Community Partnership School
Empowering students to succeed in school and life
Students attending Title I schools in low-income communities often struggle to focus on their education because of the many complex challenges they face daily. Often, students in these schools struggle with:
- Poverty

- Lack of access to adequate health care
- Exposure to violence and other crime
- Exposure to drugs
- Hunger
- Abuse or neglect
Community Partnership Schools address students’ holistic needs, recognizing their unique challenges – and opportunities. Many schools offer:
- On-site access to health and wellness services
- After-school activities
- Parent Resource Centers
- On-site food pantries
- Counseling
- Leadership opportunities
- Cultural enrichment activities
No two Community Partnership Schools are exactly alike – each centers on unique community needs to allow students to focus on their education and future success. But all share a similar model – one with proven methods for accountability and outcomes.
A partnership among Heartland for Children, Polk County Public Schools, Southeastern University, Central Florida Health Care, & United Way brought the successful Community Partnership School model to Crystal Lake Elementary in Lakeland, FL in time for the 2018/19 school year.
Each Community Partnership School focuses on four pillars:
- Extended Learning
- Student Supports
- Family & Community Engagement
- Collaborative Leadership
Community Partnership School successes include:
- Increases in student achievement
- Improved student attendance
- Increased Parent and Community Involvement
- Increases in graduation rates
- Positive changes in school culture
- Improved health of the student and community
Increased Overall Lifelong Success:
- Education
- Employment
- Health
UCF - Center for Community Schools
Andrea Hagan - Director
Andrea Hagan, BA | Director of Community Partnership Schools
Crystal Lake Elementary, a Community Partnership School
Address: 700 Galvin Drive | Lakeland, FL 33801
Desk: (863) 499-2966 ext.433 | Mobile: (863) 221-6844
ahagan@heartlandforchildren.org| andrea.hagan@polk-fl.net
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About Andrea:
Andrea Hagan is a native of Pennsylvania and moved to Florida in 1986. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Elementary Education from Southeastern University. She has over twenty-nine years of combined experience in social services, serving children and families in both the areas of nonprofit faith based and community based care in Central Florida. Throughout her professional career, Ms. Hagan has worked in the areas of emergency shelter care, maternity care, foster care, adoption, and prevention. She joined Heartland for Children in June of 2010 as a Prevention Specialist and currently serves as the Director of Community Partnership Schools at Crystal Lake Elementary School, the very first Community Partnership School in Polk County. Ms. Hagan has a passion for serving others and building strong families and community.
CPS in the News
- ARTICLE Palm Beach Post: "Community partnership schools help economic development"
- ARTICLE Lakeland Ledger: "Community school initiative moving ahead in Polk"
- ARTICLE Lakeland Ledger: "Crystal Lake Elem to become community school in Polk pilot program"
- ARTICLE Lakeland Ledger: "Hagan to oversee community partnership school"
- STORY Bay News 9: "Crystal Lake Elem opening as 1st community partnership school in Polk"Crystal Lake Elementary opening as the 1st community partnership school in PolkCrystal Lake Elementary opening as the 1st community partnership school in Polk
Business & Community Partners
How Community Partnership Schools are Unique

HUB Newsletter & Resources
Stay up-to-date with what's going on a Crystal Lake Elementary, A Community Partnership School.
Spring/Summer 2021 Newsletter
Fall 2020 Newsletter
Resources:
Monthly Food Pantry
Community Health Center
Recognition for Grants & Sponsors
In 2019, Heartland for Children was awarded $12,339.00 through Impact Polk towards the Community Partnership School Expanded Learning. The grant was made possible by the George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation.