Have you ever felt like you needed to advocate for your child or another child in the public schools, and were not sure of the best way to accomplish your goals? Do you wonder if there are more resources that could help you support your child’s public school learning from home? Do you ever wish you could understand common core, and do you wonder why we even have common core? Have you ever heard people say, “contact your legislator” but you were not sure how, or what to say?
Participants in our Parent Engagement Program learn all of this and more during the course of one school year. To date, 53 Pitt County residents have graduated from the Parent Engagement Program, each of them leaving the program more knowledgeable about public education, and better equipped to advocate for quality public education for each child. Classes are held for six hours on the third Wednesday of each month from October through May, with a break in December. Participants have the opportunity to create a project that will allow them to better public education right here in Pitt County.
Graduates have completed projects such as designing a garden curriculum, beautifying school grounds, taking on a leadership position like a PTA offer or Board of Education member, or beginning an academic club. If your work schedule conflicts with the classes, many companies in the past have allowed participants to take one day off from work each month in order to participate, as they recognize that the class builds leadership and advocacy skills. You may also want to find out if your employer offers paid volunteer leave, which some of our participants have used as a way of participating in this program. If you would like to apply or just learn more, please contact our Executive Director, Kylene Dibble at kdibble@ppspittcounty.org or 252-758-1604 ext. 201.
