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| 2012 Dads and Moms Conference program presenters included (from left) Lester Principal William Merritt, Board Vice President Linda Rush, JPS Superintendent Dr. Cedrick Gray, 2012-13 Parent of the Year Tonja Robinson-Murphy and 2010-11 Parent of the Year Curtis Jones. |
Hundreds of JPS mothers and fathers filed into the auditorium at Callaway High School October 4, 2012, for the district's annual Dads and Moms Parent Conference. JPS Superintendent Dr. Cedrick Gray headlined the program with a keynote addressing how parents can work with schools to improve the academic and social lives of their children. He encouraged participants to take this four-point pledge:
- Make sure my child is ready and on time for school each day,
- Meet and exchange phone numbers with my child's teacher within the first 30 days of school,
- Create a quite space at home so my child can study at least one hour each night, and
- Check my child's school work and pick up my child's report cards.
The program also featured Parents of the Year Tonja Robinson-Murphy (2012-13) and Curtis Jones (2010-11).
The evening's activities included a complimentary dinner and performances by the Callaway High School Jazz ensemble and the Murrah High School choir. Parent workshops were the highlight of the evening. Topics included a primer on the Common Core State Standards Initiative, the importance of an early childhood education, how fathers make a difference by volunteering at their child's school, and how parents can establish routines that lead to student academic success.
The annual JPS Dads and Moms Parent Conference is planned exclusively for Jackson Public Schools’ fathers, mothers, grandparents, guardians and caregivers. The program's activities are designed to facilitate parent involvement and improve student achievement.
Photo Gallery: 2012 JPS Dads and Moms Conference