SST3 Parent Professional Joint Meeting

Minutes

October 29, 2014

Attendees:

PLC - Megan Barrow, Kimberly Coseriu, Meg DiFilippo, Deborah Factura, Raychelle Fair, Paula Grant, Debbie Greenberg, Anne Harmody, Eileen Hawkins, Saundra Jordan, Teresa Karsnak, Laurie Kowalski, Mark Levin, Kathleen Markling, Rachel McDonnell, Kelly Mihal,Gina Mitchner, Lisa Neumeyer, Holly Palda, Michelle Pallo, Eileen Pech, Michelle Piver, Teri Powell, Val Rudar,Tammie Sebastian, Natalie Senra, John Snell

District Reps/Others – Matt Bradic, Bethany Britt, Lisa Bruening, Denise Cirino, Becky Furbay, Tara Grabowski, Jeff Johnston, Christy Koestner, Kristin Laeki, Sandra McCullough, Stephanie Morgan, Patti Ott, Christine Palumbo, Dennis Pinciotti, Lisa C. Ryan, James Tatman

ITEM / DISCUSSION / ACTION
Welcome Introductions / Terri McIntee called the meeting to order at 9:35 am after parent and district networking. Terri M. reviewed agenda & times as well as contents in folder. She introduced SST3 staff in attendance:
  • Ed Flegel, Post Secondary Transition Consultant
  • Sharon Humphrey, Special Ed Compliance Consultant
  • Meghan Shelby, PBIS & SPDG Parent Professional Partnership Consultant
  • Susan Schraff, Assistant Director of Special Education
Terri M. reviewed contents of folder and introduced Dr. Barbara Boone, Program Director – The Ohio State University –College of Education and Human Ecology. / Minutes to be sent out with attachments of activities.
Foldercontents:
  • Powerpoint
  • We are the same – and different!
  • Family and Community Engagement Planning Worksheet
  • Epstein’s Six Types of Involvement
  • Parent Mentor Roster
  • PLC & Joint meeting 2014-2015 dates
  • PIF – November 3, 2014
  • PIF – December 10, 2014

Planning for Family-School Partnerships: What does it take? / B. Boone reviewed objectives, shared research and began to connect the dots for parent engagement. She talked about the research study by OCECD - 2013 – Ohio Special Education Research Project.
Activity -
She asked the group to take three minutes to generate ways you have seen families being engaged. (sticky notes)
  • Prioritized and grouped the ideas.
  • Discussed at table and then people shared out.
Reviewed the definition of family engagement. Refer to slide in ppt.
In continuing to look at the research the discussion shifted to “what happens outside of the school day? Think about “what beyond the back sale”. The ultimate outcome is impacting children and understanding “who are our families”?
B. Boone shared:
  • “Roles of families” as discussed by the work of Karen Mapp. (Harvard University research) and
  • then went over in detail more on Joyce Epstein’s Six Keys (National Network of Partnership Schools – John Hopkins University research)
  • Parenting - She reminded the participants that parents send their best kids.
  • Communication – getting the word out is only one point of view. Two way communications is where true communication lies. Listen and learn. Seek and go deeper in understanding.
  • Volunteering - participating, how folks are engaged.
  • Learning at Home – biggest band for our buck and what does that look like?
  • Decision Making – lots of levels
  • Smallest example – child has a behavior impacting their learning, how can we help him/her?
  • Being involved in planning for the future.
  • Systemic involvement – DLT/BLT teams
  • Collaborating with Community
  • Connecting to resources
  • How are we giving back?
Activity – take sticky notes from previous activity and sort by six keys. Use flip chart paper and attach sticky notes to six keys of parent involvement.
  • Insights:
  • A lot of overlaps
  • District giving information (one sided communication)
  • Parents feedback
  • Limited parent decision making – need to work on this area because then there would be more buy in.
  • On district rep shared their parents actually help interview staff.
  • Were there any empty categories?
  • Yes some shared that the activity exposed that. Made them aware.
Three slides referred to breaking down at each education level in view of the six keys of parent involvement:
  • Elementary plan - reading
  • middle school transitioning
  • high school plan for postsecondary planning
B. Boone talked about sending a study of a control/experimental group regarding communication with faculty (Impact of Family Involvement). Terri will send out to distribution lists.
Activity –
Take sticky notes from previous activity and sort by three tiers. Use reverse side of flip chart paper and attach sticky notes. Identify sticky notes as universal, targeted and intensive parent engagement.
  • Universal – what all families get – ie: website
  • Targeted – program or services – ie: early academic supports, behavioral interventions
  • Intensive – intensive academic or behavior interventions
  • Insights:
  • Mostly under universal
  • Some could be both universal and targeted
Two slides referred to breaking down examples by three tiers:
  • Pre-k transitions
  • Attendance
B. Boone spoke about the 3 cups of Tea quote and relationships. Going from good to great. Building relationships is tough work. Where do we begin?
Looking at a building plan. Using a lens to review “how are we intentionally building relationships with families.
  • Is it sustainable? Is it carried off, not just checked off?
  • Is it targeted? We do something but families don’t come. Do we know why? Do we find out?
  • Is timely and proactive? Do we reach out before there are issues?
  • Is it enjoyable?
  • Is it child focused? What is the outcome? Keeping the end in mind.
  • Is it strength based? Are we looking for strengths?
  • Do we presume positive intent?
B. Boone talked about the meta-analysis that was an analysis of about 90 studies. Vorhese 2013. And then she tied in the principles of OIP and family engagement from OLAC work. Where do families fit? / Attachment:
  • OCECD - 2013 – Ohio Special Education Research Project.
  • Impact of Family Involvement
Definitions:
  • DLT – district leadership teams
  • BLT – building leadership teams
  • TBT – teacher based teams
  • OIP – Ohio Improvement Process
  • PBIS – positive behavioral interventions and supports
  • MTSS – multi-tiered systems of supports
  • OLAC – Ohio Leadership Advisory Council

Family and community engagement planning worksheet / Groups took some time to look over the planning worksheet and talk about how they could use that model in their own districts. Where our strengths are, where are gaps and what do we need to do next?
Where do we go from here? /
  • Our next joint meeting is scheduled for April 28, 2015.
  • Do district reps want to add a midyear joint meeting with B. Boone to move the work forward or wait until April to see where people have come.

Things to think about. /
  • Three districts have committed to adding parent mentor positions:
  • Cuyahoga Hts/Independence – completed
  • Berea – completed
  • Cleveland Hts/University Hts. – in process
  • Six districts added new PLC representatives:
  • Brooklyn
  • Cuyahoga Hts.
  • Independence
  • North Olmsted
  • Rocky River
  • Westlake
  • One collaborative partner added new PLC representative:
  • Help Me Grow
/
  • Congrats!

Next meeting / Next:
PLC Meeting – November 14, 2014 - 9:30 am – 11:30 am / Terri M. will send out minutes, attachments, flyers, etc.

Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County/State Support Team Region 3
Parent Professional Joint Meeting – Minutes

October 29, 2014