California Educator

December 2014

Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/436829

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Making a difference doesn't stop at school boundaries for CTA members and leaders O M M U N I T Y E N G A G E M E N T and coalition building are priorities in CTA's long-term strategic plan. Local chapters like these are taking the lead and making that plan a reality. C Project 2 Inspire parent graduates Maria Manriquez and Maria Ester. Palm Springs: Working with "inspiring" parents By Ed Sibby " G O O D R E L A T I O N S H I P S D O N ' T just happen, you have to work at it, and we are all working at it," says Palm Springs Teachers Association President Mark Acker. That mindset prompted Palm Springs teachers to develop Project 2 Inspire, a program that helps bilingual parents to be more involved in their children's schools. PSTA used a CTA Institute for Teaching grant to partner with the California Association for Bilin- gual Education (CABE) to provide a series of three 10-week modules for parents on topics such as understanding how the school system works, education funding, and how to get the most out of a parent-teacher conference. Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) joined the partnership, which increases the number of sites offering the trainings. As a parent and president of the Palm Springs chapter of CABE, Maria Manriquez believes the increased contact and involvement is inspiring. "When we have regular communication with our teachers at their sites and in their classrooms, we have more confidence in how to interact effectively in our role as parents," she says. "Our children then feel more connected to the school when they see their parents interacting with both teachers and administrators. Parents have seen an across-the-board improvement in their children's aca- demic performance as a result of the program." Fifty-six parents, some with their children, graduated and were honored at a Dec. 2 reception, which featured the Palm Springs High School Ballet Folklorico dancers. Says Acker, "When parents and teachers work together, kids win." Project 2 Inspire parent graduates Maria Manriquez and Maria Ester. Palm Springs High School Ballet Folklorico dancers perform at the Project 2 Inspire parent graduation ceremony. Community engagement CTA & You 50 www.cta.org

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