Dallas ISD is proud to be home to outstanding neighborhood schools like Pershing Elementary. Discover more about our neighborhood campuses at the Discover Neighborhood Schools events on April 9 and April 23. Learn more here.
John J. Pershing Elementary hosted a campuswide competition where – through a just and rigorous process – PTA members, scholars and teachers elected four student ambassadors.
The Pershing king and queen contest gave every child at Pershing an opportunity to become a role model and every parent a chance to be involved. As a result, PTA membership tripled, from 28 members to over 90, in a matter of weeks.
Every Pershing classroom selected a king and queen candidate based on grades (B or higher), teacher recommendation and student vote. Each classroom representative created her or his own poster displaying her/his skills, and each poster was displayed throughout the school’s hallways. On March 28, every classroom finalist marched through the school showcasing their favorite book and later displayed their poster to the parents during dismissal.
“This is the first time we’ve done this contest and it’s the first time that every student – from Pre-K to fifth grade – has been able to advocate for themselves and been able to show their craftsmanship and leadership,” Pershing Principal Dr. Lourdes Morales-Figueroa said. “A contest like this helps develop the personality of the child and contributes to our campuswide promise of providing a joyful climate and culture that welcomes them with a smile and challenges them every day to do more.”
Through these activities, the classroom representatives competed for the four schoolwide king and queen spots: one king and one queen for Pre-K through second grade, and a king and queen for third through fifth grades. After the students’ showcase, PTA members voted to elect their campus representatives.
José Armendariz, a Pershing Pre-K and 1st grade teacher and 2021 Dallas ISD teacher of the Year, is one of the main founders of the school’s PTA. He worked closely with the PTA board to encourage membership through the king and queen contest.
“We have expressed our need for parent involvement in their students’ education and there has been a change in mindset,” Armendariz said. “Parents want to support their candidates, and they’ve been very competitive. They’ve been encouraging other parents to register in the PTA and we have even gained some community members who are interested in serving our campus.”
Encouraging parent involvement
When Dr. Morales-Figueroa became the Pershing principal in 2019, the campus did not have a PTA. It was one of her goals to establish the partnership, and she reached out to staff members for support with her mission.
The principal spoke with Armendariz, who had taught at the campus for several years. With his help and with the support of other staff members, Dr. Morales-Figueroa opened and created the young association, which has survived the impact of a tornado and a global pandemic .
“The presence of the parents on our campus is crucial in the child’s success,” Dr. Morales-Figueroa said. “Through participation, parents become aware of the needs of their students and share the message with other parents in the community. When we have PTA membership, those parents volunteer at the school, support teachers, raise funds to support the school with resources and support their students’ academics.”
