Board Members Superintendent
Maurice Hill, Chairman Charles Wilson, CPA, MBA
Mike Sparks, Vice Chairman
David Ball 150 Williams Road
Edwin Hill Suite A
Steve Hein Statesboro, GA 30458
Anshul Jain 912.212.8500
Mike Herndon
Vernon Littles www.bulloch.k12.ga.us
Bulloch County Schools
FOR RELEASE
November 4, 2012
Contact: Hayley Greene, Public Relations & Marketing Specialist
912.212.8512; 912.536.2827;
Pulpits to Front Porches; Parents Urged to be Involved
Governor Declares November as Parent Engagement Month
Governor Nathan Deal has proclaimed November as Parent Engagement Month in Georgia, but Bulloch County Schools is encouraging parent involvement throughout the year by taking their message to pulpits and front porches.
The school district is partnering with more than 130 of the county’s congregations, offering events, and visiting students and parents at home. “Preparing our students to be well-educated, well-rounded, and contributing members of society is a huge undertaking, and we believe it is necessary for the entire community to help our students achieve their maximum potential,” Schools Superintendent Charles Wilson said.
Wilson, along with school system employees and parent volunteers, who serve on the school district’s Parent Involvement Council, are leading the parent engagement efforts. “So far we’ve contacted more than 60 percent of the county’s congregations. We’ve met with church staff from Elm Street Church of God to Pittman Park Methodist and equipped pastors with a letter from our superintendent, talking points about parent involvement to use on Sunday mornings and in church newsletters, and information about our upcoming Parent University,” said Georgiana Darsey, who coordinates the district’s parent involvement coordinators.
Local principals consistently point to parent involvement as being one of the key factors that affect student achievement. Students whose parents actively participate in school activities typically earn higher grades and test scores; enroll in higher-level programs; are promoted, pass their classes and early necessary credits; attend school regularly; have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school; and graduate and go on to post-secondary education.
Principals like Karen Doty and Assistant Principal Tanita Peak of Langston Chapel Elementary are taking their school’s parent involvement message to front porches. “We wanted to visit out children's "worlds" to open up the lines of communication. Walking in their neighborhood, talking with parents and students, and being invited into their homes was really powerful,” Dr. Doty said. Families asked them to come inside, and they shared photo albums, pageant pictures, and pets. “Now we have students asking when we’re coming to their homes,” Doty added. “We plan to make these informal visits every other month.” Doty commented that after making the home visits parents seemed more open to communicating and being part of the school world.
The school system is also connecting with families through Parent University, an event that offers Moms and Dads an opportunity to attend workshops designed for parents with children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Some of the topics include learning positive ways to discipline your child, identifying and responding to bullying, learning homework tips for middle school math, supporting special needs children, and understanding standardized tests and why testing is important. The next Parent University is Saturday, November 10, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., at the new Mattie Lively Elementary on Debbie Drive. “It’s our goal to provide every student the opportunity to succeed, and we want to partner with their parents in this endeavor,” Wilson said.
Pictured Above: Dr. Alexander Smith, pastor of Elm Street Church of God discusses ways to encourage his congregation’s parents to be involved in schools with Parent Involvement Coordinator Joyce Simmons (seated) and ESOL Coordinator Georgianna Darsey.; Dr. Karen Doty and Tanita Peak of LCES visit with students at their homes.; Parents participate in a cyber safety workshop during the 2011 Parent University.