Parents are valued partners in their child’s education at Regency Place Elementary School.
Last year, the school embarked on a journey to revamp the traditional Parent-Teacher Conference. Family Specialist Analisa Barrera led the charge, pitching the idea to Principal Amy Reasons-Copes and then securing buy-in from teachers, staff and parents.
“It took a village to pull it off," said Barrera. "It was all hands on deck.”
Their idea for Academic Parent Teacher Teams invited parents into the school by grade level one evening after school.
“We gave them dinner and started with an ice breaker to make them more comfortable. They all got individual data folders on their own child to see where they were in relation to where the average is. And then we showed them how to read the data and the kinds of measures and data we collect here at school. We then worked with them to create a specific goal for their child.”
The results were eye-opening and undeniably positive. Parents and teachers had the chance to collaborate with a lesson covering TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) just like their child would in class. While parents were engaging with their child’s school, the kids were cared for in the gym.
“It opened all of our eyes,” said Barrera. “We benefitted from it as much as they did. They’re experts on their kids in areas that we are not. There was a real sense of community because we are partners in purpose.”
This new initiative is turning heads across the state. Recently, North East ISD was named as one of just three districts across Texas to receive the 2023 Parent and Family Engagement Promising Practice Award from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
A review committee selected Barrera’s ‘Promising Practice’ submission highlighting the campus Academic Parent-Teacher Teams initiative. She will represent NEISD and accept the award at the Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Conference in October.
Regency Place plans to continue their Academic Parent Teacher Teams this year, opening the door for even more collaboration and engagement with parents.
