Translating Family Engagement Tips into Successful Practice

1
Translating Family Engagement Tips into
Successful Practice

• Brenda Johnson, Transition Coordinator, Stadium
  View School
• Lia Venchi, Teacher/Literacy
• Specialist, Stadium View School

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About Stadium View SchoolMinneapolis Public
SchoolsHennepin County Juvenile Detention Center

• Short term facility
• Mostly students of color, predominantly Black
• Students detained on serious charges
• 12 staff 8 teachers, a transition specialist, a
• principal and a life skills coach
• Serve also students in the adult facility
• Nationally accredited

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Connecting with Family

• Sunday visitation
• Meet and Greet with community partners
• Classroom Meet and Greet with follow-up phone
  call home
• Parent Council monthly meetings
• Calendar

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How Families Connect with Us

• Transition Specialist as point person
• Student referral
• Lobby display
• Facility supervisors
• Community partners

5
Facilitating Parent Visits

• Community Showcase (celebrate student success)
• Court support
• Freedom School Showcase
• Evening student debates
• IEP meetings
• Parent Council meetings

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Tips for Engaging Families

• Facilitate transportation, childcare stipends,
  meeting dinners
• Home visits
• Connect and facilitate community to support
  student and family
• Build trust through relationships

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Building Relationships

• Each interaction with a student and family member
  is with the highest level of respect and
  sincerity
• Respect and care are foundation of student/staff
  interaction
• Staff are required to provide educational and
  social-emotional support
• No judgment

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Effective Communication

• Staff regularly reflects on our commitment to our
  vision and mission
• Student Support Team meets weekly to discuss
  students academic and social-emotional well
  being
• Staff has on-going communication training
• Transition Specialist as point person

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Sharing Information

• IEP meetings include teachers, support staff,
  student and family members
• Letters and phone calls announce events and
  meetings
• 15 day academic report

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Providing Opportunities for Visits

• Juvenile justice, community and school systems
  work together
• Freedom School, debates, visiting authors and
  guests
• Work to support engagement between community
  partners and families
• When appropriate, include parents and JDC staff
  in professional development (we learn together)

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Ensuring Staff Meet Needs

• Weekly Student Support Team meetings
• Staff attend IEP meetings
• Over 100 hours each year of professional
  development
• Staff, student surveys, observations
• Community partners as critical friends
• Pacer Center/Governors Council on Developmental
  Disabilities

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Contact Information

• Brenda Johnson, Transition Specialist
• Work 612.543.0762
• Cell 612.490.5249
• Larry Lucio, Principal
• Work 612.596.1158
• Lia Venchi, Teacher
• Cell 651.247.1908