Emmalou: Welcome to “In Support of Families.” This is Emmalou Penrod, and I have a special guest with me this time. Susan Lindsey is someone I met through my daughter. Susan has taught two of my grandchildren, and my daughter has gone on and on about how marvelous she is, what an outstanding teacher, how she goes above and beyond. So, I wanted to meet her, and I was able to do that and have some time visiting with her. And she is really an amazing person and a great teacher, so I wanted a chance to talk to her. Can you tell us a little bit about your background, Susan?
Susan: You bet. I started working with children at a daycare when I was sixteen. I did that for a few years and then I actually opened my own daycare centers and had three running at one point. I did that for ten years and then during that time I also substitute taught in Weber County Schools and did that for twenty five years. Then I decided that I needed to be teaching on my own. I went back and got my license. I was a teacher’s aide in a fifth/ six group class and for a year and then I got my own job teaching second grade and I’ve taught second grade for eight and a half years at Quest Academy.
Emmalou: Yes, and that’s where I met you. What is unique about Quest Academy?
Susan: The neat thing about a charter school is as teachers we are hired at will, so at any given point we can actually be let go or choose to walk away. And I find that with that set up, the teachers are all people who want to be there. The administration watches very closely and it just creates a happy environment where there’s no problem with quitting if you’re just unhappy or if you seem not to be into teaching and that doesn’t seem to be your forte, then you also are let go. So, it seems like everybody is just happy to be there. The kids are happy. You have no one feeling like they are being mistreated, because we all know that we are there because that’s where we want to be.
Emmalou: That’s great! I visited the school and I agree with you, there is definitely a happy feeling there. I know my daughter told me how they’ll communicate with, the school communicates with parents through, I think you have a Facebook page, and I’ve also heard a bit about how you communicate well with parents. Tell me why you think that’s important.
Susan: OK, I feel that constant communication with the parent is a must. I feel that a parent and a teacher need to be a team to help that child be successful. I found that if children know their parent is informed and knows what’s going on at school and as the teacher knows what’s going on at home, we can work together, and it sure alleviates a lot of problems, a lot of students who think they can say he said she said. The communication that I have found works, we have a blog, we have the Facebook page, we have email. And I have even had to resort to giving my cellphone number out to text parents when I haven’t received the permission for something, or when I had a question, or I found that a child is ill and can’t get a hold of Mom. I find that they respond with text and I know there’s a lot of teachers who aren’t okay with giving out their cell phone number, but I feel if that is the one way I can get a hold a particular parent, I am willing to do that. And it hasn’t seemed to cause any real problem for me in the past. I do feel that a parent needs to be informed of the negative things but more so the positive going on at school. I recently had a student master a math test and I sent Mom an email and in the memo, it just said the student’s name and math. And then I just wrote how excited I was that her child had excelled in math and how great he was doing. And my response from mom was, “Oh, I was so excited to hear this! I was so worried to open this email about what I was going to hear.” And it just went on to thank me for keeping her informed of his successes. And I’ve also found, as a mom myself, as I’m at school and I listen to these children talk to one another and cheer each other on and be good friends, I see it’s so important for these parents to hear the great people they’re raising. The wonderful students who are motivating one another and are excited for each other’s successes. I’ve I recently sent an email to a mom letting her know how fun it was to hear her child say, “Way to go!” to another student. I feel lucky to get these opportunities with the students that their parents are missing out on. The parents need to be involved to hear these great things as well.
Emmalou: It sounds like you clearly send far more positive communication than the bad news that most parents associate with the note from the teacher or any contact from the teacher. I imagine that has a positive effect on your relationship with the parents. It sounds like you’re building some very genuine rapport.
Susan: You know I find that as the parents are informed of exciting wonderful news, it also yields a positive relationship for myself with the students because they’re finding out when their parents pick them up and says, “Way to go! Mrs. Lindsey says you’re doing great.” The kids are so excited to come back to school and do more. And you know that motivates them to be a positive person within our classrooms because they all of a sudden realize that everybody’s cheering for them.
Emmalou: My thought is that they don’t see school and home as two different battle camps, that they see them as all on the same team, and they can’t play one against the other. Or feel like they’ve got to be careful to make this side happy, it sounds like the children are much happier having that positive relationship between their parents and their teacher.
Susan: Oh, I believe so and I think every grade is important but each year is such a building year for the next year and who wants to go to school if they don’t feel successful? Who wants to do anything if they don’t feel successful? So, I think every little inch that a child grows and learns should be celebrated. The young person wants to feel that success and I think that builds that for future years as well as when they’re little.
