Building & Leveraging Community Relationships
"The problem with schools isn't that they aren't what they once were; it's that they are precisely what they once were. The world around the schoolhouse is changing dramatically, teaching and leading are not innate in most of us. We teach and lead better when we constantly learn to teach and lead" (Barth, 2001, p. 28).
Community Relationships Formed while at Palumbo
Help with College
Help with College
Help with College
At Academy at Palumbo, the average grade size is 220 students. With this class size school counselors were already operating at full capacity in order to serve every student. The incoming junior class however, is 360 students. I saw a need for this program early and I was able to procure this program for Palumbo (a $50,000/year program), for FREE. Below is an email setting up
Mental Health
Help with College
Help with College
In a school like Palumbo, there is pressure to achieve. After identifying a need for mental health as a need at Academy at Palumbo, I asked colleagues and friends alike for organizations that could help train the staff on the warning signs of depression, and to stop it before it escalates to suicide.
Racial Literacy
Help with College
Racial Literacy
After attending Dr. Stevenson's lecture on racial literacy, I emailed and had meetings with Managing Partner of Lion's Story, Charles Adams, about professional developments for Palumbo staff beginning in the spring and next school year.
Racial Literacy
From journal entry dated 11/10/19:
"On numerous occasions, Ms.Thompson has mentioned that the counselors and teachers spend a lot of time helping students with college essays, applications and financial aid. [...] I was able to connect with the director of the program and ask her to come in for a meeting about the possibility of starting the program here at Palumbo."
From journal entry dated 1/25/20:
"During Friday’s half-day professional development, I arranged for two psychiatrists from Jefferson Hospital to come talk to staff about what school-based personnel can do to identify at-risk behavior. I arranged these doctors to come through the non-profit organization, Michael’s Giving Hand. This professional development was spawned from a few parent meetings I attended when student behaviors also included self-harm and notes expressing the desire to suicide"
Two members of the Academy at Palumbo are invited to take part in this Racial Literacy Institute for FREE (normally $650/registrant).
Instructional Field Experiences
After establishing a relationship with the Metropolitan Museum of Art while at GWHS, I worked with the Manager of Visitor Experience and was able to arrange a 100% fee waiver, (a $1500 value), for a cross-disciplinary experience in April . Unfortunately, we could not attend because of COVID-19.
Parent Meetings
From journal dated 05/17/20:
"Last weekend, I was asked to do a presentation for the Title I meeting that was held concurrently with the Home and School meeting. It was very useful to create a parent-friendly presentation and to see Palumbo’s Parent and Family Engagement Policy and Parent-School Compact."
Community Safety
From journal dated January 25th:
"We hosted the Southern Philadelphia neighborhood watch meeting that had many stakeholders in the community brainstorming on how to make schools in the area safer. Attendees included our school’s administration, the school police lieutenant, and representatives from many non-profit organizations that work with school-age children that offer services ranging from mental health to mentoring programs. It was good to network a bit and set up meetings to talk about what kind of services we can bring to Palumbo ( and to my school once I'm assigned one)."
Academy at Palumbo [will be] on The ClassH-Room on Fox29
Academy at Palumbo was going to be featured on the gameshow, The ClassH-Room on April 18th but we had to postpone the taping of she show because of the health crisis. The video embedded here is when I arranged for my previous school to be on the show. Schools that appear on the show also receive $500.
Palumbo Student Valedictorian Speeches on Fox29
Palumbo [and GWHS] valedictorian speeches were featured on the Good Day Graduation special program on June 12th, 2020. Using the media to help publish positive stories helps with school branding and positive public relations.