Award Staffing’s Post

Amid the whirlwind of our daily routines, the significance of small acts of kindness often goes unnoticed. Yet, the profound impact of giving, regardless of scale, has the potential to spark waves of positivity that sweep through communities, touching countless lives. With a legacy of supporting nearly 4,000 low-income students over the past two decades, Parents Challenge remains steadfast in its mission to broaden educational horizons for numerous students and parents in the Pikes Peak region. However, this journey is impossible without your support. We urge you to stand alongside us in driving change. Your generosity has allowed numerous students to get out of underperforming educational environments, leaving an enduring mark. Your participation can fuel lasting transformations. Through your contributions, Parents Challenge can extend its reach to more students and families, empowering them to excel academically and beyond. As we embrace the spirit of giving, let us unite in our collective dedication to reshaping lives through education. Together, we hold the power to cultivate a brighter tomorrow for our communities. Discover how you can make a difference. https://lnkd.in/gTG9kqFA #ParentsChallenge #MakingADifference #Education #GivingBack #SeasonOfGiving #Community

✨🧑🤝🧑 Back to School Month | Week 2: Build Your Support System 🧑🤝🧑✨ Welcome to Week 2 of our August series focused on supporting students in recovery! This week's theme is all about building a strong support system. Here are some strategies to help you connect and thrive: ✔ Peer Support Groups: Join a peer support group where you can share experiences, strength, and hope with fellow students in recovery. ✔ Engage with Mentors/Counselors: Reach out to mentors, counselors, or trusted teachers who can provide guidance, support, and a listening ear. ✔ Utilize School Resources: Take advantage of the resources available at your school, such as counseling services, academic support, and wellness programs. ✔ Search for Community Recovery Programs/Events: Look for recovery programs and events in your community. Engaging in local activities can help you build a wider support network and find additional resources. Let's focus on creating a strong support system to help us succeed and thrive this school year! #AegisTreatmentCenters #SupportSystem #PeerSupport #SchoolResources #CommunityRecovery

✨🧑🤝🧑 Back to School Month | Week 2: Build Your Support System 🧑🤝🧑✨ Welcome to Week 2 of our August series focused on supporting students in recovery! This week's theme is all about building a strong support system. Here are some strategies to help you connect and thrive: ✔ Peer Support Groups: Join a peer support group where you can share experiences, strength, and hope with fellow students in recovery. ✔ Engage with Mentors/Counselors: Reach out to mentors, counselors, or trusted teachers who can provide guidance, support, and a listening ear. ✔ Utilize School Resources: Take advantage of the resources available at your school, such as counseling services, academic support, and wellness programs. ✔ Search for Community Recovery Programs/Events: Look for recovery programs and events in your community. Engaging in local activities can help you build a wider support network and find additional resources. Let's focus on creating a strong support system to help us succeed and thrive this school year! #PinnacleTreatmentCenters #SupportSystem #PeerSupport #SchoolResources #CommunityRecovery

For many low-income and at-risk youth, home life can present daily challenges and stresses. 😓 They may lack stable support systems and safe spaces to figure out their talents and grow. 💔 After-school programs are uniquely positioned to fill this critical gap. By providing trusted mentors, engaging activities and a sense of community, they establish: 1️⃣ Consistent Mentorship 👉🏾 Caring staff and volunteers offer guidance and encouragement and serve as role models. 💡 Their sustained presence helps youth build self-esteem and make positive decisions. 2️⃣ Engaging Activities 👉🏾 After-school programs keep youth constructively occupied through extracurriculars like arts, sports and tutoring. 💡 This exposure to new interests prevents risky behaviors and fosters all-around growth. 3️⃣ Sense of Community 👉🏾 Youth find acceptance among peers facing similar challenges. 💡 The supportive network created counteracts social isolation and validates their inherent worth. As a nonprofit organization, we are always seeking new volunteers to serve as tutors and mentors and help more youth realize their full potential. 🤝🏾 To learn more about us, visit educateusainc.org 🌐 #afterschoolprograms #studentconfidence #volunteernow #youthdevelopment #studentsuccessmatters #educationequity

