SANFORD, NC - W.B. Wicker Elementary School and Lee County Schools proudly announces the opening of its new Family Resource Center, a dedicated space designed to connect students, families, and community members with essential resources and support services. The center and a new Community School Coordinator position are funded through a grant from the North Carolina Community Schools Coalition, which serves a network of schools and families across the state.
The center will serve as a hub for addressing the diverse needs of the school community, offering assistance with basic necessities, access to community partnerships, and guidance navigating local services. The initiative is part of the school’s commitment to removing barriers to student success and strengthening family engagement.
Principal James Beasley-Mungin emphasized the importance of expanding support beyond the classroom. “I think it is important that all families are able to support the needs of the student,” said Beasley-Mungin. “What I have seen in our students is that there are just some needs that are beyond the day-to-day operations of a school. So, having a role such as the Community Schools Coordinator adds a different level of resources to the playing field to help provide for the basic needs of students.”
The Family Resource Center, which will be known as the “Tiger Den,” will be led by Community Schools Coordinator Brittany Defraffenreaidt, whose role focuses on connecting families with resources and addressing immediate and long-term needs.
“I will supervise or oversee all aspects of the Family Resource Center, which we are opening today,” said Degraffenreaidt. “It is a community hub where students, parents and community members come. It is my job to help them navigate the challenges they may be facing with the resources and connections that we have available in our community.”
Degraffenreaidt brings both professional expertise and personal experience to the role, which shapes her approach to supporting families.
“If you have never had to go into an agency office or navigate the ‘system’ to get the resources you need to support your family, it is a very eye-opening experience,” she said. “So when I have people sitting across from me, I know what it is like to sit in that seat and be in need of help. I just want to pay it forward to people in my community.”
The center aims to provide a wide range of services, from connecting families to food and school supplies to offering guidance on budgeting, life skills and other personal challenges. Degraffenreaidt also emphasized the importance of creating a welcoming, judgement-free environment.
“I don’t have expectations of people walking across that threshold of the resource center, because I want to focus on meeting them where they are, not where I think they should be,” she said.
School leaders believe the addition of the Family Resource Center and the Community Schools Coordinator role will significantly enhance the school’s ability to respond to student and family needs.
“One of the advantages of having this position and the new center is that this person will be able to solely focus on the needs of staff, students and the community as a whole,” Beasley-Mungin said. “We now have that stop-gap position. We have that bridge that ensures needs are being met and students have what they need.”
Ultimately, the initiative is rooted in a shared goal: ensuring every student is ready to learn and thrive.
Dr. Lisa Duffey, Executive Director of Student Services for Lee County Schools, highlighted the critical role that public schools play in community support through efforts like the new center. “The Family Resource Center at W.B. Wicker is a clear example of our schools serving as a central hub for resources and support,” Duffey indicated. “It reflects what we value in our district, the strong partnership between home, school and community working together to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive.”
Beasley-Mungin agreed with Duffey’s sentiments. “Reducing the barriers is what excites me the most,” Beasley-Mungin added. “The idea that we will have more kids in our seats ready to learn is the end goal. It is what we all want.”
The Family Resource Center is open by appointment, with priority given to W.B. Wicker Elementary connected individuals. For more information about the Family Resource Center at W.B. Wicker Elementary School, please contact Brittany Degraffenreaidt at brittanydegraffenreaidt@lee.k12.nc.us or visit the Community Schools Coordinator page on the W.B. Wicker Elementary website.