Crosswalking the Four Pillars of Community Schools and the Inflexion Approach Navigation Tool
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.
– Margaret Wheatley
INTRO
To build truly student-centered learning environments, schools must align their efforts strategically. While many initiatives begin with supports like expanded learning time or integrated student services, sustainable change requires a foundational commitment to collaborative leadership and community partnerships. Without engaging all stakeholders from the outset—including families, educators, and community leaders—efforts to enhance student learning and well-being may fall short. Schools must take a comprehensive approach, ensuring that each component is implemented in a way that supports long-term transformation.
OBJECTIVES
- Demonstrate how the Four Pillars of Community Schools align with the Inflexion Approach Navigation Tool to create cohesive, student-centered strategies.
- Show how integrating these frameworks can enhance educational equity, student success, and community engagement.
- Inspire educators and school leaders to adopt a holistic approach by leveraging both models for sustainable, system-wide improvement.
Community schools provide a holistic approach to education, centering students by integrating academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and family engagement. These schools operate around four key pillars:
- Integrated Student Supports – Addressing barriers to learning by connecting students and families to resources such as healthcare, mental health support, and social services.
- Expanded Learning Time and Opportunities – Enriching student experiences through afterschool programs, summer learning, and mentorship.
- Active Family and Community Engagement – Partnering with families and community members to strengthen student success.
- Collaborative Leadership and Practices – Fostering shared decision-making among educators, students, families, and community partners.
At Inflexion, our Navigation Tool is designed to help schools and districts assess their readiness and create systems that promote student success through four dimensions:
- Identity – How schools define their values, vision, and culture.
- Structure – How schools organize their policies, procedures, and resource allocation.
- Learning – How instruction and engagement strategies support student development.
- Readiness for All – How well schools ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities for every student.
By aligning the Four Pillars of Community Schools with the Inflexion Approach Navigation Tool, schools can implement a comprehensive, student-centered strategy that meets their community’s unique needs.
Pillar 1: Expanded and Enriched Learning Time and Opportunities
Enriching student experiences through afterschool programs, summer learning, and mentorship.
Student Supports
Targeted learning opportunities and resources.
Universal Practices
Consistent approaches or strategies implemented across all classrooms and settings.
Student Empowerment
Each and every student has agency and autonomy in their learning journey.
Elevated Student Voice
Students’ ideas, experiences, and identities are centered in decisions that shape what and how they learn.
Pillar 1 Resources From Toolkit
Foster Student SEL Competencies: Embed SEL Explanations Into Daily Check-Ins and Student Self-Management
Culture at the Core: How North Valley’s Monthly Themes Reinforce Maxims to Unify the School Community
Ditch the Clip: PBIS Alternatives to the Clip Chart
Pillar 2: Integrated Student Supports
Addressing barriers to learning by connecting students and families to resources such as healthcare, mental health support, and social services.
Equitable Access (Individual)
Each and every student gets what they need when and how they need it.
Equitable Access (Programmatic)
The range of programs provided to students cater to their identities, interests, aspirations, and needs.
Relationship Supporting Structures
Rituals and routines that foster and sustain strong relationships.
Effective Communication Structures
Communication structures are simple, clear and well known throughout the school community.
Pillar 2 Resources From Toolkit
Engage in Function-Based Thinking to More Deeply Understand Students
Open Lines of Communication: Hold Authentic Spaces to Gather Feedback and Have Brave Conversations
Engage Your Emotional Intelligence to Improve Staff Retention
Pillar 3: Collaborative Leadership and Practices
Fostering shared decision-making among educators, students, families, and community partners.
Collaborative leadership and practices is a foundational pillar connected to some of the critical elements of the Inflexion Approach. These include Collaborative Leadership, Shared Identity, Shared Purpose, Shared Vision for Readiness, and Effective Communication Structures.
Collaborative Leadership
Decision making power is shared among key influencers throughout the school community.Students who feel a sense of belonging feel respected, accepted, and supported by teachers and peers.
Shared Identity
The school community knows who they are and what they collectively value and believe.
Shared Purpose
The school community is united in preparing each and every student for life.
Shared Vision for Readiness
The outcomes the school community prioritizes for each and every student.
Effective Communication Structures
Communication structures are simple, clear and well known throughout the school community.
Shared Mental Models
The set of beliefs and expectations that influence how we make sense of the world and guide our behavior and decision-making.
Pillar 3 Resources From Toolkit
Developing Maxims for Sherman County: A Model for Authentic Engagement
Sharing Student Stories to Bring Your School Identity to Life
Use Openers and Closers to Support Authentic Connection
Pillar 4: Family and Community Engagement
Partnering with families and community members to strengthen student success.
Family and Community Engagement
The school community purposefully works together to ensure all students get what they need.
Shared Identity
The school community knows who they are and what they collectively value and believe.
Shared Purpose
The school community is united in preparing each and every student for life.
Shared Vision for Readiness
The outcomes the school community prioritizes for each and every student.
Effective Communication Structures
Communication structures are simple, clear and well known throughout the school community.
Pillar 4 Resources From Toolkit
Developing Maxims for Sherman County: A Model for Authentic Engagement
Sharing Student Stories to Bring Your School Identity to Life
Use Openers and Closers to Support Authentic Connection
Moving Forward: A Unified Approach for Student Success
By crosswalking these frameworks, schools can move beyond isolated initiatives and toward a cohesive, strategic approach that integrates community assets, supports holistic student development, and fosters sustainable change. Schools that leverage both the Four Pillars of the Community Schools Model and the Inflexion Navigation Tool will be better positioned to cultivate learning environments where every student thrives.
Looking for a Step-By-Step Approach?
Starting a school transformation effort can feel overwhelming—where do you even begin? With so many moving parts, competing priorities, and deeply ingrained systems, the process can quickly become daunting. But meaningful change doesn’t have to be an insurmountable challenge. The 5-Step Navigation Tool breaks down the complexity into manageable, strategic steps, guiding schools through a clear and structured process. By focusing on practical, actionable steps, this tool empowers school leaders to move forward with confidence, ensuring that transformation efforts are both effective and sustainable.
About the Author
Dr. Matt Coleman is the CEO of Inflexion, where he leverages his deep-rooted expertise in school systems change to drive impactful educational reform. With a career spanning various roles—from educational assistant to assistant superintendent—Matt’s experience encompasses every level of secondary education.
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This work by Inflexion is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
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