Bob McBride, Principal, Neuqua Valley High School

Bob McBride, Principal, Neuqua Valley High School
Tyrone Smith, Assistant Principal, Neuqua Valley High School
College Board, Dream Deferred Conference
April 27, 2012
Although a desired destination out of urban settings, suburbs can lack the
g
In 2009,, a diverse
structure off traditional,, close-knit neighborhoods.
group of African American parents at Neuqua Valley High School in
Naperville, IL partnered with the school administration to form a parent
group, PATHS. This parent group is focused on collaborating with the
school
h l and
d it
its administration
d i i t ti to
t further
f th iinform
f
Af
African
i
A
American
i
parents
t
and students on topics related to success in high school and college
readiness. Its mission became building a neighborhood of parents
gaps
p in African
f
American achievement. The g
group
p
motivated to address g
has engaged the community through parent and student workshops on
motivation, achievement, and resources. The evolution of this group has
provoked issues relating to an Afro-centric approach, turning criticism
into action,
action and developing authentic parent leadership.
leadership
* How to navigate an Afro-centric approach in a suburban, majority white
school setting.
* How to listen to parents, validate parent perspectives, guide parents
towards turning criticisms into action, and empower parents towards
authentic leadership.
• What is the metaphor you would use for your
parent group?
• What “take away” or services do you want parents
to experience through participation in a parent
group?
• Is an Afrocentric or ethno-centric approach the
right strategy?
• What degree of autonomy should a parent group
h
have
in
i relation
l i to school
h l lleadership?
d hi ?
*Indian Prairie School District 204
*3rd Largest
L
t in
i Illi
Illinois
i
*31 Buildings
*29,000 Students
*Language diversity as great as Chicago
*Neuqua Valley High School (Knee-Kwa) 1997
*South Naperville
• Pacific Education (2005-2008)
(2005 2008)
• Glenn Singleton and Curtis Linton, Courageous
Conversations on Race
• Building Equity Leadership Team
• Research, Ideas, Direction
• Awareness Building- A Staff Effort
• Reactions……….
4321-
Parent engagement and involvement
Mentorship at school
Positive peer support
Direct encouragement and invitation
Need: To develop positive
parent support and education,
connectt separate
t conversations
ti
with parents, and empower
parents to engage with the
school.
SMART Goal: By 2010, African
American students will meet
state standards at the NCLB
benchmark in reading and math
or by their safe harbor target.
Action: Plan a parent network
and propose to parents an
organization
i ti fformed
d around
d
African American achievement
and cooperation.
• PATHS- Parents and
Administrators Together
Helping Students
• Leadership
• Invitation to parents
• Initial meeting: November 2009
*Parents
*Steering
Committee
*General Meetings
*Sub-Committees
*Students
*Purpose Workshop
*Catwalking
C t lki g
*Student
engagement
• Afrocentric Approach
• Office of Civil Rights
• Community, Student, and Faculty
Responses
2010
African American Students Met State Standards
in Reading and Math
2011
African American Students Met State Standards
in Reading and Math
*Parents
*Focus and Goal
*Participation
*Capacity
*Services
*Students
*Engagement
*Impact
I
t
*Support
*Neighborhood as a social construct
*Presenation or network
*Afrocentric approach
*Autonomy and initiative
• What is the metaphor you would use for your
parent group?
• What “take away” or services do you want parents
to experience through participation in a parent
group?
• Is an Afrocentric or ethno-centric approach the
right strategy?
• What degree of autonomy should a parent group
h
have
in
i relation
l i to school
h l lleadership?
d hi ?
•Bob McBride
•Tyrone
T
Smith
S ith
[email protected]
[email protected]
ith@i d
November 4,
4 2009
1
¾ Welcome
¾ Test Scores
¾ Academic Resources
¾ Next Steps
¾ Break Out Session
2
Welcome
Pastor Michael Hurst
¾ A Path is a means or a way to a destination.
¾ The more successful a student is, the
more paths they can choose to walk on in
life.
¾ Neuqua has approximately 300 African
AfricanAmerican students.
¾ The good news is 50% of the African
A
American
S
Students are performing at
either average or above average.
¾ The bad news is that the other 50% are
performing below the average.
¾ Black + Average Rarely = Success
3
Seven Year Trend – African American
Students
4
Seven Year Trend – African American
Students
5
STUDENT/PARENT
RESOURCES
¾ The student’s teacher
¾ Neuqua
N
Resource
R
Centers:
C t
English,
E li h M
Math,
th Science,
S i
Writing etc.
