Florence, South Carolina
Tammy H. Pawloski, Director and Professor of Education
Family and Community Engagement Lunch & Learn
The Center of Excellence (COE) at Francis Marion University is a partnership place. Last year, COE leaders reviewed its activities that guide districts and schools to improve their plans and practices of school, family, and community partnerships. A series of monthly workshops—Lunch and Learn—provided basic information on each of the six types of involvement in the NNPS framework. The sessions focused, in turn, on the theory, research, and exemplary practices for Type 1-Parenting, Type 2-Communicating, Type 3-Volunteering, Type 4-Learning at Home, Type 5-Decision Making, and Type 6-Collaborating with the Community.
COE partners with about 30 school districts in South Carolina, ranging in size from small (3 schools) to large (50+ schools). All districts serve students and families with diverse racial, cultural, financial, and educational backgrounds, and a wide range of social-emotional, physical, and spiritual resources. The Center also maintains a contact list of over 10,000 educators and FMU students who are interested in improving and sustaining programs of family and community engagement.
COE advertised the monthly series on Twitter and Facebook, by email, at other meetings, and in other communications. About 400 state, district, and school leaders, teachers, family liaisons from five states attended Lunch and Learn sessions. COE encouraged attendance with useful door prizes (or Zoom prizes) including books on family engagement, gift cards, and free registrations for FMU and COE services.
A final session invited participants to make presentations on the best practices that they implemented and resulting challenges and solutions linked to topics of the monthly sessions. Every session was evaluated by attendees. A typical response explained, “The time slot (i.e., lunchtime) was perfect for me, and the recorded sessions filled in for those I missed. I conducted several events that were well-attended.” Some reported that they gained knowledge on how to organize more effective partnership programs: “We never considered goal-based planning as you presented. This may make a big difference for us moving forward.” See the COE “on demand library” of professional development sessions on family and community engagement at https://www.fmucenterofexcellence.org.
Read more about Family and Community Engagement Lunch & Learn in Promising Partnership Practices 2023.
