The Bristol Observer

January 7, 2013

The Bristol Early Childhood Alliance in partnership with the United Way of West Central Connecticut has received a $55,943.60 grant from the Connecticut Commission on Children and Connecticut Center for School Change.

Two training programs will be offered. The first starting in January will be a 20 week Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) held in Plymouth.
For more information about PLTI please email Linda at plti_wcc@yahoo.com.

The second, also starting in January is the Parents Supporting Excellence in Education (Parents SEE) which will be held at Greene-Hills School in Bristol.
“Getting these grants means that we can provide some great training including dinner and childcare at no cost to parents,” said Laura Watson, Coordinator of the Bristol Early Childhood Alliance and Coordinator of the Parents SEE class, in a press release.

Parents Supporting Excellence in Education will begin with a retreat on Monday, Jan. 27 and then consist of 12 Monday evening workshops running through May. Topics covered include:
What makes an effective leader?
How do schools function?
Key Educational Policies.
What do effective schools look like?
How and why do schools change?
What’s a parent’s role in children’s learning, and school improvement?
How do parents lead in schools?

The workshops will be led by trainers from the Center for School Change and the CT Commission on Children.

“We’re thrilled to be one of six sites for the Parents SEE training,” said Watson in a press release. The Alliance has an emphasis on developing parent leaders as a means to improve early education in the city.

The workshops are open to parents and grandparents raising children. Class size is limited to 20 participants.

Those interested can call (860)881-5427 or go online to http://www.makingbristolbetter.com/parental-leadership-opportunity.html to get a full description of the training and an application. Applications are due back by Monday, Jan. 20.