Staff Focus: Alesia Richter, Community School Site Coordinator, Laurel Woods Elementary School

May 20th, 2026

Alesia Richter, Community School Site Coordinator at Laurel Woods Elementary School (LWES), had an unconventional path to education. She spent 15 years working in human resources for Marriott International before transitioning into education.

Her experience during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was a turning point that inspired her to pursue school counseling and service-oriented work. “I worked in the Marriott World Trade Center and was there on 9/11. It became one of those pivotal life moments where I realized I needed to pursue what I really wanted to do.”

With her family’s support, she began pursuing her graduate degree in school counseling while working in New Jersey, raising her two children and beginning to build a new career path in education. After earning her degree in 2010, Richter and her family moved to Maryland in 2010 where she secured a long-term substitute role at Swansfield Elementary School, which led to a full-time school counselor position.

“I was 40 starting my second career. I had to learn education systems, Title I schools, Howard County structures but I also had life experiences that helped me navigate relationships and systems more naturally,” said Richter. “My oldest child also has a disability, so I’d already spent years navigating special education systems as a parent.”

In 2023, a new career opportunity—Community School Site Coordinator—emerged at HCPSS. At that time, four HCPSS schools—LWES, Deep Run Elementary School, Homewood Center and Stevens Forest Elementary School—were identified as community schools. Schools qualify based on concentration of poverty levels, and the State provides personnel funding for community school coordinators and additional support grants.

Sophia Quirk, Instructional Facilitator in the Office of Community Schools and Title I, explained, “A truly exceptional Community School Site Coordinator is equal parts strategist, advocate, connector, and problem-solver—building trusted relationships while weaving together the systems of support that help students and families thrive. In Howard County Public Schools, this role demands a rare blend of leadership, empathy, organization, and vision to remove barriers to learning, align community partnerships, and turn schools into hubs of opportunity and belonging.”

“I originally thought community schools were mainly about connecting families to resources. But it’s much deeper than that. It’s about understanding the needs and assets of your specific community and building systems around those realities,” said Richter. “The community school site coordinator has a global lens. I have this balcony view and a designated role to observe the needs and figure out a sustainable solution.”

During her first year in this role, Richter spent a lot of time simply showing up—helping during arrival, talking with staff and building relationships to earn trust within this tight-knit community.

She also helped conduct a school asset and needs assessment which led to several discoveries that would fuel her work. One key finding was that families couldn’t easily access resources throughout Howard County. The school primarily serves a walkable community, and many families rely on walking because they do not have consistent access to personal transportation. Public transportation options are limited and can require lengthy travel times.

Since families could not easily go out into the community to access resources, LWES brought the resources to them. The school started by providing families with household items through monthly giveaways in the cafeteria and eventually built a sustainable Family Resource Center where families could confidentially order household essentials—items like diapers, toothpaste, laundry detergent, and feminine products—each month. This allowed families to spend more of their money on food and other needs.

“It really has become something special. We now have community partners helping fund and stock it, and family volunteers help pack orders confidentially. The goal is sustainability. If I left tomorrow, the system would still function,” said Richter.

Richter also continued to nurture existing community partnerships and foster news ones. For example, she was able to develop a relationship with Gorman Farms who now donates around $40,000 worth of produce annually to LWES families. The Community Action Council helps coordinate volunteers and transportation to get leftover produce from Gorman Farms to the LWES community each week.

In addition, families expressed the need for enrichment opportunities and after-school care. LWES works with existing programs and partners to help families access affordable or subsidized opportunities for their children. Richter and other school staff connect families to the BRIDGES grant-funded after-school program. And some families are taking advantage of another after-school program that costs $175 a month.

Richter also observed the need to improve communication with families. Approximately 35% of the student population at LWES is Spanish-speaking so it was important for LWES to translate school communications and help staff use tools like TalkingPoints—a messaging platform—to communicate directly with families.

In addition, Grace Community Church provides free adult English classes every Tuesday and community school funding supports free childcare for those families attending.

“Ms. Richter’s impact reaches far beyond the walls of Laurel Woods Elementary,” said Dr. Tanisha Burks, LWES Principal. “Through her compassion, vision, and relentless advocacy for students and families, she has helped transform our school into a true community of support and opportunity. She sees barriers not as obstacles, but as challenges to solve with dignity, care, and collaboration.”

Richter emphasized how impactful this work has been in her life: “This work blends together all the parts of my life—my corporate background, counseling, parenting, advocacy. Some days are exhausting, but I leave knowing the work matters. Every child deserves access to a high-quality education and opportunities that help them thrive. Being part of building that is incredibly meaningful.”