Emmalou: That is so true! You’ve hit it right. They’re going to have that positive experience in school. They feel that that they’re capable, they can learn, and they want to. It’s fun! They’ve seen how it’s fun. So how can parents help you? You’ve talked about you’ve done so much to connect with them. Sometimes parents are really apprehensive when they’re sending that first child off to school or if they move to a new area. What would you advise parents in those situations?
Susan: I feel a parent should always be aware, and I think this is the same with charter schools or public schools, that they are welcome within the classroom at any time, any day. They don’t need to feel like it’s an area that they aren’t welcomed in. I know the more parents I can have come read with my students and get involved the better my students become because they’re reading with more than just one or two people. They are actually getting to know the parents, and I find that kids communicate better with one another when someone’s parent is there all of the time. They get to know the parents. The parents get involved and actually create a really fun relationship with the students as their students grow through the years, they get to know each other. Also, both parents who aren’t available to come within the classroom because of work and those things, there is always cutting that needs to be done, projects that can be started, games to be made. So if they just reach out and let that teacher know that they are available and willing, than that’s wonderful. And if they’re willing to take off a few hours for a class party just to be involved so their student always know that their education is just as important to their parents as it is for themselves and their teachers. They’re just going to be so much more willing to put that much more effort in. And I think every single parent should get to know the teacher, the administration, so that their child knows there’s communication there, there is no gap there and that they really care. And also, we can always suggest activities and things that might help their children learn and grow within the area, especially those who come in from out of the area. Where we’re at we have a lot of families from Hill Airforce Base that travel from year to year, and it is fun to let these people know how they can get involved what they can do and to see that you can pick a positive upbeat school where their children can be really successful, but they need to be involved as well.
Emmalou: Yes, I agree, and it sounds like it doesn’t even necessarily have to be time intensive. Even if parents only feel that they can volunteer for maybe a couple hours a month, there’s still something they can do. And I’m not imagining that you would ever say, “No” to a parent who asks you, “How can I help you?” That’s the feeling I’m getting.
Susan: Yes, I would find something. I would create something for parents if they are willing to be involved and help. And how fun for a student to sit with their parents and cut things out one night for their class the next day.
Emmalou: Yes, knowing why they’re doing it and knowing not only that their parents like their school and their teacher but their parents cared enough about them to be willing to take it some time off work or spend some of those precious hours afterward. And I know some charter schools actually ask parents to volunteer. Does Quest have a requirement?
Susan: Yes, we actually tell them thirty hours a year. However, we cannot demand that like a public school can. We do ask for that and we keep track of how many hours each family spends at school. And of course, we’ve got those that spend hundreds and hundreds every year that are available and those that can only come on field trips. But you know sometimes it’s fun to take a day off for a field trip, and get to know the other parents and the other students and create lasting relationships.
Emmalou: Oh yeah, I can see that parent support group, especially if you have a child who might be facing some challenges, to be able to visit with another parent who’s been through that and has some advice to offer. That’s always valuable for sure. The thirty hours for the whole school year really doesn’t work out to be much more than a few hours a month. And with the flexibility and the variety of things that they could do. . .
Susan: There are always opportunities for carnivals and for book fairs. People aren’t aware of all the extra little things they can do to spend time in school.
Emmalou: And everything makes that education so much better for their child. I taught at a charter school for a year, as well, and I remember there were parents who were at the school every day. That’s what they wanted. That’s what they chose. And then there were the parents who worked and just did a few hours after school. So what difference have you noticed between a student whose parents are involved in communicating with you and another student whose parents are not as involved and are more remote.
Susan: I did find a huge difference in the desire to learn and be involved and the students just know that we are working together. I noticed that when students say, “No, I don’t read at home.”, school is not a priority for them either. Even when we’re turning them on and begging them, if it doesn’t happen at home they don’t care so much to do it at school either.
Emmalou: So, I guess, especially in second grade, students would tend to value what their parents value, right?
Susan: Definitely yes, they follow them around. Their parents are definitely their heroes.
Emmalou: And I wonder if parents realize how much influence they have and how their attitude really makes a difference for their children, how they feel about learning and reading.
Susan: Yes, as a teacher I try to educate them, but for some it’s not their priority. It’s heartbreaking to see.
Emmalou: Yes. Well, Susan, I am so impressed with what you’re doing, and we just need more teachers like you. We ought to have you teaching the teacher preparation classes.
Susan: It’s an absolute blessing and I actually feel like I’m the lucky one because I am around so many amazing little spirits every day that are just wonderful.
Emmalou: Your passion for teaching shows through.
Susan: I sure appreciate what you’re doing, so anyway I can help you, please let me know.
Emmalou: All right, thank you so much for your time, Susan, and you have a great day!
Susan: You too, thank you so much.