| Cincinnati Schools' Parent Leadership | | | | children." |
| Institute | | | | Other educational professionals in the |
| This summer saw the creation of the | | | | Cincinnati schools have also welcomes |
| Cincinnati Schools ' Parent Leadership | | | | the process and look to the success of |
| Institute. The program reflects the | | | | the Lexington program to justify their |
| changing role that parents play in | | | | enthusiasm. Superintendent Rosa |
| public education. As Vanessa White, | | | | Blackwell argues that "decades of |
| the Board President of the Parents for | | | | research confirm that when parents are |
| Public Schools (PPS) stated: "The days | | | | more involved, student achievement |
| of bake sales are long gone. Today, | | | | increases." Cincinnati schools stand |
| parents need a new set of skills and | | | | to benefit from those decades of |
| knowledge if they are to realize their | | | | research in creating a program that |
| full potential to impact student | | | | clearly aligns the activities of parents |
| achievement and drive school | | | | and teachers in order to make a |
| improvement." Organizations such as | | | | Cincinnati public school environment |
| PPS work to align the needs of | | | | that provides the most comprehensive |
| Cincinnati schools with the resources of | | | | program for students. |
| parents in order for both sides to work | | | | Cincinnati schools are relying on a |
| together for the benefit of children | | | | number of local and national partners to |
| attending Cincinnati schools. | | | | implement the program. In addition to |
| One of the models that the Cincinnati | | | | the Pritchard Committee, Cincinnati |
| schools have been looking at is the | | | | schools will be working with the United |
| Pritchard Committee of Lexington, | | | | Way and Xavier University. These |
| Kentucky. The Pritchard Committee | | | | groups hope to create Community Learning |
| established the Commonwealth Institute | | | | Centers where parents can come for |
| for Parent Leadership and trained over | | | | training. Cincinnati schools are |
| 1300 parents from a variety of | | | | grateful for the support from business |
| backgrounds in the ways that they could | | | | and other community partners in order to |
| be productive in assisting the public | | | | fund these Community Learning Centers. |
| school system. Cincinnati schools have | | | | Among the grant supporters are the |
| seen the success of the Lexington | | | | KnowledegeWorks Foundation, the Scripps |
| program and have worked diligently to | | | | Howard Foundation and the Kroger |
| see if such a program could have a | | | | Foundation. All of these groups will |
| similar positive effect on parental | | | | work in conjunction to make the program |
| involvement in Cincinnati schools. | | | | as effective as possible for Cincinnati |
| Ms. White is eager to see how Cincinnati | | | | school parents. |
| schools will benefit and expresses high | | | | To start the program off, a pilot group |
| hopes for the program: "Expectations | | | | will begin working under the direction |
| have been raised for students and | | | | of Zakia McKinney. Ms. McKinney has |
| teachers, and it's time for parents to | | | | worked as an Education Director at the |
| step up to the plate as well. This | | | | Urban League as well as an Executive |
| program will greatly enhance our ability | | | | Director of the Walnut Hills Churches. |
| to identify and develop parent leaders | | | | She has been active in community |
| who can then engage other parents to | | | | organizations for many years and looks |
| ensure that our schools provide a | | | | forward to sharing her experience with |
| quality public education for all | | | | Cincinnati schools. |