Liberty resident on school advisory board

The Georgia Department of Education has prepared a series of videos giving suggestions to parents on how they can become involved in their children's schools. They are at http://www.gadoe.org/School-Improvement/Federal-Programs/Pages/GET-INVOLVED-Parent-Videos.aspx

parent involvement — The Georgia Department of Education has prepared a series of videos giving suggestions to parents on how they can become involved in their children's schools. They are at http://www.gadoe.org/School-Improvement/Federal-Programs/Pages/GET-INVOLVED-Parent-Videos.aspx

State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge on Friday named 36 parents from across Georgia to serve on his 2014-15 Parent Advisory Council.
Wendy Underwood from the Liberty County School System is among the selectees.
As members of the council, these parents will meet three times this year with the superintendent to discuss education issues in Georgia. Their primary focus will be increasing parent and family engagement to ensure student success, particularly in Georgia’s Title I schools.
“I am looking forward to getting to know these parent advisors and discussing how our policies affect their children on a daily basis,” Barge said. “Increasing parent engagement is critical to ensuring student success, and hearing directly from parents is the best way to ensure their children get what they need to be successful after high school.”
The meetings will allow parents to provide feedback and input on new policies, projects and materials that influence students and their families. The superintendent’s PAC will share the information they learn with community members, other families and schools.
They also will serve as advisors and ambassadors in their respective communities.
Parents are nominated to serve on the PAC by their local school districts at the beginning of each school year.
Members are chosen by a committee of Georgia Department of Education representatives based on the applicant’s response to questions. Each member serves a two-year term on the council.
The first meeting, on Oct. 20, will have the PAC members joining Barge, first lady Sandra Deal and other state organizational leaders for a Parent Engagement Month Kick-Off Celebration at the state Capitol.