Silver Dollar City Foundation boosts Blue Eye parent program

Silver Dollar City Foundation gives boost to Blue Eye parent program

More than 40 years ago, Missouri pioneered the idea of partnering with parents to support their role as their child’s first teacher. Today, Blue Eye School District continues that work by combining ideas decades old with new, innovative processes. The result - families are finding what works for them and each year, children are entering school better prepared for success.

“I see it as school readiness and beyond,” said Dr. Sharon Jones, director of special services at Blue Eye School District. “Parents As Teachers (PAT) is founded on the principles that parents are the child’s first teacher.”

The program works with parents from prenatal to kindergarten and has two main components. One to two times a month a parent educator meets with parents and children either at home or at school. During the visit, the parent educator provides the family with information, resources, encourages the parents to work with their children to develop key skills and provides fun activities for parents and children to do together. The second component is Group Connections, a monthly event that brings young families in the district together for fun activities and to build connections. Group Connections is held at the Blue Eye public library and offers a different program each month, ranging from a visit from the zoo to cookies with Santa.

Blue Eye’s PAT program receives some state funding, however, district leaders like Elementary Principal Dr. Chris Butler recognizes the value of the program and the need to invest in it deeper. For the past three years, the district has received Silver Dollar City Foundation Hope Grants to the tune of $42,000 to bolster the program and ensure the district is doing everything they can to help set children up for success.

To families in the district, the program is always free.

Parent Cassie Tranbarger has been teaching preschool for six years but still finds value for her family in PAT.

“I think it helps a lot because even though I’m an early childhood teacher, this program has given me ideas of what I can be doing at home with my kids versus what we might be working on at school,” Tranbarger said.

Tranbarger, along with her kids, 3-year-old Jared and 2-year-old Graham, get excited when their parent educator Sharon Jackson visits.

“My kids look forward to every time she comes,” Tranbarger said. “One of the main things she helps with is fine motor skills and what we can be doing to help my oldest son who is autistic. Sharon’s ideas are very helpful. She knows what he struggles with and she helps us find games and activities we can do together.”

Veronica Standlee’s family has been participating in the Parents As Teachers program for more than five years. Standlee, who is also a preschool teacher, appreciates the Group Connection events as much as she does the home visits.

“The biggest takeaway from PAT is having someone I can ask questions to and know if something my child is doing or experiencing is normal,” Standlee said.

Standlee’s parent educator helps her understand the milestones her child should be reaching and provides activities she can do with her children.

“Parents As Teachers gives parents a safe place outside of school and outside of the doctor’s office, where we have someone to work with us and our kids,” she said. “Of course, Group Connections is always fun.”

So far this school year, the district has reached 23 families, accounting for 35 children.

Jackson said it is often evident when children show up to school for the first time, who have been a part of Parents As Teachers or preschool, and those who have not.

“It shows in our screenings which children have had direction and guidance in those developmental milestones and which ones have not,” Jones added. “Most always, you see a child who has been in PAT score higher on those screenings than a child who has not.”

Jones’ focus goes beyond just kindergarten readiness.

“The long-lasting impact of the PAT program will allow children to reach their full potential by increasing parents’ confidence in their ability to support their child’s growth and development while improving parenting skills,” she said. “PAT provides parents with the support they need in the ever-growing challenges that children face.”

To learn more about Blue Eye’s PAT program or how to enroll your family, email Parent Educator Heather Thomas at hthomas@blueeye.k12.mo.us.

Silver Dollar City Foundation is a 501c(3) private foundation dedicated to helping children and families. Last fall, the foundation awarded $195,000 in Hope Grants between 13 school districts serving Stone and Taney County families. To learn more about Silver Dollar City Foundation, visit SilverDollarCityFoundation.com.