In November of 2022, Jefferson
County K-12 (JCS) announced the
adoption of the innovative Community
Partnership Schools™ model, with
partnerships among Children’s Home
Society of Florida, Florida A&M
University, Florida Department of
Health-Jefferson County, Florida State
University, Jefferson County School
District and North Florida College.
Lori Livingston has been selected as
the director of the Children’s Home
Society of Florida Community
Partnership School here and began
transitioning into the position last
December. The transition period
allowed her to make connections
with the faculty, staff, students and
families at JCS as well as introduce
herself to various businesses,
community groups and civic leaders
in the county. With relationships
initiated, Livingston had her first full day on the job Feb. 6 and is fully
involved with her duties.
JCS Principal Jackie Pons says,
“We are excited to have Lori as part of
our K12 team! She has already hit the
ground running in her new role as the
Community Partnership School
Director. We look forward to all of the
great resources she will be bringing to
the Jefferson County community.”
“I serve as the bridge between
community leaders, organizations and
the school to connect students and
families with resources to eliminate
issues impacting their ability to learn
and succeed,” says Livingston. “Many
of our students come to school each
day carrying heavy adult burdens –
such as poverty, hunger, mental health
challenges and violence,” she adds. “It
impacts their ability to focus in school.
In collaboration with our core partners
and the local community, we will
bring in key resources like counseling,
medical and dental services, nutrition,
mentoring, after-school enrichment
and more right on site at the school.
This collaborative approach will help
us leverage the school as a central hub
toward improving child well-being.”
Livingston grew up as a small
town girl just down the road in Taylor
County. She recalls traveling to play
the Tigers in basketball and sees a
younger Lori when she looks into the
eyes of JCS students.
“I can relate to them; I am them,”
she says. “Each of us on the Jefferson
team have our own ‘why’ as to what
motivates us to do this amazing work.
Although our ‘whys’ may be different,
we all have a shared passion to impact
the students here. We want to be the
voice for them. We want to be a
champion for them. It feels so
amazing to be a part of a team that
shares the same passion and
commitment that I have.”
Livingston brings to the JCS team
extensive knowledge gained in earning
advanced college degrees as well as 20
years of professional experience
centered around helping students
realize their full potential. She attained
a bachelor’s degree in
Religion/African American Studies at
Florida State University and a master’s
degree in Education Administration
and Supervision from the University
of Phoenix. This spring, Livingston
will complete a doctoral degree in
Educational Leadership from Florida
A&M University, where her research
has focused on identifying effective
programming to reduce achievement
gaps, improve academic performance
and increase college enrollment for
students in low-income families and
“first generation students,” whose
parents have not completed a college
degree.
She has worked with youth in a
variety of contexts, including in a
therapeutic residential facility, as a
juvenile probation officer, classroom
teacher, guidance counselor and
administrator. She spent 12 years as
director of a college access program
and, just prior to joining the JCS team,
was Director of Programs for
Children’s Home Society TallahasseeGainesville Region.
“In my short time here,” says
Livingston, “I have learned that
Jefferson County shares many of the
challenges that most rural
communities face.”
The first phase of her work here is
to assess how these challenges
translate into specific needs within the
school community. Then she can
connect students and their families
with the local agencies and service
organizations that can meet their
needs, whether that be food, housing,
employment, transportation or health
care.
Children’s Home Society of
Florida has designated $80,000 in
state grant funds to launch the
community partnership school at
Jefferson County K-12 in addition to
local financial contributions to support
this initiative. This is part of $7
million in funding for 36 community
partnership schools throughout
Florida. Livingston says they are
asking to increase the amount to $11M
next year to allow for expansion of the
model to eight more schools.
Livingston’s love of connecting
with people grows from a busy life in
a large family of her own. She and her
husband have nine children, four of
whom are adopted.
“Our youngest is a senior in high
school, which makes us almost empty
nesters,” she says. “My family and I
enjoy traveling, game nights and
playing basketball together.”
She is active in her church and
sees herself as a servant at heart while
also being a leader, advocate and agent
of change. Livingston and her family
enjoy giving back through local and
international missions whose efforts
have included feeding programs,
donating supplies to schools, prayer
walks to take basic necessities to
families and building projects.
“I want to make a positive impact
on everyone I cross paths with. I know
that we are going to do great things
together for the students and families
here at Jefferson K-12. We are
‘Restoring the Roar’!”

By: Laura Young

Originally posted by Jefferson Journal