Parent Group Gets AmeriCorps Extension

Provided, City of Manassas Public Schools:

AmeriCorps VISTA has offered to extend a parent group pilot program at R.C. Haydon Elementary School because of its overwhelming success.

The Haydon Elementary Parent Volunteer Academic Achievement Program was launched during the 2013/14 school year to increase parental involvement in the learning process.

The goal of the program was to have a Spanish-speaking parent volunteer to support Haydon’s reading and math after school program. But Vista Volunteer Elizabeth Millán went above and beyond that and AmeriCorps Vista took notice, commending the program and offering to fully cover the cost to continue it for one more year.

In addition to helping students with math and reading, Millán volunteered five days a week across multiple grade levels to facilitate a Spanish-speaking parent support group. Students and parents learned from Millán about the importance of parental roles in the learning process—at home and in the school setting.

“The program has been a huge success at increasing parent involvement in the school,” said Haydon Principal Amanda Wilder.

Because of Millán’s efforts, a parent signed up to become PTA treasurer, according to Wilder, and another family offered to sell food at the school’s Spring Carnival and donate all proceeds to the PTA.

The program began in September of 2013 as a partnership between the City of Manassas Neighborhood Services department and Manassas City Public Schools under a three-year grant with AmeriCorps VISTA on projects that work to better City neighborhoods and the community as a whole.