Jennifer Stockstill, Graduation Coach
It is such a pleasure to be here at Spain Park High School this year as your graduation coach! I spent a good portion of last school year here as a maternity leave English teacher and as a reading exam tutor. In my new role, I have several responsibilities, which include:
My office is on the guidance hall, where I meet with individual students about their grades and other academic issues, but I am frequently out and about in the school. I might be in the library working with small groups of students on testing and test prep or visiting with teachers about students. However, since I am an English teacher and not a counselor, I work closely with our team of counselors to ensure that we are respecting our students as whole individuals.
So, what can you, as a parent, do to help your student be successful at Spain Park and graduate with his or her classmates?
1. Be involved! Ask about school each day. If your son or daughter gives one-word answers like my own children do, check our their agenda books for assignments and upcoming test dates. Visit their teachers' websites and blogs for more detailed information.
2. Stay connected! Email or call teachers, counselors and/or the graduation coach when you have concerns. The sooner we catch a problem, the easier it is to fix!
3. Be an encourager! As a mom and a teacher, I know how easy it is to focus all the attention on the areas where our children struggle, but let's find things to praise and encourage, too!
There are plenty of other ways to help your child as they journey through high school. Check out my links for more information!
- intervening to help students who are at risk for not graduating on time,
- preparing students for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam,
- identifying and assisting struggling readers,
- fostering communication between students and teachers, and
- monitoring students who need a little extra academic assistance.
My office is on the guidance hall, where I meet with individual students about their grades and other academic issues, but I am frequently out and about in the school. I might be in the library working with small groups of students on testing and test prep or visiting with teachers about students. However, since I am an English teacher and not a counselor, I work closely with our team of counselors to ensure that we are respecting our students as whole individuals.
So, what can you, as a parent, do to help your student be successful at Spain Park and graduate with his or her classmates?
1. Be involved! Ask about school each day. If your son or daughter gives one-word answers like my own children do, check our their agenda books for assignments and upcoming test dates. Visit their teachers' websites and blogs for more detailed information.
2. Stay connected! Email or call teachers, counselors and/or the graduation coach when you have concerns. The sooner we catch a problem, the easier it is to fix!
3. Be an encourager! As a mom and a teacher, I know how easy it is to focus all the attention on the areas where our children struggle, but let's find things to praise and encourage, too!
There are plenty of other ways to help your child as they journey through high school. Check out my links for more information!