Twas the night before the primary...

I have nothing to give towards putting together a witty rhyme…but, wouldn’t that be fun.  I have been wanting to get working on my posts, but my writing efforts have been focused on answering nearly 30 questions for the Salem Education Foundation’s online forum.  As it is, campaign and family obligations (apple picking and lunch/snack prep) have occupied a lot of my time and I haven’t been able to answer all of them.  FYI – here is the link to the forum - http://salemeducationfoundation.weebly.com/#/news/.    I do plan to get to all of them

In fact, I should be working on my questions now.  But, with a scratchy throat and achy body, I am going to sleep very soon so that I can re-energize for tomorrow.  I do, however, want to leave all of you with some valuable information that I came across while preparing for last week’s forum (if anyone recalls my late night “ah ha” moment).  As a bit of background info, there seem to be organizations devoted to every cause on our great earth (and beyond).  So, there should be no surprise that there is a National School Boards Association.  I happened upon across some information on their website related to governance and the “8 Characteristics of Effective School Boards” as published by the Center for Public Education.  http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Public-education/Eight-characteristics-of-effective-school-boards/Eight-characteristics-of-effective-school-boards.html

I would love to address each characteristic separately but I already need toothpicks to pry my eyelids open.  Instead, I leave these for you to ponder as you enter the voting booth tomorrow.  Consider the current characteristics of the committee and what you would like (and expect) to see. 

Eight Characteristics of an Effective School Board
1. Effective school boards commit to a vision of high expectations for student achievement and quality instruction and define clear goals toward that vision
2. Effective school boards have strong shared beliefs and values about what is possible for students and their ability to learn, and of the system and its ability to teach all children at high levels.
3. Effective school boards are accountability driven, spending less time on operational issues and more time focused on policies to improve student achievement.
4. Effective school boards have a collaborative relationship with staff and the community and establish a strong communications structure to inform and engage both internal and external stakeholders in setting and achieving district goals.
5. Effective boards are data savvy; they embrace and monitor data, even when the information is negative, and use it to drive continuous improvement.
6. Effective school boards align and sustain resources, such as professional development, to meet district goals.
7. Effective school boards lead as a united team with the superintendent, each from their respective roles, with strong collaboration and mutual trust.
8. Effective school boards take part in team development and training, sometimes with their superintendents, to build shared knowledge, values and commitments for their improvement efforts.

Before I sign off, I want to thank everyone for their support thus far – it truly means a great deal to me.

Katie Casiglia

Happy New (School) Year! Parental/Family Involvement - Part I

For me, every school year starts off more like a celebration of a new calendar year – as the number of resolutions I make in September seems to outnumber the ones I make in January.  I almost always scold myself for not starting supply shopping earlier.  I also vow that “this year” I will do better with planning and preparing (snacks, lunches, clothes, etc), staying organized (with all the papers and obligations), and being involved in my children’s education.   I admit that I struggle to manage all these things and some days my efforts are more successful than others.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the day-to-day stuff at home and work while also trying to tend to the basic needs or our children.  Being (or becoming) an involved parent* can seem impossible when time and energy is precious.  Yet, students, and schools, do better when parents are actively engaged.  Opinions on what it takes to be involved or active greatly differ.  So what does it mean to be an involved parent?  What are the benefits?  What specific things can parents and families do to be involved?

(*Please note that "parent" includes foster/adoptive parents, guardians, or other family members of a student.)

The US Department of Education (through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) has defined parental involvement as “the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:

-          that parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning
-          that parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school
-          that parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child; and
-          that other activities are carried out, such as those described in section 1118 of the ESEA¹ (Parental Involvement). [Section 9101(32), ESEA]².”

The benefits of parent involvement are numerous and significant.  Certainly, children of involved parents receive direct and immediate benefits - they “are absent less frequently, behave better, (and) do better academically from pre-school through high school.”³  Research done at the Southwest Educational Laboratory showed that, “regardless of family income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, enroll in higher level programs, be promoted, pass their classes, attend school regularly, show improved behavior, adapt well to school, and graduate and go on to post-secondary education.”⁴ Furthermore, parents who volunteer their time at school can directly and indirectly impact other children by serving as a role model and/or partner in the educational process.

