Capitalizing on Community Resources

At Thomas Edison Elementary School in Port Chester, N.Y., sick students receive quick medical attention at the school's health center, and a dentist visits weekly to provide care. A bilingual family caseworker helps parents advocate for their children's education, and weekly parent gatherings offer information on everything from state standards to citizenship. An after-school program provides students with enrichment opportunities. And new teachers participate in a two-year induction program, while veterans hone their practice by taking free or reduced-cost classes at a local college.

In his latest Is It Good for the Kids? column, ASCD Executive Director Gene R. Carter asks how one school can accomplish all this. His answer: It can't. Carter describes how Thomas Edison is a K-5 community school that provides its students and their families with education, health, and social services by leveraging the resources of partners like the Open Door Medical Center, an organization that offers medical care to underserved families.

Here at Inservice, we'd like to know whether and how your school is working with community-based public and private organizations to provide your students and their families with an array of services. Are there challenges or barriers to forging these partnerships? If so, has your school found ways to overcome them?

Comments

[Kathie Panfil]

I am a retired school principal now on the Board of two community organizations which are working in the way Carter describes.

One organization, Escuela Bolivia, Inc., works in 16 different public schools, offering classes on parenting and opportunities for Spanish speaking parents to network. The school system provides space and allows its staff to endorse and publicize the work with of the not-for-profit corporation.

The other organization, Greenbrier Learning Center, provides after school tutoring and enrichment, and child care. Parents sign permission forms, and the schools involved identify students, keep the program informed about their students' progress and collaborate in other ways.

Collaboration between schools and the not-for-profit sector is a great idea!

[Andraya Lampitelli]

I am a kindergarten Teacher, and I think it is great communities coming together for the benefit of the children and their families. Whether it be providing before and after care for students or providing free breakfast and lunches for low income families. It is important for the community to come together for the benefit of our students and their families.

[Ann'cee Watkins]

I am a third grade teacher and I realize the importance of a communities support. It is so beneficial for my classroom parents, alone, to give support! Mostly, primary grades are the ones with teacher assistants or paraprofessionals; but what about the upper grades? Educators are in desperate need of assistance in the classroom, and having strong community support, will ease the tensions some educators face in the classroom.

[Sara]

I am a fifth grade teacher and I agree that this kind of support from and partnership with the community is so important. These are services that some of these children would not be receiving otherwise. By providing children with these services, we are setting them up for success. Having this kind of support from the community definitely helps teachers to do their jobs better.