Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Engagement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Office of Innovation outlines listening tours, 'Hope Closet' and partnerships in parishwide outreach
Summary
The Tangipahoa Parish Office of Innovation introduced staff and described listening tours, clergy engagement, family-engagement designees on every campus and a "Hope Closet" pantry initiative planned across campuses, plus partnerships with Crime Stoppers and Transport Ministries.
Mister Porter introduced the Office of Innovation team at the Nov. 18 Tangipahoa Parish School Board meeting and framed a range of outreach efforts intended to deepen engagement with families and community partners.
Crystal Hooper, community outreach coordinator, described recent listening tours and a clergy breakfast that preceded an 18-person bus tour of six campuses. Hooper said the office desegregated calendar-survey data, established a family-engagement designee (FED) at each campus and is preparing to launch a Hope Closet pantry on roughly 34 campuses, in partnership with Crime Stoppers, Transport Ministries, Medline and local water companies.
Dr. Ashley Gayton, professional development coordinator, said she is focused on services for marginalized populations including English learners and is planning EL nights and parent-advisory committees to increase family voice. Danielle Stewart, the new coordinator of student registration and school choice, described a review of the registration process and plans to educate campus secretaries and explore new registration systems to streamline enrollment. Emma Devine, administrative assistant, said her early work centers on data and database management, social-media content and event coordination for the department.
Hooper said the office is coordinating with school-based FEDs to ensure storage and distribution arrangements for donated supplies and that clergy partners have been asked to consider providing access when schools are closed. Board members praised the team and encouraged other members to participate in future tours.
The presentations were framed as updates; board members asked questions about implementation and applauded community partnerships. "We had, 18, 18 people that went on campuses today across 6 schools. The feedback was amazing," Hooper said.
The board president thanked the Office of Innovation team and encouraged board participation in future outreach events.
