PSS starts campaign on parental involvement

In its efforts to rally parental support, the Public School System runs 30-second promotional messages aired over Channel 7 to encourage the community to get involve.

Featuring the first lady Sophie Tenorio, PSS Teacher of the Year, Commissioner of Education Rita H. Inos, 10 individuals representing the various sectors of the community are inviting parents to take charge of their children’s education.

“Please parents get involve,” said Board member Anthony Pellegrino.

According to Pellegrino, PSS worked on its meager resources to complete a video production for parental support on education and negotiated for a free of charge plugging over Channel 7.

This is part of the Parents Accountability for Student’s Success (PASS) launched by PSS.

The Tao Tao Tano show hosted by Frances Sablan will also feature school and PTA officials every month.

Pellegrino has been vocal about his frustrations over the lack of parental involvement in public schools.

He made his own visits to both private and public schools. During those visits, he saw an alarming contrast on the investment made by parents to support their children’s education.

His survey said teachers at the private schools knew 90 percent of the parents of their students which is way above the public schools.

Although, public elementary schools enjoy support from parents, PSS officials struggle to offer the same involvement to Hopwood Junior High School and Marianas High School.

Many would attribute the “village concept” of elementary schools where the community would like to take charge and support. Both Hopwood and MHS admit students from all points of Saipan and are no longer considered village schools.