When Amy Chruniak stepped into her role as Community School Director at Ford Elementary two years ago, she knew the path ahead would be about more than programs or resources—it would be about trust. 

“The first year was really laying the groundwork,” Amy recalls. “Meeting families one-on-one, listening, figuring out what they needed most.” 

Over time, Amy has shifted from relying on school clinicians to tell her about families to personally knowing many of them by name. She learned students’ stories, met their siblings, and became part of the school fabric. “Now when a first grader walks in, I know their older brother or sister. The relationships are real,” she says. This closeness has fueled stronger partnerships, deeper family engagement, and even greater staff buy-in. 

Those conversations laid the foundation for what has become a vibrant network of supports for students and families. Families had talked about wanting afterschool opportunities—so Amy helped secure a 21st Century Learning Grant. Today, 39 students stay for afterschool care, and they even spent two weeks at an outdoor summer camp, coming back each day with faces full of joy.  

She also helped reimagine the cracked, empty parking lot that doubled as the schoolyard. Through a partnership with Sherwin-Williams and Centerboard, staff and community volunteers joined Amy in painting hopscotch, foursquare, twister, and the school’s new motto—SOAR: Show respect, Own your actions, Accept and acknowledge, Reach for more.    

“It finally looks like an elementary school out there,” Amy says. “It’s vibrant, and the kids love it.” 

Beyond beautifying spaces, Amy’s work is about addressing families’ most immediate needs.  

“As I got to know our families better, I started to really understand what they were up against,” she says. “The more relationships I built, the clearer it became where the gaps were.”  

When she first started, there were no local food resources nearby. Now, Ford hosts two monthly food distributions on site—one with the Greater Boston Food Bank and another with the Salem Food Pantry’s mobile market. 

“Food kept coming up in conversations with parents,” Amy recalls. “They were doing everything they could for their kids, but they just needed a little extra support to get through the week.” 

Last school year alone, 187 families received support, and hundreds more have accessed the mobile market since it launched this summer. 

These efforts go hand-in-hand with building deep, trusting relationships. “Families come to us as the first line of support,” Amy explains. “Even when they’re working with other agencies, they come to us because they know we’ll help.” 

Recently, she and Ford’s Family Community Coordinator supported a newly arrived parent who was nervous about her immigration status and lacked basic necessities. “She came in so worried, so unsure,” Amy says. “By the end, we had her set up with clothing and connected her with partners who could get her the other things she needed. You could see the relief on her face.” 

“It’s moments like that,” she adds, “when you realize how much trust matters.” 

That spirit of care has spread. Staff who were once unsure of the Community School model are now all in—volunteering at food markets or showing up to paint the playground. On September 7, 2025, 25 staff members braved the pouring rain to volunteer at a local road race, raising $2,000 for Ford’s Girls on the Run team.  

Amy believes that trust and buy-in come from being all in herself. “I’ll dress up in a pizza costume if it helps raise money for our students,” she laughs. “There’s nothing I won’t do for them.”  

She also credits Principal Amy Nerich for championing this work every step of the way. “She always says yes to new ideas. She leads with love for our students—and that’s why this works.”  

Through it all, Amy’s philosophy hasn’t changed. “Community Schools has always meant putting students and families first—meeting them where they are,” she says. “Students are at the center, and with them comes their family. We can’t separate the two.” 

As Ford celebrates Community Schools Appreciation Week, Amy’s story is a reminder of what’s possible when schools become hubs of hope, care, and connection. The seeds she planted in her first year are now in full bloom—and they’re only growing stronger.