How Parent Volunteers Inspired a Young Reader
In the 2014-2015 school year, Brian Juarez* was a second grader at Thomson Elementary (DCPS), a fourth-year Tellin’ Stories partner school. He spoke Spanish at home and had already become the interpreter between his parents and his teachers. When there were forms to send home, he filled them out during class with his teacher’s help. Emily Prater, […]
Early Steps for a Parent Leader
Teresa Rodriguez is a parent at Teaching for Change partner school LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (DCPS), a school that has seen a rapidly growing Latino population in a historically black community in Northeast D.C. Teresa came to story quilting sessions and parent meetings led by Teaching for Change during the 2014-2015 school year and started to […]
Principal Chit Chats Boost School Success
On October 2, 2015, Principal Carmen Shepherd of Thomson Elementary (DCPS) weaved excitedly around the tables in the crowded room, calling on parents at different tables. “Eighty-five percent!” one table responded. “Ninety-nine percent!” exclaimed another. In both English and in Spanish, proud parents aimed high with their goals for the percentage of students they hope […]
Parent Advocacy Wins Six New After School Positions
Erika Merino*, a parent at Teaching for Change partner school Bruce Monroe Elementary at Park View (BMPV), a D.C. public elementary school, had high hopes after leaving a meeting about after school programming with other parents, school staff, and DCPS officials just before the Thanksgiving break. A working mother of three (two elementary and a […]
Teaching for Change Featured in Education Week and Think Progress
Teaching for Change’s nationally recognized family engagement project, Tellin’ Stories, was featured in stories in Education Week and ThinkProgress in the fall of 2015. Education Week interviewed Principal Shawn Hintz of Mt. Rainier Elementary, a public school in Prince George’s County, Maryland, about how the school’s relationship with parents has changed since partnering with Teaching for […]
A Tribute to Dr. Marta Palacios
On a warm spring evening in June 2015, students, parents, and alumni of Bruce Monroe Elementary School at Park View (DCPS) gathered in the auditorium to say thank you to a beloved principal and educator. Dr. Marta Palacios retired after 14 years of service as principal and a long career as an educator and advocate […]
Breaking Barriers of Race, Class, and Language in Schools
On July 21, 2015, Teaching for Change hosted a special event, “Race, Class, and Language: Breaking Barriers to Family Engagement in D.C.,” a briefing over breakfast with community stakeholders about the impact of gentrification and systemic inequities on full parental participation in schools. The event featured case studies from the 2015-2016 school year at schools […]
A New Tradition for Families Going to Middle School
On May 29, 2015, breakfast greeted the fifth grade parents at Tyler Elementary (DCPS) a, first-year Tellin’ Stories partner school. The cheerful spread was part of a new tradition the teachers hoped to start for families preparing to make the leap from elementary to middle school: the Fifth Grade Family Promotional Breakfast. Earlier in the […]
An Outside Perspective on a Tellin’ Stories School
Just after the start of the school day on June 5, 2015, more than 20 parents gathered in the large meeting room to share their triumphs and challenges from the 2014-2015 school year at Thomson Elementary’s (DCPS) final Parent-Principal Chit Chat for the school year. The hour long breakfast meetings were established three years ago through […]
Parents Visit Classrooms Throughout the School
The parents at Tellin’ Stories third-year partner school Thomson Elementary (DCPS) sat with anticipation for their meeting with the principal. On Friday, May 8, 2015, they gathered in the school cafeteria with Principal Carmen Shepherd and interpreters for a special Parent-Principal Chit Chat. “We’re going to do class visits today, because that’s something you requested—to see more […]
