Detroit Families: The Education Triangle

Content provided by our sponsor, the Michigan Education Savings Plan.  

By Sharlonda Buckman, CEO, Detroit Parent Network

I was recently reminded that the triangle is an important shape in engineering processes; three points align and make things work. When it comes to learning, our children need multiple supports to lift up their natural abilities and help them continue to grow both academically and personally.

Detroit Parent Network launched the Parent Teacher Home Visit Project in 2013 to build parent-teacher relationships throughout the city in hopes to improve academic success.

Last week, Detroit Parent Network joined fellow Parent-Teacher Home Visit practitioners to share strategies, tools and stories around academic achievement, building relationships, and seeing a positive impact in students' attendance and behavior.

Earlonda, a parent at Nichols Elementary-Middle School spoke about the program saying, "it doesn't matter if your kid can read, up or down, left or right. This program, this one right here, this works!

Our children need support and this is support. When teachers come to your house and tell your child to achieve . . . there's nothing a parent can do, but be on the side with that; it's incredible. And it's made a total difference for my son." Earlonda watched her son struggle with schoolwork.

As a second grader, Casanova was challenged by reading and wasn't very receptive to his teacher. However after he started receiving home visits from a dedicated educator, he warmed up in the classroom and became excited to learn.

Now, Casanova is performing at grade-level, he can't put books down, and he's hungry for education. Since this student had an invested parent and a great teacher, his academic achievement came full circle.

Thanks to the Parent-Teacher Home Visit Project for changing the lives of many Detroit families and thousands across the country.