Leadership Institute Inspires Canton, Hasty Parents To Lead

Staff Report

Parents from Canton Elementary School STEM Academy and Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy participated in a grant-funded "Vision and Voice" Family Leadership Institute this spring sponsored by United Way of Greater Atlanta.

The 22 participants attended a series of workshops and finished the program by presenting their ideas for community projects to a panel of local service organization leaders.

Canton and Hasty are Title I schools with significant low-income populations and high numbers of families whose native language is not English, both of which are typically barriers to parental involvement; 16 of the parent participants in the program were Spanish-speaking, but translation services were provided for the workshops when needed.

The overall goal of the program was to strengthen the parents' abilities to be a leader of themselves, their family and their community.

Hasty had 10 participants in the program, said Hasty Principal Izell McGruder, and they enjoyed getting to network with other parents outside their neighborhood as well as gaining new leadership skills and awareness.

"We've said it many times before, but I think our participating parents now realize that the benefits of parental involvement in school are endless," said McGruder. "Involved parents have students who exhibit more positive attitudes toward school and who also develop a more positive self-esteem. Involved parents can also set higher, yet realistic, expectations for their child's academic performance because they are informed of what's happening in school."

Canton Elementary STEM Academy had 12 parent participants in the Family Leadership Institute program. Principal Beth Long said she was thrilled with the impact of the workshops and applauded Canton parent Deana Bearden, who helped facilitate the program, for all her work on it.  

Bearden said the Family Leadership Institute served as an excellent way to build leadership capacity within parents; it allowed them to gain valuable skills and learn about available community resources that will continue to help them grow as leaders in their home, school and community.

"We are already beginning to see how the leadership program has empowered our parents as they are advocating for the implementation of adult English literacy classes to be offered at the school," said Bearden. "Additionally, these same parents recently participated in a Title 1 annual revision meeting where they served as group leaders and translators for other families who needed additional help. The program has been wonderful and we are so thankful for the partnership between United Way of Greater Atlanta and the CCSD that made it possible."

Oak Leaf Church, a district partner, hosted the sessions for the parents at its facilities in downtown Canton.