Parent Engagement Leads to Student Success

PARENT ENGAGEMENT LEADS TO

STUDENT SUCCESS

A close bond between school and community raises achievement at IDEA Najim

There are days when the principal’s office at IDEA Najim is on wheels.

STEPHEN FOSTER, who leads the college preparatory school in San Antonio, doesn’t hesitate to make house calls to check on a student and their family. "Our parents know that if a student isn’t at school [either online or in person], we’re going to show up," said Foster. "I am known for showing up, staying six feet apart outside with my little lawn chair—COVID safe—and having crucial conversations with parents about their child’s progress."

That outreach, which also happens over the phone and by video, "shows the community that we care."

At IDEA, parents are a vital part of student success. For Foster, as a principal and formerly as a teacher, parent and guardian partnership is a pivotal part of the formula for scholar success. That partnership involves constant, two-way communication.

As IDEA Najim has improved this year in parent satisfaction metrics, scholar attendance, and, most importantly, student achievement, the team’s effort has paid off. "We are currently ranked number 14 in the district and second in the region," Foster said proudly, referring to IDEA’s accountability ratings of its 60 district schools. Even during the pandemic, Foster's students—and their parents—are staying engaged with the curriculum and thriving. "We had to create an environment that our kids and parents wanted to be a part of," Foster said, reflecting on his campus’s successful shift to online learning for families that chose that option this school year. "One of the programs we use is called Nearpod." Nearpod is an academic technology program that engages students with interactive media and formative assessments such as polls, game-based quizzes, collaborative boards, and more. IDEA Najim teachers use virtual labs and videos to ensure learning is active and fun. If parents have questions about their children’s homework or the technology—or anything at all—they can drop in for virtual office hours with their teachers, which occur three different times throughout the day.

Denise Carreon, IDEA Najim parent, has been impressed with the parent communication this year. "We get more newsletters, staff uses the Remind app often, and teachers reach out a lot to let parents know what is going on at school." Denise said. "I know that my son Ben feels connected to the school even while he learns from home. I am really impressed with Mr. Foster."

Foster and his team have fostered a close-knit community through virtual means, but IDEA Najim has also remained open for in-person learning for all scholars. In doing so, they have implemented and continuously worked to strengthen COVID-19 prevention, mitigation, and response procedures and policies. These protocols include ventilation, disinfection of spaces, signage, and adequate PPE and supplies. Staff, scholars and parents have worked together to keep each other safe during the pandemic. In response, IDEA Najim has had some of the highest engagement and participation in the district.

Foster is thrilled with his school’s success and credits the training he has received in his various roles at IDEA. He joined the Team & Family in 2018 and was named the IDEA Regional Teacher of the Year in 2018 when he taught 4th-grade mathematics at IDEA Mays. He then served as the Founding Assistant Principal of Instruction at IDEA Burke before continuing his leadership journey as the head of IDEA Najim College Preparatory, home of the Stars, this year.

This principal's main message to IDEA parents? "Trust us; partner with us. If you can commit to doing your part, we will fulfill our promise. Your child will graduate from a college of their choice."

PARENT CHECKLIST

As parents, you can do a lot to make sure your child is on track and successful this school year by asking yourself the following:

CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:

1. Do I ask my child what he/she learned in school today? O YES O NO

2. Am I aware of all my child’s homework assignments? O YES O NO

3. Do I know how to access Dreambox and Imagine Learning? O YES O NO

4. Have I had a conversation with my child’s teacher? O YES O NO

5. Am I signed up for messaging/communication with my child’s teacher/school? O YES O NO

6. Have I checked semester grades? O YES O NO

7. Have I taken advantage of any trainings/parent resources provided by campuses? O YES O NO

TEACHER REFLECTIONS

AS COVID-19 TOUCHED OUR COMMUNITIES AND LOVED ONES, teachers worked diligently to create safe learning spaces for our students. From undergoing health and safety training to spending countless hours planning and executing engaging lessons to keep students engaged and on track while juggling personal challenges, there are hardly words to describe our teachers’ selfless commitment to our scholars.