Transcription
ParentSquare7 Habits for Building a HighlyEngaged Parent CommunityAs practiced byBob Bourgault, Executive Director, Almond Acres Charter Academy
Parents and community members don’t volunteer atAlmond Acres Charter Academy. That isn’t to saythey’re not involved, however. In fact, communityengagement is thriving at the school. Rather thanvolunteering, parents participate in school activities. It’s asubtle but important distinction at the core of the school’scommunity-based philosophy.“Nobody volunteers to be a parent,” saysRobert Bourgault, executive director atAlmond Acres Charter Academy and fatherof seven. “When we make the choice to beparents, we’re choosing to be active in ourchildren’s development and education.”This sense of commitment and cooperation is engenderedin all of Almond Acres’ programs, creating a truly vibrantschool and parent community. For Bourgault and his team,building good habits and organizational health is essentialto students’ academic success and personal well-being.Almond Acres relies on seven habitual behaviors to build ahighly engaged parent community.7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY2
HABIT1Practice OrganizationalHealth“Acknowledging the uniqueness and respecting the dignity ofevery individual improves the art teaching and living,” Bourgaultsays. “This includes heart, body,mind and soul. We care deeplyabout our students as people andwhen parents realize that, theybecome engaged.”All Almond Acres studentsand parents create learningprofiles, which help school leadersdevelop unique relationships with each family. This strategyengages parents because they trust that school leaders aredevoted to supporter their children. Parent meetings at thebeginning of each school year also help Bourgault and his teaminteract with families and build rapport.Example: Create a parent andstudent learning profile7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY3
HABIT2Inspire LeadershipAlmond Acres develops organizational habits of theheart and mind to create an engaged honor uniqueness, saysBourgault. Without trust, inevitable conflicts that arise becomedetrimental to the learning community. The Almond Acres staffconducts key performance indicator(KPI) meetings each morning toensure everyone is on the same pageand driving toward mutual goals.Each day has its own theme, and theschool observes a habit of the week.Just as importantly, studentsgather together every morning for aShared Start. During Shared Start,school leaders honor and recognize students who havepracticed habit of the week. The group shares stories about theweekly habit, why it’s important and how they live it out eachday. These routines and processes contribute to organizationalhealth that builds an educationcommunity centered on trust.7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY4
HABIT3Inspire LeadershipGood leadership builds trust with families and creates advocatesat home and in the community. Effective leaders help othersshow themselves their own way and developtheir own leadership skills, Bourgault says. Thegoal is to empower parents through strategicand visionary communication.Through consistent messages that sharelearning, success stories and ideas, AlmondAcres brings parents into the fold. The schooluses communication platform ParentSquare tocommunicate directly with parents, connecting with them on themobile devices where they spend the most time.Example: Create strategic and visionarycommunication with parents7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY5
HABIT4Empower TeacherParent PartnershipTeachers are the experts. Almond Acres empowers teachers toshare their knowledge and expertise with parents to keepstudents’ learning alive at home. Almond Acres again usesParentSquare to distribute regularmessages sharing classroom lessons,techniques and photos. The programenables bi-directionalcommunication, which is critical indeveloping trust and cooperation.In one recent example,Bourgault observed a teacher recordvideo of kindergartner reading. Shethen sent the video, via ParentSquare’s mobile platform, to thestudent’s parents. “As a dad, that was really heartwarming tosee,” Bourgault says. “I can imagine how excited the student’sparents were to receive that video.”Example: Send regular messages toparents sharing classroom lessons,7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY6
HABIT5Activate ParticipationWhen parents participate at school, it showsdevotion and sends a message that school isimportant. Bourgault recommendsusing feedback mechanisms andonline sign-up to get parentsinvolved.“Activate by asking,” Bourgaultpreaches, because parents are farmore likely to participate if schoolleaders indicate that there’s a needand opportunities available. Onlinecommunication platforms like ParentSquare make it easier forteachers and school leaders to send requests directly to parents.“How does a school shake hands with the community? Throughparents,” Bourgault says.Example: Get parents involved withfeedback mechanisms and online sign-7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY7
HABIT6Community OutreachAdministrators can share their schools’ philosophyand experiences with their communities as a way tobuild advocacy. “How does a school shake hands with thecommunity? Through parents,” Bourgault says.Almond Acres engages parents withactivities they’re passionate about.Oftentimes, parents visit classrooms toshare information about theirprofessions or hobbies. Teachers canalso arrange field trips into thecommunity, visiting local organizationsand businesses.Example: Engage parents in things theyare passionate about-up.7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY8
HABIT7Track and MeasureBourgault recommends that school leaders trackand measure student and parent engagement – then take wellinformed steps toward improvement. Adopting school-wide KPIgoals is a great way to hold each other accountable in aproductive way. Accountability is paramount for commitment.KPI goals is a great way to holdeach other accountable in aproductive way. Accountability isparamount for commitment.Almond Acres created a KPI wallwith four quadrants in its office:1. Safety, facilities and equipment2. Families and community3. Teaching and learning4. Administration and finance5. KPI wall.Example: Adopt school-wide KeyPerformance Indicators7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY9
Putting It All Into ActionThere are no shortcuts to building a highly engaged parentcommunity. As Bourgault observes, it takes dedication fromeveryone involved: parents, teachers,administrators and students. “If we think aboutstudents metaphorically as trees, for example,we know they need good soil in order to thrive,”Bourgault says. “It’s our job as school leaders tonurture their growth through the development ofgood habits.”About ParentSquareParentSquare is a simple, collaborative platform for schoolhome communication that facilitates parental engagement inchildren’s education. Designed specifically to help preK-12educators, ParentSquare reaches and engages every parent withautomated email, text and app alerts, language translation, and24/7 access. Powerful metrics on parent engagement helpschool administrators take well-informed steps to improvingparental involvement. Learn more at www.parentsquare.com.7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY10
2. Families and community 3. Teaching and learning 4. Administration and finance 5. KPI wall. 7 HABITS FOR BUILDING A HIGHLY ENGAGED PARENT COMMUNITY 9 HABIT 7
