Aware February Template - Public Schools of Robeson County

Parent Coordinator
Offers Tools for Student Success
Amy Haigler talks study
habits, test skills and even
what jobs are in a student’s
future. As the Parent
Involvement Coordinator for
the Public Schools of
Robeson County she carries
an arsenal of supplies and
tips to arm parents to help
their children be successful.
Haigler says helping parents
to see the importance of
supporting their children is
one of the most important
goals in the district. “When a
parent is not engaged our
children give up a lot easier
because they don’t feel they
have that avenue to go to.
Sometimes children feel like
they understand what the
teacher was talking about,
but then at home may need
more
or
reinforcement
help,” say
Haigler.
Amy Haigler
became the Parent
Coordinator for the Public
Schools of Robeson County
in 2006 when the district was
looking for ways to share
information with parents.
Amy Haigler is always real.
This long time educator
carries a high level of respect
as she goes throughout the
district collaborating and
working with parents….but
overall pushing the message
of parental involvement.
The program began with a
monthly parent night with a
live satellite link with the US
Department of education
meeting at UNCP. Today the
monthly meetings draw close
to 300 parents and students.
The meetings are more than
just information. Haigler
brings a light air to the
monthly meetings with a
cross of humor and good
common sense. She also
spotlights excellence at the
meetings such as A-B Honor
Roll students receive extra
goodies. Everyone leaves
the monthly meeting with
items to help students. The
children receive books at
check-in. Parents can pick
out a gift at the end of the
meeting. “It also gave us an
opportunity to provide
parents with
materials and
information they
may not have.
One year we
ordered all parents
a parenting/
Haigler speaks to parents
homework dictionary, which
is a cheat sheet which
reviews the basic subjects of
math, social studies, English
and science,” said Haigler.
Haigler’s parental support
goes beyond the monthly
meeting. She meets with
parents at individual schools
as well as community
meetings. She says parents
need to reinforce the things
children are learning on a
daily basis at school. “We
also need them to partner
with the schools to help
children understand the
value of an education,” said
Haigler.
Amy Haigler has worked in
the PSRC district for 30 plus
years. She taught Social
Studies for grades 7 – 12 for
20 years in St. Pauls, then
worked at the Central Office
as an Instructional Generalist
before becoming the Parent
Involvement Coordinator.
Today the most gratifying
part of her work is reaching
out to parents. “We
encourage parents to take
advantage of all
opportunities to learn. They
can do it in a grocery store,
have your child read road
signs, calculate how much
you are spending in stores,
there are so many
opportunities for parents to
work with children throughout
the day. It doesn’t have to be
at home at the dinner table
doing homework,” said
Haigler.
The PSRC Parent Student
Center will soon be featured
across the state in a Parent
and Community Engagement
Video on the N.C.
Department of Public
Instruction website. It will
illustrate what effective
parent involvement should
be.
For Parenting Night dates or other
info call 910.735.2190 or visit http://
www.robeson.k12.nc.us/Domain/45
Amy Haigler passes out
goodies for achievement
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