Celebrating Schools of Excellence in Garland, TX

Garland 1For the past two months, 170 schools throughout the country have been celebrating their designation as a National PTA School of Excellence. The designation recognized schools and PTAs for building strong, effective family-school partnerships.  Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Garland, Independent School District (ISD) in Garland, Texas to celebrate the 34 schools in this school district that make up an exuberant cohort of Schools of Excellence. With 30 elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools receiving the designation, Garland ISD represents 80 percent of Texas’s School of Excellence designees and 20 percent of the nation’s.

Garland ISD took a district approach to encourage their schools to enroll and participate in the School of Excellence program. They believed that participation in the program would provide them with specific strategies to engage families at each school building to strengthen family-school partnerships. The vision was set by superintendent Dr. Bob Morrison and supported by family engagement facilitator Dr. Pat Mullins. All of the schools in Garland ISD are fortunate to have either a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or a Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). Consequently, the district approach to participation in the School of Excellence program was monumental and truly a trend setter.

Garland 2Before the bi-monthly Board of Trustee meeting, a reception was hosted to honor each school. At the reception, Shannon Sevier, National PTA vice president of advocacy; Leslie Boggs, Texas State PTA president; and I congratulated each school on their achievement and expressed to them how important the precedence that they had set is for schools in their district and across the nation. Each school was given a small token to celebrate their recognition at the reception.  For me, it was most rewarding to finally meet, face-to-face, with many of the principals, PTA leaders, and family engagement coordinators that I had spoken with on the phone or corresponded with through emails numerous times throughout the school year. Together, we worked to create a successful and impactful program.

Garland ISD 3At the board meeting, Leslie Boggs presented Suellen Atteberry, the immediate past president of Garland ISD, and Shannon Wainscott, president of Garland ISD Council of PTAs with a proclamation to celebrate this outstanding achievement for the district and their support to the schools throughout the program year. Shannon Sevier then awarded Dr. Bob Morrison and Dr. Pat Mullins with a National PTA Lifetime Achievement Award for their unwavering commitment to children. Finally, school board trustee president Rick Lambert awarded each school with a certificate of excellence for their achievement.

As the new school year progresses, I encourage schools and school districts nationwide to evaluate their current family engagement strategies, and commit to establish meaningful partnerships in every school and in every district. Garland ISD has accepted the challenge, and set the mark, where families feel welcomed and empowered to support student success, and PTA is a key partner for continuous school improvement through participation and recognition in the National PTA School of Excellence Program.

Learn more about National PTA School of Excellence at PTA.org/Excellence.

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