Communities in Schools of Renton (CISR) has a new development director — its first ever. Her name is Sue Chaplik, and she was hired to make money for the nonprofit and build community relationships.

“One of the reasons I’m here is to build the stability of the organization and help secure its future growth,” Chaplik says.

CISR supports Renton families and students with mentor and family liaison programs. Those programs include more than 100 mentors and five family liaisons. The family liaisons, who help families meet basic needs, are stationed in 10 elementary schools in Renton School District.

CISR staff wants to put family liaisons back in Renton’s middle and high schools. Budget cuts forced the helpers out of those schools last school year.

“Our vision is to have a liaison in every school,” Chaplik says. “We want to reach a point where we’re able to do that.”

CISR Executive Director Sari Pascoe hopes to secure the Renton nonprofit’s finances by June and put family liaisons back in middle and high schools by fall. Pascoe was hired this summer to take the place of former executive director Susan Richards, now executive director for Communities In Schools of Washington State.

Chaplik will also help create a 2009 strategic development plan for CISR.

Chaplik has more than 10 years of non-profit experience to guide her work in Renton. She has worked as development director for three other organizations: Multifaith Works, Northwest Center and Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight and Hearing. She was also senior manager for major gifts and planned giving for United Way of Snohomish County, and worked in marketing for Washington Mutual and what is now Pepsi-Cola 7 Up Bottling Company.

“I’m a connector and a builder,” Chaplik says. “I know how to build, and I love to build and develop programs.”

Pascoe says she and the other staffers of CISR are “delighted” to be working with Chaplik.

“She knows the tricks of the craft and she’s a wonderful team player,” she says.

A love for kids attracted Chaplik to CISR. Many of her family members are teachers and school superintendents, she adds, so taking a position at an educational institution “felt like a natural step.”

“Communities in Schools of Renton plays a very key role,” she says.

“…Building healthy kids and keeping them in school and providing the support and help they need to ensure they have a successful life.”

With 45 percent of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, Renton School District has a large population that can be served by CISR, Chaplik adds.

She is eager to help serve those students.

“For me, on a personal level, making a difference is really important,” she says.