Comments from parents in attendance at a recent event I
attended were taken as a learning opportunity. In a
nutshell, three or four moms spoke of how they did not
feel welcome in schools, and how the message they hear
about open doors doesn’t seem to be the reality. Hearing
these perceptions being expressed with such sincerity
and without bitterness was disturbing to me as a parent,
an educator, and as a public servant. Granted, the
parents who spoke up weren’t all from Springfield, and
the harshness they spoke about was not necessarily from
their experiences with the Springfield Public Schools,
yet it reminded me of how absolutely essential it is to
have open, genuine, cooperative and respectful
relationships with our students and families, and just
how much damage can be done when we don’t cultivate and
nurture those relationships.
I hope that if there is ever a time that you wish to
visit, to call, or to stop by any of the Parent and
Community Engagement (PACE) offices, that you will find
us welcoming and respectful at all times. We are here to
assist you in the areas of Workforce Development, School
Volunteers, Family Education, Homeless Educational
Services and School Choice/Charters. We strive daily to
deliver exemplary customer service to families and the
community by working together through the Parent
Information Center. And our Step Up Springfield
Partnerships are one vehicle for collaborating and
coordinating with the community.
We are here to help open doors for those who have not
yet obtained the skills to do so for themselves. The
rigorous planning of the Springfield Parent Academy is
being created, just for you! Members across the city
have been coming together to establish a structure and
process that will afford you free access to core,
growth and certification courses! However, in
the mean time you are able to take advantage of core
courses, right now! Please contact Linnette Camacho at
(413) 787-7910 or camachol@sps.springfield.ma.us
to find out more (also see flyer below).
We are also moving forward to expand our Home Visit
program because we believe that this is one of our
strongest strategies for “Opening Doors” to our parents
and families. While at the core it serves to build
relationships, it has great potential to serve as the
first step to the Parent Academy. We come to you at your
home or your choice of a comfortable location and get to
know, first-hand, about you and your child’s needs and
aspirations. Ms. Camacho can let you know how this
works.
Opening doors is just the beginning. The true test is
what happens once you’re inside. How welcome do you
really feel? Do you leave feeling satisfied or hope you
never have to return? How much effort is put into
developing an honest, open conversation about the best
ways to work together for the benefit of the student?
That should be the primary goal for each of us!
Delivering exemplary customer service is at the core of
our work and so we ask that if there is ever any element
of our “customer service” that reflects anything but
appreciation and gratitude for trusting us to work with
your kids, that you will feel comfortable addressing
your concerns with us. Appointments, special
circumstances and emergencies aside, students and
parents are our first priority and our doors are open to
you!
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