Platform

Communication

Communication is the most important aspect of any relationship; without it neither party can understand the needs of the other. Communication around education for families, students, faculty, staff, and administration is paramount. Students need to be able to talk with faculty and administration in order to advocate for themselves, their peer, and their education without fear of retribution and with the knowledge that adults in charge will take care of them while making sure action is taken on their behalf. Families and parents must be able to, not only talk, but have meaningful and fruitful interactions around their concerns, ideas, and praise of their students’ education. Teachers need to be able to talk with administration about ideas around their students’ education. They are in classrooms and see the needs of their families and students. They should be treated as the experienced educators they are and given the opportunity to improve, support, and build experiences for their communities. The administration has a great opportunity to listen to the community, hear their needs, and help achieve collective educational goals. This can be done though the use of yearly surveys which help track needs and progress, as well as, offering more frequent and open channels allowing the community more opportunity to become involved in the education of it’s students.

Support Student-Led Initiatives

In the past months HCS students have gotten themselves organized with a written a petition and plan on presenting it to the HCSB. In the petition students ask for curriculum enhancement, offer solution and places to start, and also ask for a more diversity in those chosen the educate them. As a community we are here to support or students’ and their educational goal. Since they have done the research, set examples before us, and organized themselves throughout the community, we have a responsibility to answer by doing all we can to swiftly and efficiently meet their needs. Having students who are willing to do take these actions, shows we are doing what we need to equip students, however, we can always do more.

Partnering with Local Businesses

As I move through our community, I hear auto mechanics, plumbers, heating and cooling specialist, HVAC, wood working, and solar panel instillations. I hear community members say they can’t find these folks to do work at her homes and jobs, or there are long waits for services. A partnership between local, small businesses in our area who do these jobs and HCS would offer the opportunity for students to learn a valuable trade, apprentice under local community members, attend local community colleges and training facilities, then return to their community to work and thrive. This allows our community the opportunity to offer folks a job at home that provides for their families, more income stays in our community from those receiving the service to programs receiving tuition, and small business owners and the school system are able to invest in their community in a meaningful way.