As the school year wraps up, I want to highlight the importance of appreciating our children's teachers. While school fees cover many aspects of education, the value of a simple "thank you" is immeasurable. During the recent Parent-Teacher Conferences, many kind words lifted my spirits. However, some comments were less encouraging. Teachers pour their hearts into their work, often going above and beyond for their students. Acknowledgment, even through a few kind words, can make a significant difference. Appreciation doesn’t have to be about gifts; it can be as simple as a heartfelt note or a few words recognizing a teacher’s hard work and positive influence. These gestures uplift teachers and create a positive school community. Let’s come together to show gratitude to the teachers who have been integral to our children’s growth this year. Your appreciation can make a world of difference. #Education #TeacherAppreciation #Gratitude #Parenting #SchoolCommunity Have a wonderful Summer Break! #Montessoriguide #Earlychildhoodeducation #Teachers

I often discuss the importance of listening to families, so I want to share some recent experiences of educators' deeply listening to families. Over the past month, I helped plan and facilitate Family Engagement Summits in Watsonville and San Diego, where school teams, including families and staff, gathered to discuss their school priorities and how family engagement can help achieve those goals. The most impactful moments of these summits were the Family Fishbowls. Families sat in a circle, sharing their stories about schooling and parenting, while educators listened from the outside. The questions I used allowed families to speak about their hopes, challenges, and share experiences from their own lives and as caregivers. There were many inspiring stories of positive interactions with educators, alongside honest reflections about when schools failed them or their children. What stood out to me was how quickly these conversations became deeply emotional and filled with truth-telling. Families are ready to share beyond the usual—exploring what they truly need from schools, what it means to be a parent, and how we can support each other across difference. Families want to work with educators, and I know educators want the same. Too often, though, we get stuck in transactional relationships. These fishbowls show us that when we create spaces for vulnerability and honesty, we can transform how we build community in schools. Check out this picture from our recent fishbowl in San Diego, and explore the questions we used to facilitate these conversations by clicking the link below. https://lnkd.in/dPMe-H79 #FamilyEngagement #Listening #SchoolCulture #CommunityBuilding #Empathy #SchoolImprovement

In an effort to combat chronic absenteeism, here are five steps to ramp up family and student engagement, from the founder of an education attendance nonprofit.

🌟 Calling all amazing #parents! 🌟  #Navigating the world of #SpecialEducation can be challenging, but #YouAreNotAlone. Your experiences and insights can make a world of difference for others. 💪❤️  What is the best piece of #advice you’ve received or given about supporting your child’s #education? Share your wisdom and let’s empower each other! ✨  #ParentSupport #TogetherWeThrive #InclusionMatters #ParentingTips #HopeAndHelp #YouAreNotAlone #SpecialEducationAdvocate

October is Head Start Awareness Month! Did you know Project 2025 would eliminate Head Start? That's nearly 800,000 children living with low-income/poverty in the United States. I didn't understand Head Start until I got to see Crystal Stairs Head Start schools these past eight months. I didn't understand the powerful, positive shift it's helping families create for themselves and our communities until I saw it for myself. We cut things we don't understand. Or we cut programs we don't value. Head Start, with all the care and education and wrap around services that come with it, needs to be valued by every single one of us. Early care and education means parents and families can go to work, or school. It means child care providers get paid and are part of our economic system. Children get the social emotional education they crave and need to go into elementary school ready to succeed in classrooms and life. Vote like our future and the future of our children depend on it. Because it does. An old article but good reminder...

Why should access to school choice be limited to only the wealthy and well-connected? What about families who aren’t as fortunate? What options do they have if they’re stuck in a school that doesn’t meet their needs? #SchoolChoice.