In July, Parents for Public Schools of Jackson signed a $130,000 agreement with the Delta Health Alliance to provide parent leadership training for two elementary schools in Indianola, Mississippi.  The program is designed to connect parents to schools by using the arts as a vehicle for building relationships, creating individualized school improvement plans, and developing school leadership site teams that include parents.

The Delta Health Alliance was created by the federal government to expand health, education, community, and faith based services to support the Indianola community. When the Delta Health Alliance wanted to develop effective parent programs in local schools, PPSJ was the first place they called.

Ask any educator about one of the key factors in student achievement and they will tell you that it is parents and families. For years, in well-resourced schools and communities, parents have been the catalysts for insisting on high quality and responsive schools. Research proves that when parents and communities are more involved in children’s learning – regardless of income and education levels or ethnic background – student achievement rises and dropout rates fall. It is no different in communities such as the Indianola Pubic School system.

This program was developed after PPSJ staff met with fifteen administrators, principals, teachers, and parents to discuss the challenges of parent engagement in the IPS district. In contrast to most school districts, PPSJ found challenges were particularly great at the elementary level.  Parent involvement was low and a variety of barriers exists – from parents lacking skills as to how to engage with schools and feeling unwelcome to educators not knowing how to engage families and feeling a lack of support.

Despite these short term challenges, there are three very hopeful dynamics on which to build. One, while every principal, parent, and administrator expressed a lack of knowledge about how to create change and build trust, every single person expressed a strong desire to address this problem. Two, the district has strong and capable leadership with a proven track record for school improvement in the upper grades. And, three, the Delta Health Alliance and other funders can provide the capacity for sustained training and support. Funds will be used for a Program Organizer, PPSJ staff support, and artist fees as well as program expenses for printing, supplies, equipment, facilities, and travel.

Look for updates in future newsletters on this initiative that directly supports, deepens, and expands PPSJ’s work.

Vera Johnson, a 2007 Parent Leadership Institute graduate, joined the staff at PPSJ as Parent Organizer responsible for working with parents and community partners in Indianola to implement the Delta Health Alliance initiative.  With two children in Jackson Public Schools and eighteen years of experience working with Mississippi Girl Scouts, Vera brings a strong commitment to public education and the growth and development of young people to this work.