Advocating Parental, Community Engagement in Education a Priority for TN First Lady

Press Release from the State of Tennessee, July 20, 2011: 

Mrs. Haslam joined educators at Lipscomb University in Nashville to introduce rural education panel

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam joined approximately 500 educators, administrators, policymakers, and other stakeholders for the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) Summit on Rural Education in Nashville on Tuesday.

The purpose of the two-day event is to highlight best practices and influence regional and national policy on education in rural communities.

“Our rural communities in Tennessee have specific needs, and I’m so glad that SCORE has organized this summit to discuss how we can continue successful strategies and improve best practices,” Haslam said.

Session topics at the Rural Education Summit include using technology to improve student achievement, strategies for improving high school graduation and college completion rates, improving rural community development through education strategies, increasing teacher retention, and improving early childhood education.

Haslam introduced a panel of educators who have successfully improved outcomes in a rural school or school system, in part by increasing parental involvement. As part of the First Lady’s initiative, Haslam will continue to stress the importance of parental and community engagement in education, highlighting those best practices of schools and community centers with effective and creative parent engagement plans, strategies, and programs.

“Parental and family engagement is a vital part of successfully educating our children,” Haslam said. “I am thrilled to be a part of this event geared specifically toward our rural communities.”