Let’s Work…
When I recently shared a story outlining my experiences in the educational space over the past few years, I ended with a call to action: “Let’s work.” I wholeheartedly believe that leaning into the hard work of supporting our children across the district of SLPS as parents — instead of “burning it down” — will be challenging, but it is what we are meant to do together.
Despite our sometimes siloed experiences, I draw inspiration from my positive interactions with parents across our district’s schools as I’ve had the opportunity to engage in community building activities.
During the 2017–2018 school year as my children began their educational journeys in kindergarten and PK3 at Columbia School for the Gifted, my husband and I noticed some ways that the success of the school community was being affected by limited resources. Feeling compelled to address those issues, I started by writing a letter to the superintendent, Dr. Adams, who surprisingly welcomed a meeting. During our conversation, he identified the need for parent engagement in the building as one critical part of the solution that was missing. Determined, I shook his hand and vowed to show up.
With no experience in starting a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), I reached out to the parent community at Mann Elementary, where I was invited to attend a PTO meeting. There I learned to draft meeting agendas and build committees. From there, I was introduced to parents at the two other gifted schools, Mallinckrodt and CJA, who later formed a group dedicated to sharing resources across the gifted schools called The Equity Bridge. As a collective we hosted fundraisers (taking Columbia’s PTO budget from $0 to more than $8,000), sponsored a school beautification day, completed a teacher’s lounge makeover and hosted our first-ever Fall Festival. The energy that was generated as we worked toward serving our school community well was amazing! When we hosted a fundraiser at a local restaurant, it was incredible to see the line winding out the door, with parents from schools across the district and across the city coming together to support a school that was not their own.
An increase in consistent, collaborative parent engagement is one thing we need to support the children of St. Louis and move our city forward. Imagine an organized parent body of more than 19,000 students — if even a small percentage of parents and caregivers mobilized, we could volunteer, fundraise, lend support in tackling literacy issues, demand policy change, celebrate our successes, support our teachers, and build community with one another. Imagine the St. Louis we could build together, when we work together for ALL our children. This is the work, and I invite you to join me in it as I step into my new role as Interim Parent Liaison at St. Louis Public Schools, where I promise to lift your voices as parents to advocate for the success of our students and the public schools which belong to and are accountable to all of us.
I hope to welcome you on Thursday, May 20th, at 6:30 PM to the final virtual Parent Action Council (PAC) Meeting of the year. The PAC is the St. Louis Public School District organization for parent and caregiver input and collaboration, similar to a PTO but at the district level, and every parent, guardian or anyone acting in loco parentis is automatically a member. Beforehand, please complete the following SURVEY to share areas of interest where you would like to lend your talents.
I am truly excited about the possibilities. We are the ones we have been waiting for.
Gloria