Our parent volunteer program is under the direction of the Title I program and Lorraine Thompson.  The goals of the Strong Mountaineer Parent Involvement Program are to allow parents to become a part of the process that empowers students to be academically successful, to have a positive self-concept, and to have the confidence to keep trying and never give up on a task.  We believe by becoming actively involved in the learning process of our children, and by enlisting the support and involvement of the business community we will accomplish these goals.  We believe that by working together we can make a difference in the lives of children.

     The Strong Mountaineer Program is under the direction of Sharon Estep.  The Strong Mountaineer Parent Involvement Program was adopted by the Mingo County Board of Education in 1991. It is a program designed to use parents in the classroom as tutors in reading and math.  Three students are selected by the classroom teacher to receive individualized instruction during the school day.  The classroom teacher prepares a folder of work containing the work that is to be completed by the class in reading and math that day.  The parent volunteer receives instruction from the teacher as to how to assist the students in completing all assignments in the folder.  The students may be worked with in class or pulled out if the noise level is a hindrance to the students.  The students do not miss any classwork and no extra work assignments are given.  When the folder of assignments are completed the tutor does a hands-on activity to help the students master the concepts the teacher expects the students to have done.  The tutoring takes place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Scheduling of time to work with students is a cooperative affort between the teacher and tutor.  Student referral is based on classroom academic performance and test scores.  If a student is falling behind because of poor work habits, lack of motivation, or lack of interest but the teacher and test scores prove the student is capable of success the student is referred to the tutoring program.  The progress of the student is monitored throughout the year and a portfolio is kept for each student.  The Woodcock - Johnson pre- and post-test is given and the scores are compared to gauge the success of the student.

     The Strong Mountaineer also has a parent volunteer group who come in and do bulletin boards, duplicate assignment sheets and any other task that would allow the teachers more time on task with the students.  Special programs and special projects such as bus safety, drug awareness are planned and presented by a parent volunteer and local business partners.

     The Read - Aloud West Virginia Program is being implemented in each of the eight elementary schools.  Training has been conducted by the state consultants and plans have been made to begin the program.  A parent coordinator, parent volunteer, teacher, and business partners will conduct the program.

     The Strong Mountaineer Parent Involvement Program sponsors a motivational program known as B.U.G. (Bring Up Grades) Program.  Any student who shows academic improvement is given a paper bug to color and place in a box.  A record is kept and on Friday everyone who has "bugged" receives a pencil for their accomplishments.  At the end of the grading period, a drawing is held and a student from each kindergarten, first, and second grade whose name is selected wins a tee shirt with the B.U.G. logo on it.

     Another avenue of the program is using senior high school students as tutors.  The high schools participating in this program send students from their adult roles class and they tutor students on a weekly basis.
 

     Each elementary school has a parent coordinator who organizes and implements all programs they work six hours a day  every school day.  These coordinators receive training each month to enable them to assist  parent volunteers and tutors in enhancing learning for students in kindergarten, first and second grades.  Marshall University, the Read-Aloud West Virginia Program and ERIC Center are partners with Strong Mountaineers to conduct training sessions.

     Each elementary school has a Parent Resource Center which have resources - games, books, flash cards, videos and other materials that can be checked out by parents and teachers to work together  on school projects that will foster a partnership between home and school.  Strong Mountaineer also sponsors workshops for parents, teachers, and principals.

     A Strong Mountaineer Principals' Institute was conducted in July 1997.  Mentor principals from schools of excellence and blue ribbon schools conducted the sessions and became partners with Mingo County elementary school principals.  Projects that will focus on innovative activities that will improve the quality of education will be monitored throughout the school year.

     The Strong Mountaineer Parent Involvement Program also sponsored a "Sit and Learn" workshop for parents of preschool and primary grade children.  The workshop was conducted by Elaine Thompson, an consultant from Indiana University.  Approximately sixty parents attended the two day workshop.  The parents were given a box of materials to be used by the parents at home.  Boxes were placed in the resources center of each elementary school so that parents who were unable to attend the workshop could sign them out and take them home.

     Positive feedback has been given by teachers and parents that the activities presented at the "Sit and Learn" workshop will help students master skills necessary to engage in the process of reading and master math skills.

     If you would like to be a volunteer please complete the form below: