PR: Oakwood receives grant from Office of Education Ombudsman

Principal of Oakwood Elementary School, John Mitchell, discusses the School-Family Partnership project with parent volunteer, Lucia Michelot, and third-grade Teacher, Liz Colleran (left to right).

LAKEWOOD- Oakwood Elementary School has received a $5,000 grant from the Office of the Education Ombudsman (OEO) to develop a School-Family Partnership (SFP) pilot project. The purpose of the project is to provide training in collaboration with parents and teachers so they are partners in the education of students. The OEO will help the Oakwood staff develop a SFP team comprised of trained parents and staff. Twenty Oakwood staff members will be involved with the training along with 20 parents. Oakwood is the only school in the Puget Sound area to receive the grant. In addition to the grant money, the school will receive:

• A stipend of $200 for each parent, teacher and other school staff for their participation in the training;
• Two years of technical assistance, consultation, coaching and group facilitation from the OEO;
• Professional development classes for school staff on how to partner with parents focusing on student achievement;
• Parent/family training classes to become active partners in education;
• Connections to local community resources;
• Publications, informational materials and surveys; and
• Data collection assistance.

OEO staff visited Oakwood on June 11 and interviewed staff members. Principal John Mitchell says the staff is committed to this process.

“The staff and I are very pleased to receive this grant from the Office of the Education Ombudsman,” said Mitchell. “We firmly believe that when a parent is involved in their child’s academic work, their achievement will soar.”

The pilot project is funded through a grant from Discuren Foundation.

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