Gray Column: An elementary success story

What does it take to educate a child when schools face budget cuts and a recession? The answer is it takes a team and I found a good one right here in Woodbridge at Rosa Parks Elementary.

Rosa Parks Elementary is facing the same need and challenge all schools face: the need to educate students on a limited budget. This is especially true when trying to make sure every child has a
fighting chance at passing the Standard of Learning (SOL) achievement exams students face in K-12.

To make sure every student gets that chance, the PTO at Rosa Parks teamed up with the school’s administration to help fund a Standards of Learning (SOL) remedial training program called “Bust the
test.” The program is in its fourth year.

The PTO raises money for the program through a fundraising company called Market Day. The fundraising program for this year begins at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 24 at the school and will run periodically
throughout the year.

The funds raised by the PTO allow the school to provide instructional, motivational and curriculum review for those students needing a little more help on SOLs. The students also receive instructions on
test-taking strategies they can use in every class.

The students are also provided snacks, transportation to and from the school, instructional material and teacher compensation for teachers tutoring the students.

The tutoring classes run two days per week, an hour each session, over a six-week period. The ratio for teacher to student is 10-1, which is a real advantage for a student needing the extra help.

I recently spoke with Jarcelynn Hart, the principal of Rosa Parks Elementary, about the program and the important relationship between the school and the PTO.

She gladly talked about how the PTO is not only involved in the “Bust the test” program but in a variety of other ways as well.

“PTO is a partner in education not only through fundraising but in the instructions the kids receive,” said Ms. Hart. In regards to the relationship between teachers and parents she said, “The funding for our
program was simply one piece of the equation. The parents, teachers and guidance counselors make the program successful. Money alone cannot buy passion or the desire for success.”

Listening to Mrs. Hart I felt like I was talking with the coach of a very successful sports team — at least the ones that give credit to every part of the organization making the whole team successful. She
praised her teaching staff and counselors for their dedication to the students and their working relationship with the parents.

She also told me the PTO at Rosa Parks raised $62,000 for a variety of activities, which included the SOL tutorial program. They also participate in the school’s cafeteria incentives program, the Field Day
event and in helping schedule family nights at the school.

I enjoy writing about stories like Rosa Parks Elementary because it shows what an entire community including students, teachers, counselors and parents can do when there is true dedication to a
cause. I especially like that students who needed a little extra help were not left behind. Nothing is more empowering when a student who thought they couldn’t do something finds out they really can.

More of us need to learn from the example of the team at Rosa Parks and get involved. Sometimes we feel that getting involved in our child’s school is just another thing to do. The reality is that parental
involvement always makes a difference.

As for the “Bust the test” program, the results speak for itself. Rosa Parks consistently achieves adequate yearly progress on the SOLs. And as for the strength of the PTO program and the staff at Rosa
Parks Elementary their team culture speaks for itself by getting results.

As Ms. Hart explained, “our needs are no different than any other school, we simply have a great staff and a dedicated PTO.”

Their example reminds us that it may take a village to raise a child, but it definitely takes a team to educate one.

Davon Gray works in Washington, D.C., and resides in Woodbridge. Contact him at davongray@verizon.net.