Dr. Gail Burnaford

I am a parent of two grown children.  When both were in high school, I remember attending a parent forum at the high school.  Because I was an educator and a former high school teacher, I thought there wouldn't be much for me to learn.  Well, was I mistaken.  I remember feeling deeply appreciative of how the high school made an effort to provide 'professional development' for parents.

Now I work with experienced teachers every day who are eager to know how best to communicate and work with parents in a way that is helpful to students.  Overinvolved? Underinvolved?  These are issues that we as a community need to keep discussing.  I am particularly interested in how schools can provide initiatives, projects and experiences that connect young people and their parents/guardians in engaging ways that improve the community.    I'm also interested in what community members might suggest for those of us in universities who work with teachers.  What should we be doing with teachers on this topic?  And finally, I'm interested in what other parents have to say about how their children's teachers and school leaders have made a difference in their lives.