Parent Academy Building a School Community

ParentAcademyBuilding a School Community Presentation by Andrea T. Dorfzaun & Scott D. Ross

Thinking Points • Parent Involvement • Student Achievement/ Attendance • Community Partnership • Changing Families / Communities • Needs of the Teachers / Parents / Students

HMS Background Information • Baldwin-Whitehall School District • Southern suburb of Pittsburgh • Changing population • Growing minority population • Increased ESL population • Transient population • Changing curriculum and expectations • State standards, testing, and results • No Child Left Behind Legislation

Parental Involvement • Promotes positive student attitudes • Opens lines of communication • Builds a sense of community • Overall student performance increases • How do you build lines of communication?

Goals / Objectives • Building partnerships • Expectations • Increase in daily student attendance • Increase in student achievement • Building communication bridges

Development • Contractual 2 hour obligation • Prior use “Parent Interaction” time • Needed better forum for parent interaction • Parent meetings (Team) • Identified a trend • Parents had the same questions and concerns • Pro-active – Go to the Parents • Address needs before they become problem

Development • Identification of Parent Needs and Interests • Formed a Parent Academy Committee • Administrators • Teachers • Para-professionals • Created a list of possible topics • Surveyed parents • Based on teacher driven ideas • Recommended topics by parents

Possible Topics • Time Management and Organization • Textbook Reading Strategies for the Content Areas • Middle School Mathematic Standards • Research Procedures

Possible Topics • Writing Across the Curriculum • Developing Lifelong Readers • Understanding the Middle School Child • Student Involvement Beyond the Classroom • Transitions in the Middle School

Scheduling Event • Calendar considerations • Concerts • Sporting Events • Holidays • Locations • School • Community - Outreach • Staffing Considerations

Planning School Event • Scheduled on the yearly calendar • Sent an e-mail to the entire staff • Develop flyer and webpage (included) • Parents RSVP via phone/email • Develop program (Included)

Evening Schedule • Opening by principal • Three Sessions • Teachers present twice • Off-session – Teachers can informally meet with parent • PTSA Involvement • Refreshments • Use their network of parents

Planning Outreach Program • Sent an e-mail to the staff • Select rotating community venues • Develop flyer and webpage • Develop program • Evening schedule • Focused on fewer topics • Casual, interactive atmosphere

Outreach Schedule • Possible Topics • Positive start to school • Behavior Issues / Improvement Plans • Positive habits at home • Casual, Interactive Atmosphere • Allows parents to ask more questions

Feedback • Survey included w/ Program • Positive Feedback • Scheduling Problems • Active schedule of middle school students • Best Attended Event • Teen Center (Dance) • Students admitted free w/ a parent

Improvements • Recent Improvements • Outreach Component • Parental Requested Topics • Flexibility • Potential Improvements • Transportation • Community Participation • Featured Speakers • Partnerships with other Organizations

Culminating Activity • Culminating Activity • Devise a plan for your building • What can your school do to reach the parents in your school?

Parent Academy Building a School Community