Safe, Healthy and Caring Learning Environments By Angela Jones & Shawn Klehm (Inspiration from Dr. Karen Mapp)

Recipe for School Improvement 1. Leadership (Principal drives this but it is distributive) 2. Parent- Community ties ( Has to be involved to have an impact. 3. Professional Capacity ( Everyone has the ability to learn) 4. Student-Centered learning climate 5. Instructional Guidance (What needs to be addressed)

What makes a strong school? Teachers want to remain in a school that is: 1. Student-centered 2. Teacher collaboration

Dr. Karen Knapp A New Wave of Evidence Many studies found that students with involved parents, no matter what their income or background, were more likely to: earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs. be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits. attend school regularly. have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school. graduate and go on to postsecondary education. earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs. be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits. attend school regularly. have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school. graduate and go on to postsecondary education. Several studies found that families of all income and education levels, and from all ethnic and cultural groups, are engaged in supporting their children’s learning at home. White, middle-class families, however, tend to be more involved at school. Supporting more involvement at school from all parents may be an important strategy for addressing the achievement gap.

Essential Core Beliefs 1. All parents have dreams for their children and want the best for them. 2. All parents have the capacity to support their children’s learning. (No matter the situation- all can support in some way big or small) 3. Parents and school staff should be equal partners. (Everybody has a unique role on the team) 4. The responsibility for building partnerships between school and home rests primarily with school staff, especially school leaders.

Rule of Change 20%60%20% Your action teams The “Show” me group Unhappy with change (Early adopters) (Grrrrrr)(NO)

School, Family, and community Partnerships: Essential Ingredients Eggs- Leadership Flour- Teachers, associates, custodians, etc. (every person has “tools/ingredients” to help with our “team”) Baking Powder- Family and Community involvement Keynote: If we don’t add the baking powder our students will never RISE!

What can we do? “Come to us creates a hierarchy- Go to them!” Take your show on the road!!!!!! Let’s brainstorm- Ex. Carnival, field day, open house, hot dogs, bon fire, dunk-tank, pie in the face, greased- pig contest, etc.