Typically, people evaluate situations with their personal lenses
of experience, expectation and bias. Such was the case when I asked
my daughter if she minded me volunteering to chaperone one of her
school dances.
Typically, people evaluate situations with their personal lenses of experience, expectation and bias. Such was the case when I asked my daughter if she minded me volunteering to chaperone one of her school dances. I was caught off guard by the absolute terror in her eyes and the resolve in her tone as she declared, “I will never attend a dance that you chaperone. How embarrassing!” Now I know I am not the tallest, wealthiest or coolest parent, and, admittedly, people do not put on their resume that I have patted them on the back. Still, I could not understand her embarrassment. My father was a high school teacher and he and my mother chaperoned all of my dances. I did not mind even as a teenager. I felt supported and loved.
Fortunately for my wife and me, our volunteer activities are not limited to dances. My wife serves on the Home and School Club and volunteers in the classroom weekly, and besides my full-time job visiting classrooms, I volunteer whenever I can. School involvement keeps us apprised of objectives and expectations. Being involved in our children’s schools helps us better support them and our schools, and while they might not admit it now, I know it helps them feel valued.
This dynamic is not unique to my family. Research is plentiful on the positive impact of parental involvement in school – for the purpose of this discussion the term “parent” refers to biological parents, adoptive parents, stepparents, and primary caregivers. The National Middle School Association conducted a meta-analysis of the research on the impact of parental involvement and concluded that involvement promotes improved performance, better classroom behavior, improved attendance, and improved emotional well-being. I share this knowing that a lack of research is not the reason some parents do not participate in school activities/functions; instead, parents are apprehensive because they are not sure the schools want their help, they are not sure students want their help, they are afraid they do not have the time and they are unaware of the many opportunities that allow them to help.
I can assure parents that the Morgan Hill Unified School District not only wants but needs their help. I would also clarify that not all volunteer activities are labor or time intensive. As for volunteer opportunities, parents are in luck; I have a list of activities that are sure to contain options that fit into their schedules and match their interests.
Parents can volunteer at their school site in many ways, from volunteering in the classroom to participating in Home & School Club activities, or working on the School Site Council. All parents are welcome to participate in Home & School Club. Parents work with the principal and other staff members to help raise funds to enrich the educational experience of all students. The Home and School Clubs fund field trips, student assemblies, classroom supplies, and sometimes music, art and other enrichment opportunities.
School Site Councils are composed of teachers, parents/community members and a site administrator. The School Site Council is responsible for developing and approving the Single School Plan for Student Achievement – this plan sets goals and determines categorical funding expenditures at each site.
Each school also has an English Learner Advisory Committee. This group advises the principal and staff on the school’s program for English learners.
There are also opportunities at the district level. The District Advisory Committee, composed of representatives from every school, consolidates the plans for all programs in the district and aligns resources according to the needs and the requirements of funding sources.
The District English Learner Advisory Committee advises the district on English learner programs and services including needs assessment, teacher requirements.
The district’s Special Education Advisory Committee is for parents of students with special needs. Meetings are open to all parents of special needs students. The agendas for the meetings are planned by a parent advisory team of three regular members and one alternate who work with the district’s director of student services to bring forward items of interest related to special education programs. Morgan Hill Unified also has two parent representatives and one alternate on the Community Advisory Committee for the Southeast Special Education Local Plan Area sanctioned by the County Board of Education. This committee includes representatives from all 11 school districts in our SELPA who meet monthly for parent education and training. The representatives bring back information they learn to district SEAC parents.
Both of our high schools have booster organizations that raise money for and support agriculture, sports and music programs, as well as a Grad Night Committee.
Research and common sense tell us that children have a greater chance of success if we are involved. Please contact the principal at your school and discuss the aforementioned opportunities. Remember, unless you enjoy the tranquil tones and heavenly harmonies of Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne (not related to John and certainly not Country and Western), you needn’t delight your student by chaperoning their dance; you have many opportunities to support your student.
Wes Smith is the superintendent of Morgan Hill Unified School District. He lives in Morgan Hill with his wife and three children, who attend Morgan Hill schools.
