Who We Are

Admin Team

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Natasha Adwaters

Natasha Adwaters
Executive Director
she/her
email

Emma Baker West
Operations & Communications Assistant
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Patrick Curry

Patrick Curry
Data & Grants Compliance Officer
he/him
email

Natalie Williams
Resource Development Coordinator
she/her
email

Student Support Specialists

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Nicole Hix

Nicole Gannon
Student Supports Manager
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Jill Bulmash

Jill Bulmash
Student Support Specialist - Hall Fletcher Elementary
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Zack Jones

Zack Jones
Student Support Specialist - Emma Elementary
he/him
email

Fernanda Baiao
Student Support Specialist - Eblen Intermediate
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Maria Delegarza

Maria Delegarza
Student Support Specialist - Johnston Elementary
she/her
email

Perry Hutchens
Student Support Specialist - Oakley Elementary she/her
email

Naomi Todd
Student Support Specialist - Estes Elementary
email

Afterschool & Summer Enrichment

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Gabbi Santander

Gabbi Santander
Afterschool and Summer Enrichment Program Manager
they/them
email

T. Bates
Learning Center Assistant he/him
email

Community Supports

Mary Cozens
Director of Community Supports
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Alvena Landrum

Alvena Landrum
Family Engagement & Community Supports Coordinator
she/her
email

Project POWER - Americorps

Project POWER Americorps Assistant Coordinator

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Cat Saunders

Cat Saunders
Project POWER Americorps Director
she/her
email

Board of Directors | Fiscal Year 2026-2027

Adarrell Gadsden - President - Arizona State University Foundation

Lee Anne Mangone - Acting Past President- Retired from University of North Carolina Asheville

Monica Ponder- President Elect - Buncombe County Schools

Kim Robinson- Secretary - Asheville City Schools

Carla Trull- Treasurer- First Citizens Bank

Ward Caldwell - Mosaic Realty

Martha Habegger- Community Volunteer

Kathleen Hargrove - Robert & Stevens, P.A.

Mike Knepshield - HomeTrust Bank

Jean Lawler - Community Volunteer

Chris Lenderman - Community Volunteer

Thomas Priester - Housing Authority of the City of Asheville

Stefanie Shuba - First Citizens Bank

Anna Gillespie - Ex-Officio - Campbell Shatley PLLC

Three kids walking away from the camera outside of an apartment building, with arms around eachother

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