Another September and with it 8thgrade—new classes, new teachers,and new subjects. How will I managemath this year? Last year’s 7th grademath was touch-and-go at best. Thenthe driver next to me honks his hornand I come back to reality. I am theparent of an 8th grader.

As parents we’ve all been there: thedreaded day when math homework ispresented to you at the kitchen tableby your 8th grader. You made itthrough 7th grade math homework,but you know you have reached yourlimit. This is a scary time for parents,trying to recognize the importance ofmath and science to their child, whileacknowledging their own educationallimitations. This becomes critical whenthe cuts in educational budgets getdeeper and wider, and schools are notable to provide the in-class support forstudents that they enjoyed in previousyears. Schools find themselves havingto rely on parents to tutor theirchildren at greater length and depth.

Stevens-Henager College’s CollegeEducation Center (CEC) in Idaho Falls,Idaho, recognized this phenomenonand took steps to help. The EducationCenter came up with an idea to helpteachers and parents help their K–8children. Their strategy centered onhelping parents better understand the

math homework that was being broughthome and in turn give them the con-fidence to tackle those evenings sittingaround the kitchen table.

It all started with the EducationCenter exploring the idea of a free of charge, three-day math refreshercourse for parents with the localschool district. It was so well receivedthat the school district sent homenotices with each student about the“Math for Moms and Dads” workshopseries. In turn, this small Eastern Idahocommunity of just over 50,000 peoplealso recognized a valuable opportunityand started signing up. The first classfilled up and then the second and thenthe third in rapid succession and nowwith a waiting list.

One of the parents who signed upwas Dr. Eric Olson, MD, of Idaho Falls.Even though he had spent years informal schooling himself, he decided

When OpportunityKnocksMath for Moms and Dads ProgramImpacts CommunityBy Michele Wilson, Stevens-Henager College

Community Service

The Stevens-Henager CollegeEducation Center has beeninvited by the Idaho StateDepartment of Education tomeet with key players withinthe department to create astatewide effort for “Math forMoms and Dads” classes.

© 2011 The Baxandall Co., Inc. Published by Workforce Communications www.careereducationreview.net

to sign up for the class to providebetter help to his son. Dr. Olson noted,“…that’s what I really came for. Arethere some teaching methods that Ican learn that will cut down on thefriction between me and my son whenwe are doing his homework?” Anotherparent traveled 60 miles round trip toattend the class. Shelly Birch, a parentvolunteer and teacher’s aide, said shewould “…recommend the class to anyparent who would want to learn moreand help their kids more….”

This little workshop seemed toresonate with the local community.When continuing education is dis-cussed, it generally relates to somegrand, structured program. Sometimeseducation can be a simple thing withthe benefit of overcoming perceivedboundaries. From a parent’s perspec-tive, it can result in building a sense ofconfidence to help their child and forthe child it can mean the reinforcementof the idea and encouragement oflearning. In truth: continuing educationdoesn’t have to be complicated.

As career schools, we need to offerour assistance and support at everyopportunity to our local communityand school districts. According toKaren Ledbetter, dean of the Stevens-Henager College Education Center, the

“Math for Moms and Dads” curriculumwas developed by reviewing the statestandards for math education. “Technol-ogy and teaching methods have changedrecently, making it harder for parents tohelp their children. In each Math forMoms class we ask for suggestions ontopics that parents want to address—this has helped the course to be specificto parent needs,” Ledbetter said.

To our surprise the “Math for Momsand Dads” program resonated with thelocal and state media and was featuredby two TV news spots and was the topicof a half dozen newspaper articles.Additionally, the Idaho Department ofEducation, seeing a real value in such aprogram, asked Stevens-Henager Collegeto deliver this program across all itsschool districts in Idaho. This statehas 117 school districts. According toChristine Avila, Idaho State MathematicsCoordinator, “Parents are the firstteachers and we need strategies to helpparents help students.” The Stevens-Henager College Education Center has been invited by the Idaho StateDepartment of Education to meet withkey players within the department tocreate a statewide effort for “Math forMoms and Dads” classes. Communityworkshops can pay off. From the veryfirst session of the “Math for Moms and

Career Education Review • January 201117

MICHELE WILSONcame to private highereducation from 25 yearsworking in the interna-tional business commu-nity. With over 15 yearsexperience operating twocompanies, she has exten-sive experience workingwith firms both foreign anddomestic. In 2008, shemade presentations in

Washington, DC to the U.S. State and TreasuryDepartments and was quoted and photographed inInc. magazine in 2003. She is an active member andmentor for SCORE® (Counselors to America’s SmallBusiness) and an avid proponent of women inbusiness and education.

In her current role as director of businessdevelopment for Stevens-Henager College, sheuses her global perspective to create relation-ships, alliances and partnerships with businessesand organizations in both the local and regionalenvironments.

Contact Information:Michele M. WilsonDirector of Business DevelopmentStevens-Henager College1444 S. Entertainment AvenueBoise, ID 83709Phone: 208-383-4557Fax: 208-345-6999Email: michele.wilson@stevenshenager.eduWeb Site: www.stevenshenager.edu

Dads” workshop the Education Centerdiscovered the additional benefit ofpotential prospective students whowere attracted to college by this specialexperience. During day one of theprogram, the college conducted threeadmissions interviews, which resultedin one interviewee starting school. The only negative that the participantsexpressed so far was an indication thatthey wanted a longer workshop series.The Stevens-Henager College CEC isnow expanding on what they havelearned in the “Math for Moms andDads” program by creating a “Writing

and Computer Skills for Moms andDads” workshop series.

From a community’s perspective,this is a wonderful example of collabora-tion between a private educationalinstitution and a state entity to createinnovative solutions to continued fiscaleducational budget shortfalls. From aparent’s perspective, it can meanconfidence in their ability to help theirchildren succeed. And from a youngstudent’s standpoint, it can representa new way to connect with supportive,loving parents.

Career Education Review • January 2011 18