Salemburg Elementary, which is my home school, and am very excited to serve the families and students of Sampson County.”
Community schools serve as hubs for their neighborhoods, uniting families, educators, and community partners. They become academic and social centers where educators, families, and neighbors collaborate to foster innovative learning and address the out-of-school factors, such as health, housing, and economic challenges that can undermine student success. Through this model, the Lakewood schools will offer a wide array of resources, including integrated student supports (social services, mental and physical health care), expanded learning opportunities (after-school and summer programs, tutoring, mentoring), family engagement and benefits enrollment assistance, job search and workforce development resources, and staff wellness initiatives.
"I am excited to be back in the community and to work with my alma mater to support the Lakewood district,” said Simpson. “We have exciting plans to establish a Family Resource Center, a School Advisory Board, and many workshops beginning next school year. I am located in the first building on Lakewood High School's campus and look forward to networking with the Lakewood community."
In 2023, a broad coalition of partners went through a rigorous process with the Department of Education that resulted in North Carolina being awarded the largest federal grant in the country to expand the community schools model statewide. The grant of up to $50 million to the Duke Clinical Research Institute created the North Carolina Community Schools Coalition to support scaling the model over five years.
The NCCSC began rolling out the community schools model in nine North Carolina school systems during the 2024-25 school year. Initial plans included expanding to 14 additional schools statewide, including four in Sampson County. This effort is part of a five-year project that will ultimately support 46 schools across 28 districts, serving more than 22,000 students, with a special focus on rural communities facing persistent poverty.
“We are excited to bring the community schools model to the Lakewood district,” said Dr. Jamie King, Superintendent of Sampson County Schools. “By working together with NCCSC and our local partners, we will create schools that are not only centers of learning, but also vibrant hubs of support and opportunity for our entire community.”
