How Thinking Outside the Box Is Strengthening Our School Community

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

Barnett Shoals Elementary School

First Presenter’s Email Address

deanle@clarke.k12.ga.us

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Lesley Dean is an instructional coach at Barnett Shoals Elementary in the Clarke County School District in Athens, Georgia. She is in her 18th year of education and has had the incredible opportunity to serve all of these years at Barnett Shoals. Mrs. Dean has classroom experience in both 3rd and 5th grades, serving as a team leader in both of these grade levels prior to becoming an instructional coach. Mrs. Dean received her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia, her M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Piedmont University, and her Ed.S. in Brain Based Learning and Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Second Presenter's Institution

Barnett Shoals Elementary School

Second Presenter’s Email Address

lumpkinsab@clarke.k12.ga.us

Second Presenter's Brief Biography

Sabrina Lumpkin is the Assistant Principal at Barnett Shoals Elementary in the Clarke County School District in Athens, Georgia. She has 23 years of experience in public education. She worked as a teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal in CCSD schools before joining the amazing Barnett Shoals Team. Ms. Lumpkin received her B.S. in Early Childhood from Georgia Southwestern State University, M.A. in Education Technology from American InterContinental University, and her Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from University of North Georgia. She is a doctoral student at University of West Georgia.

Third Presenter's Institution

Barnett Shoals Elementary School

Third Presenter’s Email Address

floresj@clarke.k12.ga.us

Third Presenter's Brief Biography

Jennifer Flores serves as the family engagement specialist at Barnett Shoals Elementary School in the Clarke County School District in Athens, Georgia. She has 7 years of experience in public education and many additional years working with children from birth to teenagers. As well as her work in family engagement, she has also worked in kindergarten classrooms at Barnett Shoals. Ms. Flores has a B.S. from the University of Georgia and holds a certification in Middle Grades Education.

Fourth Presenter's Institution

Barnett Shoals Elementary School

Fourth Presenter’s Email Address

barrettr@clarke.k12.ga.us

Fourth Presenter's Brief Biography

Rob Barrett is a professional school counselor at Barnett Shoals Elementary School in the Clarke County School District in Athens, Georgia. He has 15 years of experience in public education and, in addition to his current role as school counselor, has worked in schools as a family engagement specialist and a behavior interventionist. Additionally, he currently serves as a member of the Local School Governance Team at Barnett Shoals Elementary. Mr. Barrett has a B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in psychology from Boston University, and an Ed.S. in school counseling from the University of Georgia. He also has a research background in developmental psychology with a focus on fatherhood and intergenerational parenting.

Submitter

I am submitting this proposal as one of the presenter(s)

Location

Scarbrough 2

Strand #1

Home: Family & Community Engagement

Strand #2

Heart: Social & Emotional Skills

Relevance

Our proposal connects the "Home" strand since it shares ideas on how we are strengthening family and community engagement within our elementary school.

Brief Program Description

Strengthening the relationships and depth of engagement we have with our families has been one of our school’s driving goals over the last few years (especially in the aftermath of COVID). To support this objective, we have undertaken multiple initiatives, including innovative funding through our Local School Governance Team and the development of a Family Resource Center housed within our school.

Summary

Given the proven benefits for student achievement and feelings of belonging, family engagement has always been an important aspect of our elementary school’s efforts to foster a thriving, positive school community. In recent years, particularly in the aftermath of COVID and virtual learning, strengthening parent relationships and the level of connection with school culture our families feel has become one of our driving goals. This focus by school leadership and staff, in conjunction with our Local School Governance Team, has helped us make significant strides forward, as is especially exemplified by the journey of becoming a Leader in Me Lighthouse school and the development of a Family Resource Center.

The establishment of a Family Resource Center has been a few years in the making. Our principal's prioritization of funding a full-time family engagement specialist was an important foundational step. We then dedicated a classroom to house the center. Several more steps were systematically planned, including the purchase of appealing and functional furnishings; a new washer and dryer for school community use; and the fostering of community partnerships to help provide food and clothing support.The Family Resource Center officially opened in September 2023.

The realization of the Family Resource Center dovetails with several other school initiatives to integrate our parents and guardians as important members of our school community. These initiatives have included the creation of new school events such as a Music, Art, and Culture Festival; “Parent University” classes; a new den system (within which family members can earn points for their students’ dens); and the inclusion of parents/guardians as important components of our school goals (e.g., decreasing chronic absences); and monthly FACT (Family and Child Together) activities that connect work at home with what we do at school (e.g., developing family mission statement just as student do in their classroom).

Evidence

Learning Objective 1

How to think creatively to use funds and resources strategically

Learning Objective 2

Ideas for strengthening family and school relationships

Learning Objective 3

Creating and maintaining a Family Resource Center

Keyword Descriptors

Family Engagement, Resources, Wrap-Around Supports, School Culture, School-Wide Systems, Attendance

Presentation Year

2025

Start Date

3-3-2025 1:00 PM

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Mar 3rd, 1:00 PM

How Thinking Outside the Box Is Strengthening Our School Community

Scarbrough 2

Strengthening the relationships and depth of engagement we have with our families has been one of our school’s driving goals over the last few years (especially in the aftermath of COVID). To support this objective, we have undertaken multiple initiatives, including innovative funding through our Local School Governance Team and the development of a Family Resource Center housed within our school.