Entry #27: Johns Hopkins' national network
helps schools solve the partnership puzzle
Baltimore / Johns Hopkins -- Well, this last week was a
lesson in dealing with discomfort in order to get what you want. Being on
the "road" for almost nine months has produced many challenging
moments. However, I faced a new challenge as I traveled via Greyhound from
Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Baltimore, Maryland to attend the Leadership Training
Workshop for Partnership Schools hosted by Johns Hopkins University's Center
on School, Family, and Community Partnerships.
As most of you know all too well, a teacher's salary doesn't go far. So,
instead of flying, I elected to bus it with my 14-year-old son, Ian. What
I didn't realize is how difficult it would be to sit upright for 30 hours.
However, it WAS worth it.
This workshop gave me an opportunity to meet and hear from Joyce Epstein,
the Director of the Center and perhaps the country's foremost spokesperson
for parent involvement and community support in education.
Ever since I started this quest in search of collaboration and partnerships,
I have been running across Joyce's name. Her work is cited and published
by everyone from the National Middle School Association to the PTA -- and
everything in between.
Still, I expected a fairly small group at this initial training for individuals
who are starting to lead their schools, districts and states into parent
involvement and community collaboration. With a thousand schools already
in Center's network, there couldn't be too many new ones, right?
Wrong.
I had trouble finding a seat among the nearly 200 folks from 26 states.
This isn't just a passing educational fad. In fact, as I found out at the
workshop, my own state of Washington has taken great strides in developing
action plans and a structure for increasing and improving partnerships.
Besides hearing again of all the research supporting Epstein's six
types of involvement, I was able to categorize much of what I've seen
these past months under her headings. I know the attendance, grades and
numerous interpersonal aspects of students will improve when their parents
get help with parenting skills (type 1); when communication between home
and school improves (type 2); and when families learn how to help with school
work at home (type 4).
Because there is NO COST for joining
the National Network for Partnership Schools, hopefully administrators
at all levels will tap into this resource. For a school to join, they must
just agree to identify a team, use the framework of the six types, allocate
some time and resources, and agree to fill out a yearly update form.
In exchange, the school will receive examples of practices, newsletters
with the latest research and programs from around the country, access to
instant assistance and opportunity to participate in workshops such as this
one.
At the conference, it was especially gratifying to realize that numerous
good practices I have observed these past few months around the country
did not come about as a result of the Center's research but arose
from the community's own initiatives. Many of the schools and districts
had never heard of this framework. They simply do these things because it
benefits kids and assists families.
It was also invigorating to listen to stories of other practices from all
over and have a chance to share some of what I have been doing and discovering.
Workshops and conferences have a way of recharging your batteries, don't
they?
I needed that, especially since Ian and I faced another 30-hour trip back.
So, after an Orioles game and quick tour of Fort McHenry, we boarded the
bus and returned to the family.
After some initial conversations with educators here in Pine Bluff, it's
clear that they, too, are facing some uncomfortable circumstances on the
journey to educational excellence. More to come from Arkansas.
Darrell
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