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Millington Parents Connecting With School -- Principal of Virginia School of the Year Encourages Involvement

Posted on: Saturday, 21 January 2006, 12:00 CST

By Kevin McKenzie mckenzie@commercialappealcom

Barbara McCrae's children are amazed by how much she knows about what's going on in their classrooms.

Her Lucy Elementary second-grader, Mykhala, found new energy to study one night after McCrae mentioned spelling words the 7-year- old had coming up .

"They think it's magic, but it's not," said McCrae, 43, mother of four children who attend Shelby County schools.

Far from magic, it's one result of new efforts to welcome parents to the education team in Millington-area public schools.

On Thursday, a man on a mission to make schools family friendly delivered his third and last scheduled seminar to about 45 educators and parents.

Steven M. Constantino, 47, was principal of Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, Va., from 1995-2003, when the school rose from being a low performer to a national magazine's school of the year.

"And we did it by involving families," Constantino said.

With a company called Family Friendly Schools, Constantino draws on experience and research to deliver sometimes frank advice about changing school culture.

"You need to understand that some of your rules in school are stupid," he said, challenging educators to examine policies that are obstacles to building relationships.

At Stonewall Jackson, for example, Constantino said he solved dress code problems by spending $1,000 for shirts and sweats printed with the slogan "I love Constantino."

Better communication is needed between teachers and parents , Constantino said.

"What did you do in school today and do you have any homework?" is a question he'd like abolished.

Knowing ahead of time what students will do in school equips families with the means to make a difference in their children's education. That in turn sparks involvement, he said.

McCrae, for example, magically knows about her children's school work because she calls or e-mails their teachers.

Constantino's advice, aided by surveys of area families and paid for with federal funds, is reflected in plans taking shape at the schools since the fall.

E.A. Harrold Elementary, for example, is having more after- school outings. Millington Central High School plans a publication, will invite the community in for breakfasts and has stocked library shelves just for parents.

In addition to the effort in the Millington area, the district is tapping computer technology - from giving parents Internet access to teachers and classroom results to providing translations of school documents - and has won high marks for its work, said Elizabeth Donnelly, instructional supervisor for the district.

"The worst thing you could do? Nothing," Constantino said.

-Kevin McKenzie: 873-2981

Source: Commercial Appeal, The

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