in their children’s education. “The teachers are open
[to the parents at Rose Park], and the administrators
[are] too,” PTSO President Alexis Lewis said. “I can
say that’s not the case in a lot of schools.”
“Rose Park Promising Practice:
Empowering Parents”
http:/
/www.tnscore.org/scoreprize/
downloads/2012/Rose_Park_Math_and_
Science_Magnet_Promising_Practice.pdf
Parents say teachers at the school make an effort
to understand the personal experiences of students
and work hard to consider these factors in their educational planning and instruction. “We have some
parents who don’t speak English well. Sometimes
those parents aren’t as interested in talking to the
teachers,” one parent said. “Teachers will go out to
the cars and have those conversations. They really
understand the cultural diversity. They are really
making that effort to get the parents where they
need to be.”
Part of the message Rose Park administrators and
staff members share with families is that positive
relationships are formed when everyone at the
school shows enthusiasm for learning, an authentic desire to be at the school, and eagerness to
engage with students. “I think the difference at our
school is fidelity,” Blankenship said. “Our teachers
work very hard to make sure students and parents
know where [students] are [academically]. Many of
our teachers do much more than they need to do
and they care. Our students can tell and I think that
makes the difference.”
The school provides academic training programs for
family members so they can be learners alongside
their children and active participants in their students’
learning communities.
Family Math Night is one example of educational
training involving parents. During the event, students
and their family members apply math to solve real-life problems. Coordinated by the school’s numeracy coach, Sarah Shepherd, Family Math Night gives
parents a structured experience to build their own
math knowledge and contribute to their children’s
mathematics mastery. It also shows families how fun
math can be. Additionally, the school hopes that the
program helps students better understand what they
know, demonstrate their skills, and reinforce their
leadership abilities.
Academic coaches also coordinate family literacy
workshops which, like Family Math Night, are based
on the Common Core State Standards. These activities offer “great connections between parents and the
administrators and teachers,” Principal Blankenship
said. “[I think] the connection between schools and
the families strengthens the connection between the
parents and the child.”
Additionally, Rose Park provides frequent, ongoing formal communication with its families, including monthly
newsletters and personal contact with individual families. The school also encourages parents to visit the
school and become active members of its community.
Video: “Supporting and
Engaging Parents” (2:22)
http:/
/tnscore.org/scoreprize/
lessons-schools_mid2012.php
25
Pathways to the Prize
Lessons from the 2012 SCORE Prize School Winners