Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle
ACTION, PASSION & LEADERSHIP
FOR EXCELLENT SEATTLE SCHOOLS FOR EVERY STUDENT

 
CPPS is a local, grassroots network of parents and community members working together to support and advocate for excellent public schools in our communities, and at the district, city and state levels.

Community & Parents for Public  Schools of Seattle
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May, 2011
DON'T MISS THE CPPS ANNUAL EVENT -- MAY 24TH 

21st Century Parent Engagement...
 We've titled our Annual Meeting/Event to reflect CPPS' hope and expectation that parent engagement can and should look different in the years ahead in comparison with past experience.  Too often parents have felt unacknowledged or unheard in district or school level decision making.  Too often the most well-meaning of educators have presumed that absent parents couldn't, or didn't want to participate.  Too often, our schools have operated without sufficient input from the folks who know our children best.  So, what would you like to see change?

 

Join us Tuesday, May 24th, 6:30-8:30 pm at the old Lincoln High School library --  4400 Interlake Ave. N  

 

CPPS will highlight some new possibilities for our parents and our schools.   Experience how parent leadership training can engage parents in different ways.  Identify your priorities for the next generation of Seattle Public Schools leadership and Contribute your ideas to defining  Quality Neighborhood Schools citywide! Invitation  RSVP 



Share your thoughts with us too, via email, or  Facebook.

 

 PARENT VOICE AND THE LEADERSHIP QUESTION

What Is Our Stake?   


We have certainly been seeing parent engagement in action around the recent dismissal and then retention of Principal Martin Floe at Ingraham High School.  Undoubtedly, many of you have wondered how educators and decision-makers at the district and at the school site, including parents, could have such divergent views of quality leadership.  

 

At CPPS, we have been talking about the importance of strong  principals for some time.  In partnership with Seattle Council PTSA, the League of Education Voters, Stand for Children, the League of Women Voters, Successful Schools in Action and others, we helped formulate and signed onto a Community Values Statement  last year that highlighted, among other things, the goal that "Every school is led by a principal who is an effective instructional leader and manager"  So what went wrong at Ingraham?

 

Not surprisingly, the kind of quality leader that can please everyone is an elusive mix of cheerleader, disciplinarian, generalist, populist, personnel manager, community figure, cutting-edge reformer, laser-focused change agent, motivator, data wonk, visionary, authoritative decision-maker, and all-around good person.  We want different combinations at different times to achieve different goals.  However, the privacy required for personnel decisions has often led decision-makers to neglect the critical need for public input into leadership styles, emphases and aims.

 

As parents and education consumers, we have a stake in those decisions and in their implications for the continuing operations of our schools.  As well, we in the community desire to be part of an education process that motivates and engages our participation by encouraging our by-in to the end goals. 

 

That didn't happen last week, and the community rightfully indicated its concern.  Now, with her message reinstating the Ingraham principal, Dr. Enfield holds out another opportunity for our engagement in defining the kinds of leaders we need.  Let's hope that this extra year of examination at Ingraham allows parents to work with the district to build a community case for quality leadership at their school.  They may be setting the precedent for all of us!

 


                                                                 CALENDAR

WHAT'S ON? 

 

Thursday, May 19th -- Panel Discussion on Fighting Racism in the Public Schools 

Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Ave. 7:00-9:00pm

Wayne Au, editor of Rethinking Schools,  James Bible, president of the King County NAACP, Jesse Hagopian, SPS teacher address Achievement Gap or Opportunity Gap? discussing the superintendent role, the challenges in our district, and the issues of schools in economically stressed communities   

 

Tuesday, May 24th -- 21st Century Parent Engagement:  CPPS Annual Meeting 

Lincoln High School Library, 4400 Interlake N 6:30-8:30pm

Don't miss this change to learn about parent leadership training, engagement for student achievement and school improvement, and more! 

 

Monday, June 6th -- SCPTSA General Meeting and Training

Mercer Middle School, 1600 Columbian Way 5:30-9:00pm

 

                                                   PLAN AHEAD

2011-12, 2012-13 Calendars Released

 

Vacation schedules will be changing in the years ahead. Seattle Public Schools has just released calendars for the next two academic years with a surprise in store.  Mid-winter break will become a 4-day weekend, rather than an entire week off school by 2012-13.  The 2011-12 calendar is similar to this year's. 

Through forums, study groups, newsletter communications and more, CPPS brings parents and community members together to discuss issues, get informed, engage, advocate and lead for excellent public education in Seattle.  

We need your participation.  Contact us for more info: [email protected] 
Sincerely,


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Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle