Parents packed the auditorium at Dallas ISD’s D.A. Hulcy Middle School on Wednesday for a special Parent Appreciation Celebration and Resource Fair. The event was hosted by the district’s Office of Family and Community Engagement.
Superintendent Mike Miles told the crowd that they comprised the largest group of parents assembled in one place that he had ever seen. Parental involvement, he said, is key to ensuring student succees. He recalled how involved his mother was in his education. She was a native of Japan and could never could speak, read or write English well. However, she insisted that he and his siblings got to school on time, did their homework and read at home every day.
Schools were recognized for having a high level of participation in the Parent Portal, which is a resource in English and Spanish that provides access to their child’s grades, assignments and attendance – as well as other features. Each of the honored schools had at least 95 percent of parents – at least one per child – signed up to use the portal.
The schools listed as Exemplary in parental participation included ones that went above and beyond, forming had site-based decision-making committees and having other ways to involve parents on a regular basis.
Other featured speakers were Board President Miguel Solis and Trustee Lew Blackburn. Also in attendance was Trustee Elizabeth Jones. Members of the Sunset High School band provided entertainment before and after the recognition program.
