PARENTS MATTER!!!

1. PARENTS MATTER!!! Dr. Ramona Reynolds, Instructional Specialist III, BPS Amanda Vellake, Director of Adult & Continuing Education, BPS Gellenia Smallwood, Director of Parent & Family Programs, Say Yes Jerrica DeLaney, Adult Education Community School Navigator, Say Yes Joyce Stilson, Community School Navigator, Say Yes Cynthia Collins, Parent Center Engagement Liaison, Say Yes

3. How do we engage parents and caregivers?

4. Parent Centers Collaboration Education Resources Supports

5. Including Adult Education in the Community School Model Rationale Building off success How to reach our Adult Community members

6. Marketing and Outreach • Getting the word out • Tapping into current community members • Selling our vision and getting buy in

7. How did we start; what have we learned • Replicated best practices • Surveyed the needs of the community • Collaborated with school administration, Say Yes and Community Organizations • Logistics of implementing and monitoring • Communication and planning • Learning from mistakes and welcoming growth

8. Saying YES to ALL ParentsNavigation + Connections=Authentic relationships enhancing the success of students

9. Navigator: [ˈnavəˌɡādər] NOUN,a person (Navigators are in 18 schools) who directs the route or course (supports mission)of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation (cooperatively works with service organizations, administration, faculty, families), especially by using instruments (programs, services, mentoring) and maps (data).

10. The “destination” of a Navigator:* academics*engage families*student health

11. Navigators are more than Saturday Academies… • SAT Prep • Classroom Projects • Community Gardens • Dental Visits • Mobile Health Clinics • Book Giveaways • Clothing & Food Distribution • Restorative Circles • Mentoring • Adult Evening Classes • Faculty Support/Education • (ex. Grieving Student program) • Field Trips • After School Programs • Summer Camp • Mental Health Service Connections • Connecting Families With • Area Service Organizations • and more.

12. Liaison: • [lēˈāzän] NOUN, • A person (Parent Center Liaisons are in 4 High Schools) who establishes (works with team to create programs/ acquire services) and maintains communication (outreach to families and community members) for mutual understanding (offering educational opportunities) and cooperation (working with stakeholders to identify program topics and service needs).

13. Parent Center Liaisons work with • community stakeholders to provide: • Information • Outreach • Family bonding • Parent group meetings • Services

14. A sampling of Parent Center offerings and programs: • Nurturing Father’s • What To Expect When You’re Expecting (teen pregnancy support) • Single Mom’s Club • Staff/Faculty Lunch and Learns • Free Flu Shots • Holiday Toy Giveaway • Every Bottom Covered (diaper distribution) • Sickle Cell Support Group • Book Lending Library • Regent Catherine Collins • Literacy Workshops • Field Trips • Most Valuable Parent (MVP) • Voter Registration • Arts & Crafts Workshops • Job Postings • Resume Writing • Health & Wellness Seminars • KidsZone/Play Area • Family Appreciation Dinners • Provide Meeting Space

15. But the first question is: What do you need?

16. Community Schools’ and Parent Center’s Metrics • Increase academic achievement (grade point averages, District, school and State assessment results) * • Increase student attendance • Increase student and authentic parent & family engagement* • Increase the access to adult education programs within the community • Increase the number of participants attending the after-school / Saturday programs • Increase the number of community students within walking distance and 1.5 miles attending the targeted schools • Improve the school climate, in support of school leadership, to be a welcoming and supportive environment for students and families • Decrease parents barriers to engagement and access* • Improved student leadership in school / community • Improve the health and wellness of students • Improve the social-emotional well-being of students • Improve community engagement in the schools (higher education, business, city, county, community & faith-based organizations, etc.) • Improve the community’s perception of the community schools • Improve the safe passage to the community schools for students • Decrease student classroom removals, behavioral issues and suspensions* • Decrease tardiness *Denotes Parent Center Metric

17. Barriers to Involvement • Time • Knowledge • Policies • Historical education trauma • Training

18. PARENT ACADEMY STRANDS EVERYTHING IS FREE…… Strand 1: Academics (Pre-Natal-College/Career Strand 2: Social Emotional Learning And Wellness Strand 3: My Brothers Keeper Strand 4: Parent Leadership & Advocacy Strand 5: Personal And Professional Development Strand 6: Soon To-Be- And New Parent Support Strand 7: Family Bonding Parent Center and Adult Courses: Speed Networking for Employment, What to Expect When You’re Expecting - Parenting Series, FAFSA Completion, Every Bottom Covered, Mini College Road Map for Parents, Tax Preparation, Raising A Reader, Single Moms Club, Extreme Couponing, Computer Classes, Parenting Fatherless Daughters, Understanding Special Education, Citizenship Test Preparation, Translator Courses, First Time Home Buyer Orientation, Fundamentals of Swimming, Community Circles, Home Improvement, Daddy’s Girl Book Club, Understand My Child’s IEP, My Child with Disabilities has been Suspended, Now What?, Creating my Babies Library, Healing Circles for Adults, and much more…

19. Parent Center and Adult Education Programs West Zone South Zone Northeast Zone East Zone Total =3,146 Total =3,022 Total =2,673 Total =2,457 Total =2,048 Total =2,000 Total =1,890 Total =1,447 Total =1,322 Total =643 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17 2017-18 2016-17 2018-19 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2017-18 2018-19 2016-17

20. Authentic Engagement • Comprehensive • Systemic • Integrated

21. “Decisions made for us,without us, is not for us”