About Us

• Board Members and Volunteers:

Board Members:

Donna Rae Smith, RN, BSN, President

MeriLynn Blum, MA, MAT, Vice President,

Coordinator Manatee County

Roxi Johncox, Purchasing Specialist

Sarah Clinton, Educator

Henry Smith, Legal Advisor

MERILYNN BLUM - MeriLynn received a Master’s Degree in Teaching English from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Seton Hall University. She has taught English and dramatics at the high school level, pursued a career in advertising, working first as a copywriter and eventually vice president of a small sales promotion agency, and she has worked as a therapist at Seton Hall University, Drew University and in private practice.   She became a Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher in 1995 and later a Certified YogaRhythmics/Kripalu DansKinetics Teacher. She is the creator of the Moving Energy practice which combines movement, yoga philosophy, psychology and dance, and for decades has taught yoga classes, led yoga retreats, and worked privately with students for mind/body healing. In all her endeavors, MeriLynn has held the intention of service, helping her students and clients reach their full potential, and now she is honored to be a part of SAS.

ROXI JOHNCOX - Roxi graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Elementary Education.  She comes to SAS with over four decades of teaching experience which she acquired in Michigan, Massachusetts, The Netherlands, Colorado, and Florida.  Her hobbies include playing classical guitar and repurposing "junk" into artwork.  As an educator, Roxi knows the important role regular attendance plays in students' learning and future success.  When a student is chronically absent, not only is that student's education negatively impacted, but so is that of other students in the class.  Roxi is on the Board as well as being one of the Purchasing Specialists at SAS.  She enjoys being able to procure the items that help students get to school and stay there.  Each day.  Every day.

SARAH CLINTON - Sarah attended Salisbury University and received a degree in psychology in May 2003.

She started her career working with adolescent boys as a mental health worker in a large psychiatric hospital.  She began her teaching career 22 years ago and has taught in a variety of settings for students with disabilities in both comprehensive schools as well as public separate day schools.

Sarah received an MA in Special Education from Towson University in May 2009 and has also completed 60 credits of course work since then.

She currently is an Early Intervention Special Education Teacher working with infants and toddlers. She partners with families and community organizations to support children’s successes at home and in the community through evidence-based practices, as well as adaptable and cooperative approaches.

Early intervention is a huge passion of Sarah’s. She deeply values the genuine, heartfelt and meaningful connections formed with families supporting and empowering them with the tools and strategies to confidently support the child’s development in everyday routines.

She brings her expertise in Special Education to help support SAS’s efforts to include not only normally developing students but students with special needs.  

DONNA RAE SMITH – Donna Rae graduated from the Medical College of Georgia with a degree in nursing. She began her career as a critical care nurse caring for children and adults. She spent many years in hospital administration and is a contributing author of a widely-used nursing textbook. She has been an active speaker on a wide variety of health and wellness topics. She is a Yoga and Qi gong teacher and has taught children and adults in a variety of settings. 15 years ago she established a charitable organization in Baltimore that helped impoverished people. Donna Rae is the founder of SAS and is honored to be a part of an organization addressing such a critical need among children

HENRY SMITH - Henry is a former public school teacher and attorney who provides advice to the SAS Board.  Henry's passion since his youth has been public education, and providing a hand up to kids who might otherwise not have a chance for advancement and happiness. 

Other Volunteer Staff:

Alison Christian, Treasurer

Laura Mcinnis, Grade 5 Teacher and Student Advocate

   Ellen Binder, Purchasing Specialist  

Sommer DiSante, Content Developer

Tom Shultz, Graphic Designer

Frank Blum, Delivery Team

Andrew Littorno, Manatee County Community

Activist, Vice President of Fun!

Michelle Marshall, Volunteer

Justina John, Research Volunteer

Thabasya Veeramani, Research Associate

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUPPORT, INC. (or “SAS”) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established in November 2021.

EIN: 87-3723368.

SAS’s focus is addressing school attendance barriers faced by low-income children. We work directly with school staff (principals, teachers, nurses, school attendance officers) who identify attendance barriers for us to address.

Some of these attendance barriers are:

-rain gear because these children do not want to arrive at school soaking wet

-dental hygiene products because these children do not see a dentist and many have multiple cavities that cause pain resulting in missing valuable school days 

-feminine hygiene products because these products are not covered by the WIC or SNAP programs. One in four girls miss school every month because they do not have these products (a phenomenon known as “Period Poverty”).

-alarm clocks because many of the students we serve are responsible for getting themselves up in the morning  

-lice kits, hair products, deodorant, acne face wash, soap, laundry detergent, underwear, shorts, socks, shoes, and water bottles

-backpacks, spiral notebooks, pens and pencils, graph paper, and colored pencils

New forms of support are being identified continually by the professional educators who advise us.

Because the students we serve are present more often in the classroom, our school partners believe their academic performance will improve, and they will more fully benefit from the school services like free and reduced-price meals, extra-curricular activities and the like.

ATTENDANCE STATS: We believe our efforts are having a marked effect. 

Data reported by our school partners helps us track the positive impacts of SAS’s work with the schools. The schools track two important metrics affected by SAS’s work: Average Daily Attendance and Students Chronically Absent. 

Attendance is a very complicated issue. Educators spend a tremendous amount of time finding creative ways to increase school attendance. We have been told that the items we provide support those efforts in a significant way.

From Evan McCarthy, Director of Assessment, Accountability, and Research Manatee County Schools

On an average day, 90.3% of the 9,398 male students in our Title I schools were in attendance (up 0.9%pts from 89.4% in 2023-24). 33.2% of male Title I students were chronically absent (missing 10% or more days of school) in 2024-25 (down 3.6%pts from 36.8% in 2023-24).

On an average day, 90.2% of the 8,541 female students in our Title I schools were in attendance (up 0.9%pts from 89.3% in 2023-24). 33.7% of female Title I students were chronically absent (missing 10% or more days of school) in 2024-25 (down 3.7%pts from 36.9% in 2023-24).

Our school partners also share anecdotal remarks about the positive impact of SAS’s work. Here are some examples:

"There has been a 5% decrease in tardiness since January."

"80% or more of our school population has benefited from SAS efforts."

"80% or more of our school population appears more comfortable and more present for learning because of the items SAS provides."

From a 7th grade student - "It's nice to know that there are people out there that care."

From a principal- "Students have commented that they feel it helps in the realm of self-esteem. When they have the necessities they need for school they are much more confident to participate in class."

 "Our behavioral referrals for the whole year are down."

If you would like to volunteer, or if you have any questions, please contact info@schoolattendancesupport.org.

THANK YOU!  Whether you help through monetary donations to our 501(c)(3), volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, we thank you. We couldn't accomplish our goals without the help of supporters like you!  

(And please join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/601710434241320 to show your support in that way!)