You are a valuable partner
(Editor's note: April Lee is the Wayne County school system's parent mentor.)
Research shows that family involvement promotes student success. Students with involved parents are more likely to earn higher grades and pass their classes, attend school regularly and have better social skills, and go on to postsecondary education.
When families, schools and communities work together: student achievement improves, teacher morale rises, communication increases, and family, school and community connections multiply, according to the National PTA.
What is needed to build effective partnerships that will support families and students, improve school climate, and build a healthy community?
Commitment to a shared vision is the first building block to any partnership. We must work together, through disagreements, differences and disappointments. Working together for a common good is not always easy, but remembering what/whom we are working for will bring us toward an agreeable goal.
Respect for those in the partnership is extremely valuable. Each partner has a role in preparing ALL students to graduate. If one partner is not respected or encouraged to be an essential piece of decision making, for example, the process and partnership will suffer loss of direction.
Everyone needs support in a partnership. Support re-energizes and supplies the encouragement needed to make it through difficult times. For example, a partnership will be helpful when a family lacks the resources it needs to help a child with homework. Understanding the support each partner needs is an ongoing part of promoting student success.
Equality in a partnership will give each partner power to promote change. It is never fair for one partner to have more say in a situation, more access to information, or more respect than another partner. Parents want to help their children learn but need access to training, teaching techniques and regular access to teachers to understand where their child may need help.
Positive attitudes among partners will ultimately drive a partnership to success. If partners trust each other, learn to count on one another, and carry optimism with them in their pursuit, success will result.
Valuable partner, whether you work to strengthen families, encourage youth to succeed in life, or are promoting a healthy community where ALL citizens have a place to share their gifts and talents with others, you are an essential part of Wayne County's success.
If you wish to get more involved and partner with others, please call Wayne County Family Connection for local event information and volunteer opportunities (810-0101).
If you are a parent with a child being served by the Wayne County Special Education Department, I would love to talk to you more about effective partnerships that will help your child succeed (810-7635, ext. 24).