WALDORF, Md., May 2, 2025 — Andrill Harris, community school coordinator at Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School in Charles County, was named a Community School Champion by the Maryland Center for Community Schools at Towson University. During the inaugural Community Schools conference in March, Harris was one of four coordinators recognized out of 25 nominees, representing Maryland’s Southern region.
Harris’s office at Dr. Mudd is a hub of activity, filled with shelves of canned goods, school supplies, and toiletries. A whiteboard tracks notes, times, and dates, while students wave through the window. “Ms. Harris brings a sense of calmness and patience that is truly contagious,” said Portia Parker, Dr. Mudd’s principal. “She leads with compassion and consistency.”
The Maryland Center for Community Schools supports the state’s community school initiative and conducts research on its impact. The four regional award winners were Harris for Southern Maryland, Autumn Symons for Western Maryland, Annie Weber for Central Maryland, and Nicole Higgins for Eastern Maryland.
Harris began her career as a social worker with the Washington, D.C., government, later working with Maryland’s Child Protective Services and a D.C.-based organization similar to the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) community school program. She joined Dr. Mudd as a school-based counselor with the Tri-County Youth Services Bureau before becoming the community school coordinator. “I saw the opportunity and thought ‘That would be great.’ I would still work with students, know the families, know the community and be able to assist and provide more services,” Harris said.
Dr. Mudd launched the first CCPS community school in the 2021-2022 school year. “As the first Community School coordinator at our school, Ms. Harris paved the way and set the standard for the role,” Parker said. “Because of her leadership, newly hired coordinators across the district have a strong mentor and trusted resource to turn to.”
Wanda Proctor, community school coordinator at J.P. Ryon Elementary School, considers Harris a mentor. “We all take from her work and her example,” Proctor said. “She is not competitive; she works with everyone to collaborate and bring unity.” Harris described the coordinator role as honorable and rewarding. “We see the vision, we get it and want to be part of it,” she said.
Community schools aim to promote equitable outcomes by providing physical and mental health support, academic resources, and extracurricular opportunities. They serve as hubs connecting families, communities, and partners to remove barriers to learning. Maryland’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future prioritizes community schools to improve education quality and close achievement gaps. Over 600 community schools operate statewide, including 10 in Charles County at schools like Dr. Mudd, J.P. Ryon, and Thomas Stone High School.
Each CCPS community school conducts a needs assessment to tailor resources to families’ needs. At Dr. Mudd, Harris addressed the demand for afterschool programs by creating Wise Dragons, an extended learning opportunity for about 100 students. The program offers academic support, tutoring, snacks, and weekly dinners, with bus transportation provided. “Each school is different, and each coordinator has different concerns,” Harris said.
Dr. Mudd’s food pantry supports families facing food insecurity, opening as needed. “In the life of a coordinator, there are no set times,” Harris said. CCPS coordinators collaborate across schools, sharing resources and responding to needs district-wide. “We’re all in the CCPS community,” Harris said. “If a PPW, parent liaison calls for help, we’re going to do what we can.”
Harris builds partnerships with churches, nonprofits, and community organizations, attending their events to foster mutual support. “It’s not just a ‘take’ thing,” she said. “If they are having an event, I’m attending. I’m giving the support they give me.” She emphasized the inclusive nature of community schools: “Everyone has something to offer, whether they know it or not. They can support, volunteer or connect you to somebody else who can meet the needs of our students.”
Harris’s work has set a model for CCPS community schools, blending compassion with practical solutions. “She transitioned with ease as the Community School Coordinator due to her positive relationships with students and families at Dr. Mudd,” said Bethany Goodwin, CCPS community schools, homeless, and foster care district coordinator.
