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Developing Individual Capacity for Success Issue Council
How we are making a difference
The Why
The Council is working hard with its new family, school, and community partnership to explore the root causes of insufficient educational outcomes. Why? Because the drop out rate is approaching 40%, and that is unacceptable to all of us.
The Who
Our partnership focuses on the students and families of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in six schools in the San Antonio Independent School District.:
Pod 1 - Riverside Park Academy, Herff Elementary School, Page Middle School
Pod 2 - Pershing and Bowden Elem. Schools, Wheatley Middle School.
Our two community agency partners are Family Service Association and Presa Community Center. They provide infrastructure to the partnership, leadership development and expertise to access community resources that the parents and students need.
The How
Thirty years of research show that greater family involvement in children’s learning is a crucial factor to achieving a high quality education . Therefore, our partnership starts with the parents.
Each summer, Parents from the six schools go door to door to conduct home visits to other parents to establish or renew a parent to parent connection. Families are invited to visit each school’s parent room — a space for the parents to use as a meeting place full of food, coffee, and hope. The parent rooms welcome parents and offer them information about academic supports and serve as bridges to other opportunities for their children.
Parental involvement soon leads to a deeper engagement and parent leadership blossoms. Parents then volunteer on campus, host meetings between school officials and families, sponsor special gatherings for TAKS and tutoring, and become active participants and leaders in solutions that address families’ concerns.
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Individual Capacity for
Success Members
Marsha Shields, Chair
Al Barrientez, III, Vice Chair
Mary Ellen Burns
Tom Countryman
Oren Dreeben
Kye K. Fox
Randa Bruce Gonzalez
Priscilla Hill-Ardoin
Blair Labatt III
Maria R. Montecel, Ph.D.
Elizabeth F. Myers
Sandra J. Pakes, Ph.D.
Nancy Reed
Cindy V. Schoenmakers
Jean Setzer, Ph.D.
David P. Stanush
Peggy W. Walker
James E. Watson
Roberto Zarate
Agency Partners
Maria Alvarez
Sara Gonzales
Margarita Gonzalez
Isabel Gutierrez
Nancy Hard
Luis Perez
Franki Martin
Isela Ortegon
Regina Salas
Stephanie Smith
School Partners
Thomasine Chambers
Ruben Fernandez
Alva Ibarra
Mona Lopez
Gary Pollock
Judy Ratliff
Kristin Willmann |
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Year Two Results:
- Parent Representatives have become the bridge to reconnect families with schools — Each campus has seen a 300-600% increase in parental involvement
- Parents are serving as traffic control and peacekeepers at lunch
- Student behavior has improved, particularly in middle school, where the number of students sent to alternative school dropped 50%
- All day attendance has increased on all campuses
- Five of the Six schools increased their students’ TAKS scores
- One of the six schools achieved Recognized Status for the first time in history!
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Year Two Highlights:
- Parent Representatives meet twice a year with SAISD Superintendent Dr. Durón to discuss what they are seeing and hearing from families about school and to consider possible solutions.
- Parent Representatives have brought a range of resources to the campus to strengthen parental capacity and wellbeing: computer classes, exercise classes, ESL, GED and nutrition classes.
- Parent Representatives participated in a Summer Parent Leadership Academy. Over 40 parents attended the six-week academy to learn about issues such as dealing with difficult issues, mentoring other parents, and presentation skills. The sessions were requested by the parents as they felt the need to take their leadership skills to the next level.
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What Kids Are Saying...
On the one hand, the students are happy to see parents around, comforted to know that these parents are watching over them. On the other hand, they realize that parents, who know their parents, are watching over them…..
What Parents are Saying . . .
Across campuses, the parents all talk about the changing atmosphere in the schools. Students are attending and enjoying school. The parent room has become a place to gather and share ideas, stories, and resources. Things are definitely looking up... |
Schools once virtually bereft of family and volunteer involvement are now brimming with family and volunteer activities. |
| For additional information, please contact: Mary Ellen Burns, Director, Individuals Issue Council |
Last updated January 4, 2009
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United Way of America