Episode 38
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(July 23, 2008) School outreach workers often find themselves struggling to get parents to come to the school for meetings regardless of the numbers of fliers they send out. But there is a more powerful way to outreach to parents that involves direct personal contact with families in order to build a network of parent leaders. Aurelio Montemayor, M.Ed., director of the IDRA Texas Parent Information and Resource Center, describes this new model and how it can transform the school-parent connection. Aurelio is interviewed by Christie Goodman, APR, IDRA’s communications manager. Send comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or fill out form online at www.idra.org/Podcasts.

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See resource links and show notes. (22.9 MB; 00:24:52 min.)

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 Resources

Texas IDRA Parent Information and Resource Center

Authentic Consultation – NCLB Outreach Leadership and Dialogues for Parents, Students and Teachers
By Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed., IDRA Newsletter

Engagement Sounds, Sparks and Movements – Intersections of Interest for Students and Families
By Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed., IDRA Newsletter

Getting 30 Warm Bodies to the Meeting? Parent Engagement is More than This!
By Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed., IDRA Newsletter

Everyday Democracy – Ideas and Tools for Community Change
(formerly Study Circles)

Video: Many Voices, One Community video ( Lynchburg , Va. ) 

Video: MCPS students sharing their dialogue-to-change experiences

Montgomery County ( Md. ) schools enlist Hispanic parents to improve student success
by Gloria Francesca Mengual, Everyday Democracy

Sharing stories, finding solutions – Warren County , N.C., embraces study circles
by Julie Fanselow, Everyday Democracy

 Show Notes

* Host Christie Goodman, APR, IDRA's communications manager, welcomes Aurelio Montemayor, M.Ed., director of the IDRA Parent Information and Resource Center , for a discussion of a new and powerful model for parent outreach and how it can transform the school-parent connection.

* Aurelio explains why effective parent outreach is such an important topic.

* Aurelio discusses how outreach to parents has traditionally been done, and how it can be improved with direct personal contact.

* Aurelio compares the new model of parent outreach with models used in both community organizing and sales.

* Aurelio talks about the kind of conversations that take place in the new model.

* Aurelio explains how a strong communication network is built and the kind of leadership that is needed.

* Aurelio talks about a revised definition for success in parent outreach.

* Aurelio references the kind of dialogue used by the Everyday Democracy organization.

* Christie and Aurelio talk about parents' changing expectations of PTA meetings.

* Aurelio discusses the new demands on Title I I outreach workers.

* Aurelio explains how this new model of parent outreach supports the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

* Aurelio offers examples of where this model is being used successfully.

Show length: 24:52

Related podcasts

* Latino Parent Engagement in High School Math – April 3, 2008

* Engaging Parents in Education – September 28, 2007

* Valuing Families in Children's Education – April 20, 2007

* The Power of IDRA's Parent Leadership Model – November 10, 2006

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