An Introduction For Parents

Posted Aug 20, 2010 by Sherri Ackerman

Updated Aug 20, 2010 at 04:10 PM

One of my coworkers will send her daughter to kindergarten Tuesday. Another helped his daughter move into her college dorm earlier this week. I’ve got one more year to go with my son before we dip our toe into the public school waters, and it has me thinking about what happens in the in-between, during those 13 years when parents try to navigate the school system and guide their children toward becoming successful adults.

As the mother of two preschoolers, I’m overwhelmed at times by the thought of sending my children to school. I have a thousand questions. Which schools are good? Does it really matter if they’re only a “B’’ school? What happens if my son doesn’t like his teacher? Or she doesn’t work well with boys? What’s the best way to approach a teacher with my concerns? And what happens if my child isn’t succeeding?

How can I help?

That’s what this blog is about, K-12 education through a parent’s eyes. We all have family and friends who have been there and done that with their children. I’ll be sharing their advice or they can jump in with their thoughts. I’ll also take your questions and comments and pose them to the professionals - teachers, principals, PTA leaders, administrators, bus drivers, school psychologists and other experts.

Those answers will not only be beneficial for you, but for me as I do my homework for next year.