Posted In: Uncategorized

Tags: annenberg institute for school reform, Minneapolis and St. Paul Federations of Teachers, Minnesota Neighborhoods Organizing for Change

by Félix Pérez

In today’s world of pseudo-education reformists, it has become commonplace for anti-public education partisans to seek to drive a wedge between parents and teachers. But one group, the Annenberg Institute for School Reform, has set out to shine a spotlight on communities where teachers and parents are engaging in collaborative partnerships to strengthen public schools.

A video debuting today at a town hall meeting in Minneapolis showcases just such a partnership.

“Organized parents and teachers are collaborating to improve schools throughout the country, ranging from the Bronx to Denver to Los Angeles. Instead of pointing fingers and alleging blame, these efforts are creating a cycle of involvement, improvement and renewed investment in our nation’s school systems,” said Sara McAlister, senior research associate at Brown University’s Annenberg Institute for School Reform.

The five-minute video uses the experience of Minnesota Neighborhoods Organizing for Change and the Minneapolis and St. Paul Federations of Teachers as an example of collaborative, effective partnerships between community members, parents and teachers.

The video intro reads:

Current national and local education policies often pit teachers and parents against each other, trapping them in a cycle of blame and mistrust.  But in one Minneapolis community, parents and teachers decided to work together to make their schools better — with great results. This is their story.