Exceptional Children’s Services Parent Mentor Program

1. Exceptional Children’s Services Parent Mentor Program Nick Harris Parent Mentor, Fayette County …working together to make it work for our kids.

2. “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Henry Ford

3. “This is all about partnerships. When we work collaboratively all children will succeed” “Bridge-Building”

4. Parent Mentor Mission Statement To work toward the understanding, respect, trust, support, education, and communication skills which will enable parents and teachers to build an effective home – school collaboration and provide our children the opportunity to reach their full potential. “Here to build bridges between the parents and the school”

5. Parent Mentor Goals • Develop an atmosphere of trust between parents and teachers. • To stimulate meaningful dialogue between the Fayette County school system and parents. • Provide regular forums and training seminars for parents to share information and discuss pertinent issues within the county. • Develop a network of parent resources. • Explore opportunities for parents and school personnel to participate in joint training to foster mutual understanding of IDEA and the IEP process. • Provide outreach and support to parents and the community. Bottomline:To nurture communication among parents and educators, ultimately leading to greater success for students with disabilities.

6. Mentor Self Portrait • Parent • Collaborator • System Navigator • Communicator • Consensus Builder • Community Link • Leader in System-wide Change • Listener and Coach • Team Member

7. What Your Parent Mentor Does • Acts as a liaison between the parents and school • Promotes partnerships between parents and educators • Guides parents through the Special Education Maze • Supply’s information on Special Education services, policies, and procedures • Links parents to support groups or other parents • Listens to the concerns and answer questions

8. Your Parent Mentor Can… • De-escalate upset parents/teachers… • Provide comfort to families… • Act as a sounding board to parents and staff… • Provide objective input at meetings… • Make a significant difference… • Prevent due process.. • Give parents/teachers another perspective

9. Parent Engagement Training Web Page Parent/Teacher Training/Seminars Exceptional Children’s Week Parent Action Requests Parent Volunteers SAP/Stakeholders Group My Focus

10. I remember… What it was like when I was new to special education and I can understand where you are coming from and what you REALLY mean. Then, I can explain it to you!

11. I get people together to figure out how to serve kids better And when everyone works together… well it’s just got to be better for everyone!

12. Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson GA Parent Mentors - Project Status • 5 systems piloted in Jan 2002 • 27 systems for the 2002-2003 school year • Plus 1 GLRS – Middle Georgia • 38 systems for the 2003-2004 school year • Plus 1 GLRS – Middle Georgia • 44 systems for the 2004-2005 school year • Plus 1 GLRS – Middle Georgia • 53 systems for the 2005-2006 school year • Plus 1 GLRS – Middle Georgia • We will continue to add systems each year until Parent Mentors are in place statewide.

13. “Openness and trust between the parent mentor, parents and the special education staff is what makes it work.” – Nick Harris, Parent Mentor “Trust comes from time and energy invested in relationships” - Chris Horton, Director, Exceptional Children’s Services

14. Parents as Partners for Advocacy Project Exceptional Children’s Services Nick Harris, Parent Mentor

15. PAPA Objectives • To develop an atmosphere of trust between parents and school. • To educate parents on IDEA including the IEP process and NCLB. • To provide parents with the best information on complex issues surrounding Fayette County’s educational system. • Develop a network of parent advocates.

16. “When the tissue of life is woven of legalistic relationships, there is an atmosphere of moral mediocrity paralyzing man’s noblest impulses.” -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

17. Sessions Topics • Parent Mentor Program, Role of Consultants and LEAs • IDEA, 504, and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Overview • Student Support Team (SST) • IEP Process and Forms • Evaluations and Present Levels of Performance • Annual Goals/Short-term Objectives • Performance Data, Assessment, and Work Samples (PAWS) • How to Advocate in an IEP Meeting • Effective Collaboration and Communication • Parental Rights • Transition • Extended School Year (ESY) and Related Services • Discipline and the Law • Mediation and Due Process

18. “Seeking Integration of All Students”

19. PALS What is PALS? P.A.L.S. is a student-run organization that fosters relationships between students with and withoutdisabilities through one-on-one and group activities. P.A.L.S. desires to allow all students to experience the benefits of friendship, teamwork, and responsibility.

20. PALS What Can PALS Do? • Host events • Pizza Party • Movies • Bowling • Mini Golf • End of Year Banquet • PALS Summer Camp • Challenger Buddies • Tutor • Mail Box • Be a Friend • Buddy for Special Olympics Ethan with his PALS, Special Olympic Games

21. Relationships Where do we have PALS programs? PALS RSMS SMHS • “Building Life Long Friendships” Possible Programs BMS, WWMS, FRMS, SCHS, MHS

22. Visit our websites • Exceptional Children’s Services • www.fcboe.org • Georgia Parent Mentors • www.parentmentors.org • Georgia Department of Education • www.doe.k12.ga.us • Georgia Learning Resource Systems • www.glrs.org

23. Contact Information Nick Harris Office Phone: (770) 460-3990 x237 Cell Phone: (770) 289-0396 Email: harris.nicholas@fcboe.org Web Page: www.fcboe.org

24. “ It is a fact that in the right formation, the lifting power of many wings can achieve twice the distance of any bird flying alone.”

25. Questions?????