State Superintendent Appoints Parent Leadership Corps

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster has appointed a Parent Leadership Corps to seek out successful practices of family-school-community partnerships within the state and nation, share information on positive programs and resources, and help parents network with each other to initiate school-wide student achievement projects. The Corps is an active, committed group of 20 parents from across Wisconsin who have a passion for helping children succeed.

Corps members make the commitment to serve for one year, attending four- to five-day-long meetings at the DPI office in Madison. Expenses are reimbursed and department staff facilitate the work of the Corps.

Corps members also helped devise, "What Parents Want School Staff to Know," to promote the nurturing of positive and trusting relationships with educators. This document was also developed into a PowerPoint presentation.

In 2002, its first year, the Corps developed a list of Effective Partnership Practices to address five key challenges that families, schools, and communities face as they strive to work together for children's learning.

"It is essential that decision makers at all levels listen to and learn from parents. Parents have a right and a responsibility to be involved in their children's education," Burmaster said in appointing Corps members. "Clearly, when families are involved in their children's education, children do better in school, and the schools they go to get better. The Parent Leadership Corps will play a vital role in helping us get this critically important message out to all families, educators, and policy makers at the state and local levels."

For questions about this information, contact Jane L. Grinde (608) 266-9356

Last updated on 4/8/2008 2:21:45 PM