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.
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