Some parents assume that being involved requires an overwhelming level of effort, spending large amounts of time at their child’s school, or being an expert in subjects their child is taught at school.  However, there are many ways to be involved.  As parents/family members, we have the primary responsibility for our child’s education.  Most importantly, families need to support the learning process and extend what the school is doing into the home.   Things that accomplish this are very easy to incorporate into the daily routine - in fact, you might be doing some of them already.  I have compiled a list from multiple resources ^3,5  but the options are not limited to these.

-          Read to your child

-          Discuss the books and stories you read

-          Read your child’s textbooks to increase awareness about what your child is learning

-          Help your child apply what they are learning to real-life situations at home

-          Help your child organize his/her time

-          Limit screen time, especially on school nights

-          Talk to your child regularly about what is happening in school

-          Check homework nightly

-          Make sure your child has a quiet place to read and study

-          Attend parent-teacher conferences, ask questions, listen, and help set goals for your child

-          Know your child’s strengths and weaknesses at school and discuss ways to help at home with your child’s teachers

-          Show a positive attitude towards school and school personnel – children learn this by example

-          Ask specific, open-ended questions about your child’s day, what they did in a specific subject or class

-          Emphasize student learning, and what your child has learned instead of passing/failing

Opportunities to become involved outside your home and with other children include:

-          Be a classroom helper

-          Make displays for special events

-          Help prepare communications from the teacher, such as a monthly event calendar

-          Run errands to help collect supplies

-          Make copies or help prepare supplies for an activity or lesson

-          Tutor or read with individual children

-          Assist children with special needs

-          Help in special labs, such as computer or science

-          Plan and work in fundraising

-          Help coordinate classroom or field trip volunteers

-          Plan and accompany classes on field trips

-          Assist coaches at sporting events

-          Help out with arts and crafts workshops

-          Assist with a special interest club or drama group

-          Speak to classes about your career or special expertise

-          Connect with and support other parents, offer guidance with becoming involved

-          Help write press releases or local news articles

-          Work as a library assistant

-          Vote in school board elections – know what the candidates stand for

-          Participate in parent-teacher associations and school decisions

-          Help your school set challenging academic standards

-          Become an advocate for better education in your community and state

-          Ask your child’s teacher or other faculty/staff member about other ways you can help

Once students reach middle school, they are more independent, classes are structured differently and family involvement is less direct.  Typically, family involvement levels in these upper grades drop off, even though it is still important.  The National Education Association suggests that families, “participate in school events, monitor homework, provide experiences and materials that supplement school work, and help children with organizational strategies.”³

As I started working on this post weeks ago, I didn’t realize where my research would take me, but I felt that it was a relevant topic being the start of a new school year.  I discovered that this topic is huge – not only as it relates to student achievement, but in the success of our schools.  There are multiple organizations devoted to parental/family engagement and, as I started reading more, I found myself asking more questions about how this information relates specifically to our community.  As a result, I aim for this to be one of a three part series.  Other parts will touch upon the factors that encourage or prohibit family engagement and parental involvement policies currently in place.  As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback.  In the meantime, I hope that everyone had a great start to the school year!

References:

1 - If you want to read Section 1118 of the ESEA you can find it here:http://www2.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA/sec1118.html

2 - Taken from Section 9101 (32), ESEA – see here: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg107.html

3- NYU Child Study Center – (also available to read in Spanish) http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/involved_parents_hidden_resource_in_their_children039s_education

4 – Henderson, Anne T. and Karen L. Mapp, A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact on School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement (Texas: Southwest Education Development Laboratory, 2002), 14. http://www.sedl.org/connections/resources/evidence.pdf

5 – Other references include: The Pennsylvania PTA ”PTA & Parent Involvement: Background Information” http://www.papta.org/domain/73, 3 September 2013; Jill Reilly – “A Mom With a Lesson Plan – 19 Ways to help teachers…when you can’t work in the classroom”, 25 August 2013;

