Welcome to Fort Wayne Community Schools' community newsletter. Each month we share news from our schools and important District information. Have an idea for a story? Please share it with us!

Crystal Sponseller’s world was forever changed when the school bus doors closed behind her one day in 1997. The substitute driver, Loyal Stiverson, watched helplessly as she unknowingly walked into the path of an oncoming car.

The accident has haunted them both. Sponseller wrestled with anxiety, replaying those moments over and over. Stiverson carried the weight of unspoken worry, always wondering what happened to that Snider student.

By a twist of fate, they recently found themselves working for Fort Wayne Community Schools. Sponseller is now an administrative assistant at Harris Elementary and Stiverson is still behind the wheel of an FWCS bus. While working the bus line at Harris Elementary, Sponseller recognized Loyal Stiverson and made the connection. He was the driver of her bus when she had her accident. The recognition was immediate, and a flood of memories washed over her.

After weeks of hesitation, Sponseller finally got the courage to tell Stiverson who she was. Their reconnection wasn’t just a coincidence, but it became a time of healing.

In a series of heartfelt conversations, Crystal Sponseller and Loyal Stiverson reflect on that day as friends who have found great understanding and a lifelong Connection.

North Side High School has earned the 2024 Unified Champion Schools National Banner award, recognizing the school’s exceptional commitment to inclusive education and breaking down barriers for students with disabilities. North Side has been a Unified Champions Together school for 11 years, and this is the second time earning the National Banner award.

A school must meet 10 national standards of excellence to be considered for this honor. The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program works to foster cognitive, physical, social and emotional development while engaging the entire family in the Special Olympics experience. North Side has achieved this through their year-round Unified Sports, Unified Dance and daily student opportunities to learn about and embrace inclusion.

Unified Sports has also brought students with and without disabilities together as teammates, creating connections that go far beyond the playing field or court.

North Side is one of seven Indiana schools to receive this honor in 2024.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Fort Wayne Police Officer Lisa Woods takes K9 Tinsley to Shambaugh Elementary. K9 Tinsley's primary job with the FWPD is to help improve the mental health of the officers. At Shambaugh, the partnership started as a way for Officer Woods and Tinsley to interact with the students. It has grown to much more!

K9 Tinsley was recently featured in a Positively Fort Wayne Story on WANE TV.

FWCS families and members of the District Family Advisory Board recently toured the Jim Kelley Career Pathway Center. This unique event allowed families to learn more about the Schools of Success and the many career pathways available to students.

The Jim Kelley Career Pathway Center is an immersive, hands-on career exploration lab designed for middle school students. During the meeting, the learning stations were made available, allowing those in attendance to experience the same educational opportunities that students use to explore fields in healthcare, technology, automotive and trades.

As advocates for families, the District Family Advisory Board is committed to providing guidance in decision-making to support students as they select pathways within the Schools of Success.

If you would like to learn more about the District Family Advisory Board or the Schools of Success, please contact Denita Washington at (260) 467-7303.

Students can’t learn on an empty stomach. That’s where our Nutrition Services team comes in! Our Cafeteria Assistants and Managers play a critical role in providing nutritious breakfasts and lunches for our students. Employment opportunities are available in school cafeterias and at our nutrition processing center. Visit www.fwcsjobs.org to learn more and apply!

Email: publicaffairs@fwcs.k12.in.us
Website: fortwayneschools.org
Location: 1200 South Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN, 46802, USA
Phone: (260) 467-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/FWCommSchools
Twitter: @FWCommSchools