Studer Community Institute

Engaging parents in education

October 14, 2014
/ Reggie Dogan
/ education

The Studer Institute wants to improve the quality of life for people in Pensacola. It’s a lofty and sort of hard-to-define goal. But one key we believe is paramount in improving people’s lives is education. That’s why the Institute has made education the primary focus of the next Metro Report in January. Last week, a group of us met with some folks in the community in what we called an education summit. It basically was an informal discussion with concerned citizens — many of whom were current or retired educators — about education. The discussion ran the gamut on various issues and topics, but the overriding theme — or message —was engagement. For schools to get better and for students to do better, teachers, parents and students must be engaged. In the full scope of teaching, learning and educating, what precisely does that mean? Engagement simply means families and schools are working together in trusting and respectful relationships in order to help children become successful students. Engagement , at its best, starts early and continues through a child’s school years. According to research, families who are engaged in their children’s learning experience in child care are more likely to be engaged in their child’s learning when they go through school. School children whose families are engaged in their learning experiences in a positive way show improved performance through all grades. That’s regardless of the age of the child or the family’s ethnicity, income or education level. Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher. They know more about their child’s needs and concerns than anyone. They are an equal partner in their child’s education. Engagement, of course, is a two-way street. When schools get families engaged in a child’s learning experiences, it enhances the foundation for success. Schools should work to create a welcoming atmosphere, build positive home-to-school communication and include families in learning goals. The keys to building engaging relationships are no different in schools than in business or life. Creating trust, showing mutual respect and developing open lines of communication are essential tools that require constant and consistent practice and participation. So, how do we build the parent-school relationship and create the trust and communication that supports engagement in education? The first and most important step is making the commitment. The No. 1 way to engage parents is for teachers and schools to believe it works and makes a difference in the education of their students. It’s not the size of the school, the poverty level, the amount of dollars spent or the litany of programs, policies or procedures that determine the success of a school and its students. As the folks at the Studer Institute education summit stressed to us, it’s engagement and relationships that matter most in improving education. Let’s all give it a try. It’s worth the effort. Students do better in school when teachers and parents are on the same page.

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Engaging parents in education

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