Parent Engagement = Student Success
Why are you here?
Out of all of the
workshop
offerings, you
selected our
presentation…
what’s your issue?
Barriers to Engaging Parents
WE MUST WORK TO
OVERCOME
THE BARRIERS
THE “ONE SIZE FITS ALL”
APPROACH DOESN’T WORK
GCS Diversity
GCS Student Demographics
5.56%
36.96%
40.68%
12.38%
3.70%
Overview of GCS
Number of Schools
Elementary - 69
Middle - 23
High - 28
Alternative - 10
Total - 127
EPSTEIN’S SIX TYPES OF INVOLVEMENT
Type 1
Type 2
PARENTING: Assist families in understanding child and adolescent
development, and in setting home conditions that support children
as students at each age and grade level. Assist schools in
understanding families.
COMMUNICATING: Communicate with families about school
programs and student progress through effective school-to-home
and home-to-school communications.
VOLUNTEERING: Improve recruitment, training, work, and
Type 3 schedules to involve families as volunteers and audiences at school
or in other locations to support students and school programs.
Type 4
LEARNING AT HOME: Involve families with their children in
learning activities at home, including homework, other curriculumrelated activities, and individual course and program decisions.
Type 5
DECISION MAKING: Include families as participants in school
decisions, governance, and advocacy through PTA/PTO, school
councils, committees, action teams, and other parent organizations.
Type 6
COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY: Coordinate resources
and services for students, families, and the school with businesses,
agencies, and other groups, and provide services to the community.
GCS Staff Visits with
Dr. Joyce Epstein
GCS’ Shared Vision for
Parent Engagement
IN GCS, WE WILL:
• Value, honor and appreciate all parents as partners in the education
of our children;
• Create opportunities for collaboration between parents and school
officials;
• Listen carefully to the feedback provided by parents;
• Respect each parent’s unique challenges and circumstances;
• Engage all parents, based upon their needs, regardless of their socioeconomic status; and
• Meet parents where they are – no judgment or critiques, only concern
and support.
Mission/Vision
Mission
Guilford Parent Academy is a community collaborative
designed to engage all parents and caregivers in the
academic, social and emotional success of their
children.
Vision
With the support of Guilford Parent Academy, parents
and caregivers in Guilford County will be true partners
in their child's education and will be engaged at every
level. Children will graduate prepared for the 21st
century.
Guilford Parent Academy has
three major components:
1. Learning Experiences/Events - Offers
educational programming for parents on a
variety of topics.
2. Information - One-stop shop for parents to
learn how they can support their children (i.e.
GPA’s website, academic online resources,
etc.)
3. Connections to Support and Resources GPA is also a point of connection for parents to
various resources offered by partnering
organizations throughout Guilford County.
Lighten up… Make it fun!
Sometimes you have to
make things fun and slide
the learning in on the side!
 Family Fun Day
 Parent Engagement
Conference
 Male Summit
 Reading with Curious George
 And more!
Additional Ideas

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
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College Fair
Planning and Applying for College Workshop
ESL Workshops
Curriculum Nights
GCS Choice Showcase
State of Our Schools Address
What’s hot?
What is the most innovative parent engagement
strategy that you’re currently implementing in
your school or district?
 Take 3 minutes, get up and share with a
neighbor
 Record answers on handout provided
For Parents, By Parent Model
Title I Parent Ambassadors
&
Grassroots Parent Coordinators
For Parents, By Parent Model
Activating Grassroots Support
Guilford
Parent
Academy
Title I Parent Ambassador


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Checklist/Timeline
Volunteer Description
Selection Process
Interview
Questions/Rubric
Nomination Form
Flyer/Talking
Points/ConnectED Script
Selection Process (School-Level)
Selection Process (District-Level)



Verify each volunteer has been cleared
through the GCS Volunteer Database
Request completion of W-9 form by volunteer
and submit to accounts payable
Conduct orientation
Monthly Documentation
Title I Parent Ambassador
•
Title I Parent Ambassadors are selected by the principal and can receive
up to $150 per month to:
• serve as a liaison between parents and school officials, communicate
with parents about volunteer opportunities,
• lead parent-outreach activities,
• assist the school and Parent Academy staff with planning and
publicizing parent workshops,
• increase parent awareness of ways parents can be involved and
become partners in the educational arena.
•
Title I Parent Ambassadors will meet monthly with the Parent Academy
team, where powerful, relevant information will be shared about a number
of topics. Guest speakers/experts will be invited to present to the parents.
Title I Advocacy Meetings
• GCS will host four regional Title I parent meetings to give parents an
opportunity to discuss important topics, voice concerns and help GCS
make sure we are providing families with all of the resources they need to
support their child’s education.
• Meetings will take place in a “kitchen table conversation” format.
• Title I principals will be invited to facilitate table conversations.
• GPA/Title I staff will compile all notes and put together a plan of action to
address any concerns, questions, etc. that come out of the meetings.
Budget for Parent Engagement

Funding/How do we pay for it?
 Race
to the Top – District
 Title I
 Local
 Donations/Sponsorships
Where do we go from here?




Create project team for parent engagement
(parents, staff, and community)
Research parent engagement best practices–
(i.e. Epstein, Beyond the Bake Sale, etc.) and
select one for your school/district
Establish a timeline for implementation
Gather data/input from parents
Planning Template
Planning Template
Lessons Learned
Relationships, Relationships, Relationships
 Out-of-the-box thinking
 Parents as true partners
 Awareness of barriers
 Don’t reinvent the wheel
 Anticipate challenges

Guilford Parent Academy
Contact Information
Lindsay Whitley/Camilla Brothers
336-279-4924
whitlel@gcsnc.com
or
brothec@gcsnc.com
Questions?