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by Elizabeth Valdez-Garza, Family and Community Outreach Coordinator Yvonne Johnson, Edinburg High School Coordinator A UTPA GEAR UP INITIATIVE Home Sweet Home! UTPA GEAR UP Facts • • • • • • Service Population 12 School Districts 22 High Schools 8, 950 Students Project Staffing Centralized University GEAR UP Staff 22 GEAR UP Coordinators 22 GEAR UP Community and Family Liaisons Presentation Learning Objectives Today’s objectives are to learn… 1. Who makes up the UTPA GEAR UP Parental Involvement Model. 2. How each entity is involved. 3. What makes this model work. 4. How to develop your own Parental Involvement Program. 5. See what makes Edinburg High School a model Parental Involvement Program. Parental Involvement Model Parents are engaged in meaningful activities in and outside of the school setting, that empower their involvement in their children’s education 2. School personnel is trained to develop and maintain a relationship with parents that fosters a college-going culture. 3. Community members participate in school related activities and provide support . 4. Students are motivated to participate in family-schoolcommunity activities that promote academic success. 1. COMMUNITY SCHOOL STUDENT PARENTS PARENTS Parents are engaged in meaningful activities in and outside of the school setting, that empower their involvement in their children’s education Monthly parent meetings are pre-scheduled at each campus District and project parent conferences are offered throughout the year Las Platicas Academy trainings are offered monthly College preparation workshops are offered at each campus SCHOOL School personnel is trained to develop and maintain a relationship with parents that fosters a college-going culture. Presentational speaking seminars are offered Extensive capacity is built through monthly workshops College workshops and updates are offered throughout the year Campus visits by the Family and Community Outreach Coordinator provide guidance and ensure quality of services COMMUNITY Community members participate in school related activities and provide support . School Local stores donate incentives to be raffled at parent events Community members volunteer their time to provide mentorship to students Community centers are free to use to host parent meetings Local businesses offer community service opportunities for both parents and students Community Involved Student STUDENT Students are motivated to participate in familyschool-community activities that promote academic success. Leadership camps are offered throughout the year Tutors are available for one to one tutoring Local and out of state college visits are scheduled throughout the year Character development workshops are offered several times a year UTPA GEAR UP recognizes that parents are the GEAR that keeps our students in motion towards college. Making parents partners in our Mission to prepare and guide students is a complex task, but not impossible. We have found that the number one component to having a successful Parental Involvement Program is the REALATIONSHIP or PARTNERSHP you have with the parents. UTPA GEAR UP Parental Involvement Component Video Building a Relationship with Parents Every relationship should be based on these components, in this case… you need to display these traits FIRST in order to receive them from a parent. Commitment Trust Support • Be available • Be consistent • Be visible • Show interest • Be genuine • Do what you say you’re going to do • Don’t promise what you cannot deliver • Provide accurate and relevant information at all times • Listen • Understand • Help anytime you can Building a Relationship with Parents Building a relationship with parents takes time and effort, but it is worth every hour you put into it. Building YOUR Program Select your TEAM Set monthly goals Make a plan of action Evaluate Work, work, work!! Building YOUR Program Select your TEAM Set monthly goals •Get your Principal on board •Coordinate with the PI Specialist and work as a TEAM •Recruit 3 enthusiastic parents • Get phone numbers from ALL GEAR UP parents • Pick 20 to target each month • Stick to the goals even if you don’t meet them… DON’T GIVE UP Building YOUR Program Make an Action Plan •Write down what you are going to do •Share it with your TEAM •Give each person a specific task Work, work, work!! • Create a monthly Parent Meeting schedule • Give it to EVERYONE! • Call your Target 20 and invite them… then call to remind them Building YOUR Program Evaluate •Make evaluations for every event •READ them •Make necessary changes YVONNE JOHNSON – GU COORDINATOR LINDA TREJO – GU FAMILY LIAISON EHS GEAR UP Facts Active Cohort: 620 students Population: ? Hispanic population : 88.7% Language other than English spoken at home ( Spanish): 81.8% Persons below poverty level: 29.2% EHS Parental Component Principles What makes our program successful? 4. GU Bucks 3. Support 2. Relationships 1. GU Campus Staff EHS GEAR UP Program GU Campus Staff Grant was written to include a Family Liaison at each campus. Campus Coordinator and Family Liaison work collectively to ensure parents are aware and actively involved in their child’s education. EHS GEAR UP Program How to build it Understand who your parents are and the needs they have. What are the immediate educational needs their children have and build on that relevance. Establish understandable/workable goals and develop a plan to meet them. EHS GEAR UP Program Relationships Communicate with parents in “real” terms. Have concrete ideas (have a clear vision) Build up on the “good” all parents want for their kids. Become their partner. EHS GEAR UP Program Campus Support The creation of the grade level counseling centers. This is been huge in regards to keeping on top of all student activities - it is a real holistic approach to student success. EHS GEAR UP Program GU Bucks Kids need to be motivated to achieve. GEAR UP Bucks are awarded for good grades, attending tutoring sessions, parent meeting attendance, community service hours, etc. GU Bucks earn students points to attend college trips. Testimonies Edinburg High School GEAR UP Platicadoras Lillian Flores Sabrina Mendoza Questions? Please email us @ Elizabeth Valdez- Garza [email protected] Yvonne Johnson [email protected]