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I have been meaning to post something about my background, why I am running and my goals for school committee.  Of course, I just realized that I still haven't done that.  I am still writing the piece about parent involvement - but, for this moment, I take another break for some more campaign chat.
About me:
I am married (13 years ago, in Salem) and have three kids.  My oldest, Michael, is six and going into first grade.  My second child, Peter, is four and going into his second year of preschool.  Elizabeth is 2.5 and "hangs out" with me.  We have been living in Salem since 2006.  I was raised in Merrillville, Indiana (near Chicago).  I studied biology at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame for two years before transferring to the University of Oklahoma to get my Bachelor's degree in Zoology.  Afterwards I went to the University of California at San Francisco to study dental hygiene.  My ultimate career goal was to become a dental hygiene educator.  As a clinical dental hygienist, I have worked in private practice and research.  I did reach my ultimate career goal and served as the first-year clinic coordinator at the Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists.  Since having my children, most of my dental-related work has been coordinating outreach and education for children in Salem, including the Halloween Candy Buy Back Program.  I am a board member of Parents United of Salem and an active classroom parent and PTO member.
Why I am running:
Although I am a new face on the political scene, I feel that the school committee can benefit from my fresh perspective.  This is a crucial time period for the future of our schools and I am sincerely concerned.  I am not running to begin a career in politics and I have no agenda, other than improving the education for all children at all levels.
I have been a parent within the Salem school system for three years and attended nearly all school committee meetings over the past 18 months.  Over this time I have been out talking to teachers and parents and have developed a good working relationship with the superintendent.  I have done research related to various topics and respectfully offered my thoughts and ideas.  I am prepared to serve our community as a member of the school committee and will look at all issues thoughtfully and objectively as they relate to specific concerns and the "big picture".
I feel that school committee members have a responsibility to the people of Salem, especially children.  They need to be able to explain why our schools are succeeding or failing.  I don't expect it to be an easy job - but it is one that I will take very seriously.
Goals:
- Promote an academic culture that provides high quality education for all students at all levels of learning throughout the district while preserving school choice.
- Maintain focus on district-wide goals and ensure each school knows its role in the success of all students.
- Foster strong leadership at all levels, improved collaboration and clear communication between administrators, teachers, parents and taxpayers.
- Make "smart investments" in our school system by assuring that program or initiative decisions meet our goals, have proven success in similar districts, are sustainable and can provide results that are measurable.

Geeky School Mom takes on political business

For those of you who understand the difference between “planning a wedding” and “getting married”, you will appreciate what I mean when I say there is a similar difference between “organizing a political campaign” and “running for office”.  Right now, life is a hectic blur of campaigning, moving back into our bedrooms (after moving out to finish improvement projects and swap bedrooms for more efficient living), preparing for school, and (still) toilet training my 2 ½ year old daughter.  I do not mean to sound like I am complaining – I feel very fortunate in my life.  But, of course, all of these exciting things would happen at the same time.  I am really trying my best to "do it all" - there is no doubt that I will need a big nap on September 18th and again on November 6th (assuming I make it through the primary).

I am in the process of writing my next blog post about parent involvement, which will hopefully be ready to post over the weekend.  I have another post (or two) in the works about Superintendent Russell’s evaluation and the DESE’s Quarterly Progress Report, both of which were on the agenda at the last school committee meeting. 

I am happy to report that my campaign signs and bumper magnets are in the process of being printed.  As an exercise to expand my blogging expertise, I will try to post an image of my logo below (fingers crossed with that one). Please let me know if you are interested in getting a sign or bumper magnet. (Magnets will be oval, signs will be rectangular.) 

In the meantime, I am looking forward to returning to some semblance of the “normal” routine – and getting back to what I enjoy doing in my spare time, which is talking to people about our schools.  Maybe that makes me a geeky school mom...or just passionate about the cause?  I am interested in coming to your neighborhood and talking to your friends and neighbors to get their feedback and thoughts.  If you are interested in hosting tea/coffee (just a few friends or neighbors, not an all-out party – I will even bring the refreshments), please let me know.  Thanks!