Getting involved where it counts!

uch of the success of any school depends on the level of involvement of parents and community. Most school administrators and teachers agree that parents and the community are vital components to improving student achievement and school climate.

Parental involvement sends a strong message to children, letting them know that their mom, dad, grandma, or guardian values education; it sends a strong message to schools, one that is encouraging to educators and welcomed; and it sends a strong message to all of us that just maybe, we should be doing more to ensure the success of our schools.

After all, how viable can a community truly be if it doesn’t rally around its schools? Communities must partner with educators and students to create and support the kind of schools they want to have in their neighborhoods.

A simple way to get involved is to visit your local school and find out what volunteer needs exist there, then help out. Every school has a list of volunteer opportunities and needs.

An even simpler way for parents to get involved is by attending parent conferences.
Parent conferences provide you an opportunity to:
•        Meet your child’s teacher.
•        Find out what your child is learning in school.
•        Check on your child’s progress.
•        Find out the teacher’s expectations.
•        Confirm that you share the same goals.
•        Provide the teacher information that will help in dealing with your child.

The Parent-Teacher Conferences for the fall semester in Dallas ISD schools are:

•        Monday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.             High Schools
•        Tuesday, Oct. 13, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.            Middle Schools
•        Thursday, Oct. 15, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.          Elementary Schools

I encourage all parents and guardians to take advantage of this opportunity to impact your child’s education, and I urge communities to get involved where it matters most—in your schools.

There are many ways for parents and community members to get involved, including
•        Serving as a mentor or tutor
•        Judging a spelling bee or science fair
•        Joining a student for lunch
•        Volunteering to help out in the library or the school cafeteria

If you’re a parent, start the year off right with a visit to your child’s teacher before there is a problem. Tell him or her that you want to work with them to see that your child gets the best possible education. Give the teacher your cell number and email address and respond when they reach out. And don’t forget--parents should be actively engaged not just in elementary school, but at every grade level. Parents can turn this district around if they decide to be an active presence in their child’s education.

One of the accomplishments of my time on the board has been maintaining the District 9 Advisory Council where parents and community members gather to discuss and resolve issues related to schools. Advisory council chairperson, Lisa Lopez, whose daughter attends Woodrow Wilson High School, is a believer in parent involvement. “Parents owe it to their children to get involved at some level. We are responsible to be our children’s guides and advocates,” she says. “And schools should never give up on trying to involve parents. It’s critical to the success of our schools and students.”

Like Ms. Lopez, I believe that strong parental and community involvement builds strong schools. Let’s all do our part to make and keep our schools strong.