Ft. Worth
Parental involvement is a key factor in student success. Students with involved parents are more likely than their peers with uninvolved parents to earn good grades, attend school regularly, have positive attitudes about school, and behave appropriately. As a result, parents can help their children succeed by becoming education advocates. Taking the time to be involved in your child’s education not only allows you to ensure your child is receiving the quality education he or she deserves, but also shows your student how important their academic success is to your family. Advocating for your child’s education means making sure that your child is getting the very best education possible.
In this section you can learn how to:
- Build relationships with people at your child’s school.
- Join parent organizations on campus.
- Find your School Board Representative.
- Access services provided by community organizations.
Building Relationships
The first step to becoming an advocate for your child’s education is to form relationships with teachers, counselors, coaches, and administrators at your child’s school. Forming these relationships early in your child’s education will help you feel comfortable going to these people when questions come up.
If you have felt frustrated and do not understand the school system, or just have not had the opportunity to form these relationships, here are some great ways to get started:
- You can attend school events, such as open houses, performances or award ceremonies.
- You can request a conference with your child’s teacher, counselor, or school administrator. If you work during the school day, you can request a conference at a time that works for you.
- You can join district groups, such as the School Health Advisory Council that focuses on health and nutrition policies within the district.
- You can join parent groups or organizations at your child’s school.
- If your child has special needs or a learning disability, you can join a support group in your community or school district, such as the Dyslexia Parent Education/Support group sponsored by your school district.
- You can get involved in after school programs that your child is involved in.
- You can volunteer with the school or in your child’s classroom.
- You can vote in the School Board of Trustees election.
If you would like assistance learning how to get involved there are many community organizations that are available to help. For example, AB Christian Learning Center works with parents on how to get engaged in the school system. Visit the community resources list at the end of this section for a list of organizations.
Outside of attending events and direct contact with the school, you can advocate for your child by communicating the importance of education. You can do this by:
- Making sure your child attends school regularly.
- Making sure your child does their homework.
- Making sure your child gets to school on time.
- Regularly checking your child’s progress through Parent Portal at parentportal.fwisd.org to identify any problems early. On Parent Portal you have access to many school related indicators, including your student’s grades, homework assignments, and teacher contact information.
Parent Groups and Organizations
Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) engage and empower parents to become advocates for their children. Although these organizations have similar missions, the PTA is connected to a local, state, or national association, while the PTO is specific to an individual school campus.
Many parent organizations keep parents involved and informed about what is going on at school. This might include organizing a school fundraiser, working with teachers, or providing parent trainings on how to get involved at school. If you are interested in getting involved in these organizations, contact your school’s office about how to join. If your school does not currently have a PTA or a PTO, you can start one.
Some PTAs have Special and Gifted Education (SAGE) committees that provide an opportunity for families and teachers of students who learn differently to share resources and friendship. For an example of this type of committee, visit Richardson ISD’s SAGE PTA website at www.sageptarisd.com. If you’re school district does not offer this type of committee, you can get involved to create one!
Organizing a Parent Teacher Association:
Any school official, parent or interested person can organize a PTA. First, gain the support of your school principal or superintendent and multiple teachers. For more information about organizing a new local PTA contact Texas PTA’s Director of Member Services, Mary Jo Burgess, at [email protected] or 1-800-TALK-PTA, or visit their website at www.txpta.org.
Organizing a Parent Teacher Organization:
To start a PTO, organize a group of interested people, agree on a common goal, and start working together to make it happen. Examples include running an ice cream social for parents, students, and teachers to get to know one another, or planning a school fundraiser to raise money. Because every PTO is an independent organization, bylaws vary by organization. Learn more about organizing a PTO at www.ptotoday.com.
Fort Worth ISD Board of Trustees
The Fort Worth ISD School Board includes nine trustees that are elected by residents of the individual districts. Trustees have a variety of responsibilities including:
- Setting policies for the District
- Hiring the Superintendent of Schools
- Securing financing for the District
- Continuously evaluating school performance
Regular board meetings are open to the public and also televised live on local television and streamed live from the district website. Notes from the school board meeting, or “minutes”, can be reviewed in the Superintendent’s office in the administration building, 100 N. University Drive. You can learn more about Fort Worth ISD’s board policy online at http://pol.tasb.org/Home/Index/1101.
Below is a list of the current Fort Worth ISD Board of Trustees:
- District 1: Jacinto “Cinto” Ramos, Jr. (Term Expires 2017)
- District 2: Tobi Jackson (Term Expires 2015)
- District 3: Christene Chadwick Moss (Term Expires 2015)
- District 4: Theophlous Aron Sims, Sr. (Term Expires 2017)
- District 5: Judy Needham (Term Expires 2015)
- District 6: Ann Sutherland (Term Expires 2015)
- District 7: Norman Robbins (Term Expires 2017)
- District 8: Matthew Avila (Term Expires 2017)
- District 9: Ashley Paz (Term Expires 2017)
Community Resources
Local community centers, churches, and nonprofit organizations are important resources for parental involvement. Some organizations offer parent trainings that can help you learn how to request and have positive conferences with teachers, counselors and school administrators. Here is a brief list of some organizations working with students and parents in the community:
| Organization Name | Website |
|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Club | http://www.fortworthkids.org/ |
| Camp Fire First Texas | http://www.campfirefw.org/ |
| Catholic Charities | http://www.catholiccharitiesfortworth.org/ |
| New Day Services | http://www.newdayservices.org/ |
| Santa Fe Youth Services | http://www.santafeyouth.org/ |
| The Parenting Center | http://theparentingcenter.org/ |
| YMCA | http://www.ymcafw.org/ |