¾ Neuqua Valley’s Website http://nvhs.ipsd.org : Guidance
Link
¾ The Student’s Class House: Counselor, Dean and/or
Social Worker
¾ ACT Prep On
On-Line
Line (see Ms. Carbonara in College &
Career Center for Login and Password IDs)
¾ Illinois State Board of Education Website: Google ISBE.net
or visit www.isbe.state.il.us
¾ Once There Click on:
¾ ISAT-IL Standard Achievement Tests
¾ In the right column under “resources” click on PSAE
¾ Go to PSAE Presentation (new) and click any related item. Once
at this point in the site, you can take a look at lots of specific
information about the PSAE and work keys that will really help
illuminate what is on the test and what it is all about.
6
STUDENT/PARENT
RESOURCES (Continued)
¾ Naperville Public Library website www.naperville-lib.org
(a valid library card is required)
¾ On line databases
¾ Including Career Resources, College and Financial Aid Resources
¾ Teen Services (Grade 6-12)
¾ Live Homework Helpline (2-9pm everyday)
¾ 100 Black Men of Chicago website www.bmc.org
¾ This site includes an extensive list of scholarships, internships,
books and websites.
¾ Private and Peer Tutors
¾ Student Advocates
7
Parents are the primary molders and shapers of their
children and can have a great impact on their
academic success. As such, it is important that
parents exercise their influence to help their
child/children to become positive contributors to
society.
Parents & Administrators Together Helping Students
(PATHS) is a parent group that aims to:
8
¾
Inform parents about the importance of their
involvement in their child’s/children’s education
¾
Identify obstacles that stifle academic achievement
and help to overcome them
¾
Increase awareness of resources that are available
to help your child/children succeed academically
¾
Work with Administration to adopt a philosophy that
says all children can learn if taught
taught, coupled with
high expectations for all students
¾
Ensure that NVHS sets high expectations for all
students
Imagine
An occasion to discuss parenting…
One of the most important jobs we possess in a lifetime.
A time to share ideas, and knowledge about
improving achievement scores.
A chance to listen to the views of other parents,
realizing there is more than one way to see everything.
A moment to consider the collective group wisdom, to reflect,
How can I be an advocate for my child
child’s
s education?
education?”
“How
An opportunity to foster a strong parent-school community,
with the goal of closing the education gap of African-American
students while ensuring an equitable educational
experience for all children.
9
¾ Break-out
Break out sessions & information
Gathering (Tonight)
¾ Workshop Planning ~ Tuesday,
12/8/09 (5:30~7:00pm)
¾ Student Purpose Workshop, Thursday,
1/7/10 (7:30am ~ 12:00pm)
¾ Parental Workshop ~ Thursday,
1/14/10 (6:30 ~9:00pm)
9:00pm)
10
Neuqua Administrators
¾ Mr.
M B
Bob M
McBride
B
[email protected]
¾ Mr. Tyrone Smith [email protected]
Parents
¾ Denise Catchings [email protected]
¾ Michael Hurst [email protected]
¾ Wanda Parker [email protected]
¾ Crystal
C
P
Porter [email protected]
¾ Michele Traylor [email protected]
¾ Kim White [email protected]
bkwhite4@earthlink net
11
Parents and Administrators
Together Helping Students
MISSION:
In an effort to improve student achievement, caring and
concerned parents came together to work with the school's
administration around building awareness among students
and parents related to overall success in high school and
college readiness.
Parents and
administrators
collaborating to assist,
empower, and inspire
Black students to achieve
educational excellence
through mentoring
and workshops
Programs for the 2011 - 2012 school year:
Student Workshops
Workshops during school to motivate students
Student Peer Connections Program
Partner students with peers who commit to each others success
Parent Workshops
Informative workshops for parents to promote academic success
and college readiness
Weekly Tutoring
Parents with academic skills and talent volunteering once a
week to tutor students
2011-2012
Parent Meetings
September 19, 2011
November 21, 2011
January 23, 2012
March 19, 2012
Meetings start at 7 pm in
the Library (Main Building)
Please help in our mission to inspire our students to achieve excellence by:
Attending Parent Workshops
Attending Parent Meetings
Volunteering For Tutoring
Taking a Leadership Role in the Steering Committee/Sub Committee
Get Involved today! Visit http://nvhspaths.wordpress.com/ or e-mail
[email protected] for more information.