PPS Updates June 2024: PPS Hosts Webinar on Commun ity Schools & Supporting Student Mental Health

[Forward this message to a friend.]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [Web Site]( [View in Browser]( [Logo](   PPS UPDATES June 2024 [Image] PPS Hosts Webinar on Community Schools   On Friday, June 21, PPS hosted a webinar on [community schools]( that highlighted the transformative impact these types of public schools have on students, parents, families, and local communities. The featured panelists were Sara Sneed, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation and Alexandria Warrick Adams, Executive Director of Elev8 Baltimore. During the session, attendees learned about the holistic approach community schools take—integrating academics, health services, and family engagement to support student success. Additionally, participants gained insight on how these institutions improve academic outcomes, increase attendance rates, and lead to stronger family-school connections. In addition to access to the webinar, we are sharing some additional resources that may be helpful as you learn more about community schools. - [Webinar Recording]( - [Empower Communities Through Community Schools (Sara Sneed's Presentation)]( - [Community Schools in Practice (Alexandria Warrick Adams' Presentation)]( - [What Is the Impact of the New York City Community Schools Initiative? (Rand)]( - [Community Schools 101: A Primer on the Future of Public Education (NEA)]( PPS Staff Departures   We would like to bid farewell to two of our esteemed staff members, Becky Glover and Kylene Dibble. Kylene and Becky have made significant contributions to our organization during their tenure and we will truly miss them. Becky has been with PPS National for a 12 years, first as a parent coach in the Schoolhouse to Statehouse program, then as a community coordinator and most recently as the PPS policy analyst. Becky has decided to retire at the end of June. Beginning in January 2023, Kylene served on the PPS national staff as director of chapter services; however, she has been a vital part of the PPS network since 2015 when she became the executive director of the PPS chapter in Pitt County, NC. Kylene has accepted a new opportunity at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC where she will serve as a Senior Teaching Instructor and as Director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program. Her resignation was effective as of June 14. We at PPS are extremely grateful for the contributions of both Becky and Kylene during their time with PPS. We wish them both the best as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. Supporting Student Mental Health   PPS Hawaii has been instrumental in sharing mental health resources with students and families in their state. The Hawaii Department of Education has provided access for students to receive teletherapy at no cost to their families. These teletherapy sessions are private, confidential, and provide a safe space for children. For more information about these services, residents can click [here]( or call 808-784-7363. This mental health resource is part of the DOE initiative "Here to HELP," a multi-year plan to train and coach staff to support student well-being. The initiative aims to provide equitable access to mental and physical health services through a continuum of school-level support and community partnerships. Public Schools Summer Fair   PPS-San Francisco hosted a Summer Fair on Thursday, June 28th at the Women’s Building in San Francisco. The purpose of this event was to advocate for public schools, essential community hubs that must remain open. This event raised awareness about the importance of public schools and fostered a deeper sense of community engagement. For additional details about this event, click [here](. Fun Things to do This Summer   The end of the school year has arrived, and this transitional period is a perfect opportunity to check in with your child, reflect on the past school year, celebrate their accomplishments, and discuss what they are looking forward to this summer. Talking with them about their feelings can help you understand and respond to the variety of emotions they may experience in the coming weeks. Want to know about the fun things you can do with your child this summer? Click [here]( to gain access to this resource provided by PPS-Pitt County! By the Numbers   - 12: “A Florida school learned that a lack of streetlights was keeping kids from coming to school. Interest-holders rallied to increase streetlights from 12 to 52. Attendance improved and the school saw achievement gains of 12 percentage points in ELA and a 16-point gain in mathematics.” This is just one example of how community schools are changing student outcomes. Read [more]( about their impact on student achievement. Copyright © 2024 Parents for Public Schools, Inc. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [Web Site]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [Powered by thedatabank, gbc.](