Parent and Family Engagement liaisons foster relationships with parents to help them learn how to be active participants in their child’s education. Liaisons place a strong emphasis on providing parent workshops and opportunities that foster effective partnerships between home and schools.
Working with the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Orange County, Ventura Elementary offered parent classes on health and fitness, personal finances, nutrition and home gardening, as well as teaching children coping skills.
Recognizing Ventura ES’ successful outreach and ongoing efforts to consistently engage more families, the UF/IFAS awarded Parent Engagement Liaison Guillermo Rodriguez and the school with the Florida Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences’ Friend of Extension award.
“We commend you and your team in carrying out with dynamism, creativity and dedication workshops that promote student success, parenting, health and financial wellbeing,” Jenny Rodriguez, UF/IFAS Family Consumer Sciences Agent wrote in an email to the principal.
In gratitude for the partnership, the UF/IFAS invited Guillermo and Ventura ES Principal Ana Gonzalez, Ph.D., on a socially-distanced guided tour of their research-based garden and facility and presented them with a commemorative plaque.
“We are very proud of the ongoing effort to provide healthy eating seminars, positive family plans, gardening tips, tax and financial planning, test preparation topics and so much more—through our UF collaboration,” Dr. Gonzalez said. “The visit to the UF/Agriculture and Teaching site was breathtaking. There are so many opportunities there.”
According to Dr. Gonzalez, the school’s next steps are a collaborative project to improve various areas around campus with planning sessions between the UF/IFAS representatives and Ventura parents and the Green Up committee.
The UF/IFAS Extension Orange County offers a variety of resources. Check out their website to see the schedule of upcoming classes and workshops.