Jan Mauk, the Executive Director of Communities In Schools Puyallup, is retiring this month after 17 years serving students in Puyallup. She began her role with CISP in 2005 as the After School Program Coordinator, then became acting Executive Director of CISP in 2009 and full-time Executive Director two years later.
The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Mauk is well-known in Puyallup as a champion for kids. Under her leadership, CISP became a nationally accredited CIS affiliate in 2014. They were selected for the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce Rising Star Award in 2018.
When asked about her role, she simply defers the credit to the community, people, and organizations that have supported CISP and the work they do for Puyallup students. In her role as Executive Director Mauk:
• Oversees CIS Site Coordinators in seven elementary schools who support students in many ways including providing resources for unmet basic needs, such as backpacks, school supplies, and weekend food supplies. The Good Samaritan Readers program in these elementary schools pair volunteer senior citizens and other adults with students in grades 1-3 to work with them to improve reading skills and develop relationships.
• Built more than 100 community partnerships and developed resources for collecting donations to support students. Her partnerships include churches, Kiwanis, Rotary, Costco, Washington State Fair, Red Canoe Credit Union, Fred Meyer, Puyallup Police Department, Pierce County firefighters, and many more. A highlight each year is the CIS Breakfast and auction where community members come together to support Puyallup students.
• Promotes and coordinates March Gladness community service projects to provide students the chance to give back to their peers and the community. From January through March, students from all schools in the Puyallup School District have the opportunity to create and carry out a service project. These projects can benefit a local, national, or global cause. Because of this, students can learn more about their community and feel more connected.
“I am so grateful for the generosity of this community — how they support, volunteer, and donate to help students. I hope they continue to be generous, get involved, and support the CISP organization. The bottom line is the resources that we can leverage when we build relationships and provide manpower to support the kids,” says Mauk.
Mauk raised her family in Puyallup and began as a volunteer and PTA member in the schools. She went on to become a substitute paraeducator and then was hired as a paraeducator at Wildwood Elementary. After that she became an office support substitute in the PSD communications department before joining Communities In Schools Puyallup.
In her retirement Mauk plans to spend more time with family, including her new grandchild. She enjoys gardening, music, hiking and fitness.
Thank you for your service to Puyallup students Jan!
Staff comments:
“Jan Mauk exemplifies servant leadership.  It has been a privilege to work with her and Communities in Schools for many years.  There is simply no way to calculate the number of families she has supported in Puyallup.  Through every encounter Jan was committed to honoring each individual and finding ways to support families that had long term impacts.  I do not think it is hyperbole to state she positively changed the course of many students’ lives.  She will be greatly missed.”
Terrie Garrison, Firgrove Principal