Vanessa Eichman, MSSW

Kelli Staples, MEd.

A Practical Guide to Engaging the Community

In September of 2011, a report from the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the official poverty rate in the U.S. had risen to 15.1 percent of the population, representing approximately 46 million people, more than 1/3 (over 15 million) are children.

(Shields, 2011)

Transformative Leadership Focuses on the relationships among the

inequities and material differences in the lived experiences of students and how they play out in educational settings

Emphasizes the need to follow understanding with action

Attending to issues of equity is a necessary precursor to providing a climate that will promote student learning

(Shields & Warke, 2010)

350 students

Title 1 School

School of Progress; met Expected Growth

Teacher Experience: 24% 0-4 years; 41% 4-10 years; 35% 10+ years

70 % Students receive Free and Reduced Lunch

School Snap Shot

Staff members to coordinate committee

Administrative support Staff Parent Involvement Survey Parent Involvement Team Parent Involvement Plan Maintenance Plan

1. What is your own personal definition of parental involvement?

1. What is your role (as a teacher, assistant, office staff, etc.) in the parent involvement process?

1. Based on the results from this survey, we will be creating a team at Johnson Street to help come up with new ideas, strategies, and plans to increase parent involvement on a school-wide level. If you are interested in serving on this team, please provide your name below.

EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTS

Showing support for the school

Being present in the building

Following up with behavior concerns

Working on and/or reviewing homework with their children

EXPECTATIONS OF TEACHERS

Informing parents of student progress

Listening to parents Building

relationships with families

Advocating for students

Learning from parents

Strategy Description Staff Member(s) Time Line

Help Wanted bulletin board

Pockets with teacher names & room numbers. Projects, jobs, and volunteer tasks needed/available within each classroom.

All staff provide information. Ashley Clark and Ashley Morgan to head up the bulletin board.

Initially for Open House & then throughout the year.

Parent Involvement Team Task List

A list of ideas for teachers to use when requesting volunteers. Included in this list will be suggestions for tasks, jobs, and hours.

Parent Involvement Team Completed by 6/18/10 and Re-distributed by 8/2/10

Volunteer Day Having a set day once a month (for example: 3rd Wednesday of every month) and ask parents to come volunteer that day.

Parent Involvement Team Present it at the opening staff meeting & implement starting in September.

Grateful Gentlemen

Male community and family members who want to actively show support for our school by greeting students during arrival (main entrances, classroom doors, etc.)

Vanessa Eichman & Hunter Yancey

Recruitment during August. Start date comes in September (or following months)

Frequent Flyers Bulletin board with parents who frequently volunteer. Star added on card for PTA members. Additional incentives (gift certificates, etc) for multiple hours.

Courtney Romaine, Cynthia Green, & Parent Involvement Team

Provide information at Open House with ongoing updates

Volunteer Table Open House letter includes information about new volunteer program. Information about the help wanted board, frequent flyers, and classroom competition.

Phyllis Lissner, Vanessa Eichman, &Parent Involvement Team

Open House

HELP WANTED

Teacher: ____________________

To be completed at: Home School

Day: _______________________

Time(s): ____________________

Task Description____________________________________________________________________________________

Volunteer Name: _______________Phone ______________________Email ________________________ Please see Ms. Eichman with any

questions.

Thank you for Volunteering !!!

2009-2010

Attendance 96.22%

Office Referrals 174

Volunteer Hours 1024

2010-2011

Attendance 96.77%

Office Referrals 160

Volunteer Hours 1017

2011-2012

Attendance 97.42%

Office Referrals 81

Volunteer Hours 2099

Light breakfast I’m proud of you

because… Character

Education Video Small group

discussion Large group

sharing Door prizes

Maintenance of current programs

Continued community outreach▪ High Point Enterprise▪ Big Brothers/Big Sisters▪ Senior Resources of Guilford▪ High Point University▪ Chamber of Commerce▪ YWCA▪ Young Peacemakers

Small focus groups for parents▪ English as a Second Language▪ Exceptional Children

Shields, C. (2011). An educational leadership response to the crisis on poverty: An urgent appeal. The Social Justice Leader, 111, 2-5.

Shields, C. M. & Warke, A. (2010), The invisible crisis: Connecting schools with homeless families. Journal of School Leadership, 20, 789-819.