10 Essentials of Volunteer Engagement

Remind Parents of the importance of School Involvement

•Better grades and test scores

•Better attendance

•Greater completion of homework

•Higher graduation rates

•More involvement in extra-curricular activities

•Improved attitude and better all-round behavior

Give Parents Specific Information

Family InvolvementDon’t believe it? The statistics are overwhelming. According to Anne Henderson , school-family expert(as quoted in A New Generation of Evidence: The Family Is Critical to Student)

"Programs designed with strong parent involvement produce students who perform better than otherwise identical programs that do not involve parents as thoroughly, or that do not involve them at all. Schools that relate well to their communities have student bodies that outperform other schools. Children whose parents help them at home and stay in touch with the school score higher than children of similar aptitude and family background whose parents are not involved. Schools where children are failing improve dramatically when parents are called in to help."

Give suggestions of how they can Help

Make sure you let them know: The time element (Where,

When, How much)How it will affect their

children

Keep Parents Informed

How many Hours were donated by parents each month

What are they involved in

Where does your fundraising money go

Ask for their feedback

Know how to get parents to read what you send Home

•One Sheet of paper is best

•The rule of 30-3-30

•Use the dollar bill test

Teamwork

Sense of Belonging

Everyone’s opinions are noted

They know the significance of your PTO

They are involved in the decision making

Provide Training for your CoordinatorsTHEN

Have Coordinators train their volunteers.

Recognize and Reward Parent Involvement

Know your Volunteers

What do they like/dislike

What is the most meaningful recognition to them

Adapt Ideas that have worked

The Three F’s for Success

•Food

•Fun

•Families

Now that you have done all that!6 Ways to Fail!

Write parents off as uninterested because they never show up.

•The vast majority of Parents DO want to help they just can’t

•Take a walk in their shoes

•Respect what they do

Think of yourself as the main parent involvement person at your school

It Takes a Village

The only parents involved are the parents at school

Get list from teachers as to their classroom volunteers…You may be surprised!

Think Children from “broken” or “Disadvantage” homes do not have Parent Involvement

The extended family these children have is often amazing! Grandparents, aunts, uncles sisters etc.

Number one way to Fail

Can you guess what it is?

Not Thanking Your Volunteers!