At their first School Leadership Team meeting of the year on Sept. 9, parents, staff and students at East Harlem’s PS 206 got to brainstorm parent engagement ideas with UFT President Michael Mulgrew and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. It was one of several visits that the president and the chancellor made to schools to help them take advantage of a new 40-minute block in the teacher contract aimed at getting parents more involved in the schools. “This is the first time ever you see a teachers contract with time set aside for interaction,” Mulgrew told the PS 206 team. “It’s a great opportunity and challenge at the same time.” Neither he nor the chancellor believes in a “cookie-cutter approach,” he said. Instead, they elicited ideas. One staff member suggested parent-teacher Zumba classes and opening the computer lab for parent use. Teacher Lindsay Manevitz described a culminating event she holds in her classroom several times a year, where parents are invited to hear their students read from their own “published” works and to give feedback. Parent Mildred Suarez-Milligan talked about how parents were treated as partners in the school’s NEST program for students with autism spectrum disorders. “We are always looking for ways to increase parent involvement — how do we, the teacher and parent, help the child?” Fariña said. above: Mulgrew (far right), Fariña (center) and PS 206 Principal Camille Forbes (foreground) address the School Leadership Team plus an audience of teachers, students and parents in the school library. left: Chapter Leader Victor Diaz (left foreground) listens as Manevitz talks about her 4th-grade publishing parties that involve students’ parents.

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