Distinctive Schools - Commit. Create. Collaborate

This November we’re continuing to share gratitude, and our CICS Loomis and CICS Longwood Elementary School communities have so much to be grateful for. Parents like Lonzetta McKinnie-Henderson demonstrate the transformative power of community and what involvement can look like for parents in education.

Lonzetta’s journey with Distinctive Schools began at CICS Loomis, where she sought a safe, supportive learning environment for her children. Guided by a friend’s recommendation, her decision to join the CICS Loomis and CICS Longwood Elementary communities was cemented by the schools’ commitment to fostering close-knit, secure, and nurturing atmospheres. “Loomis locked me in from the start,” she shares, crediting the school’s summer programs for helping her eldest son adjust, and the stellar ongoing communication and support from teachers and staff.

For Lonzetta, the sense of community is unmatched. Everyone knows her children, checks in with her, and works together to ensure all students thrive. Safety—her top priority—is a cornerstone of her trust in the schools. “So many families were concerned about the metal detectors, but I see it as a preventative measure that keeps my children safe.”

Because of her belief in CICS Loomis and CICS Longwood Elementary, Lonzetta made it her commitment to be deeply involved with the school. Being an avid reader, she is a familiar face at school book fairs where she not only helps run events but also purchases and donates books to classrooms. Whether chaperoning field trips, reading to students, or assisting teachers in the classroom, she brings positivity and enthusiasm to every interaction. Lonzetta sees her time in classrooms as an opportunity to build relationships, support teachers, and give students the extra attention they need to feel valued.

Her efforts have made a lasting impact on her children’s school community, too—from helping teachers focus on one-on-one work to inspiring a love of reading in the classrooms she visits, Lonzetta’s contributions reflect her deep commitment to supporting education. “The kids feed on my positive spirit,” she says, and that positive spirit has helped create an environment where students feel encouraged and supported even further. 

Lonzetta is one of the many advocates CICS Loomis and CICS Longwood Elementary are so fortunate to have as a part of our community. Thank you to all of our families for the ways in which you show up every day—for your students and our greater school community.