Part 2: Effective Communication Between Schools and Communities
When: March 28, 2022
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Monroe County Public Library Auditorium
Cost: Free
Effective, on-going, two-way communication is at the heart of schools that help students succeed. Research suggests students do better when schools, parents/care providers, and the community are partners. Reciprocal communication (mutual listening and sharing) is essential for meaningful engagement to occur. Effective communication can stabilize school and community partnerships. It accommodates the diverse communication needs for our communities. It identifies meaningful ways in which everyone can take a part in student achievement and development. ICPE will host a panel of professionals and parents with expertise and/or experience with effective communication to highlight important ideas and strategies for engaging in productive conversations to benefit students in our public schools.
Co-Sponsored by the Indiana University School of Education Foundations of Education Program
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Monroe County Public Library Auditorium
Cost: Free
Effective, on-going, two-way communication is at the heart of schools that help students succeed. Research suggests students do better when schools, parents/care providers, and the community are partners. Reciprocal communication (mutual listening and sharing) is essential for meaningful engagement to occur. Effective communication can stabilize school and community partnerships. It accommodates the diverse communication needs for our communities. It identifies meaningful ways in which everyone can take a part in student achievement and development. ICPE will host a panel of professionals and parents with expertise and/or experience with effective communication to highlight important ideas and strategies for engaging in productive conversations to benefit students in our public schools.
Co-Sponsored by the Indiana University School of Education Foundations of Education Program
Panelists
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Michelle Cohen
Michelle Cohen is the parent of two current MCCSC students. She was active in her children’s elementary PTO for many years, including serving as president and carnival chairperson. She has recently become more active in advocating for public education in Indiana. |
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Maggie Polk-Olivio
Maggie Polk-Olivo is the music teacher and arts coordinator at Fairview Elementary School. At Fairview, she works closely alongside the school's community artists: Jacobs Fairview Violin Project, Bloomington Expressive Arts Training, Cardinal Stages, and her amazing special areas team (Drew McKenzie, Dr. Roy Reynolds, and Jackie Markle). She serves as the Bridges Musical Arts Youth Organization's program director, Jacobs Academy's IU Musical Beginnings director, and is the founder and director of the BloomingSongs project. In the summer, she teaches music composition at the Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, Colorado. She has a Masters in Arts Teaching Certification at IU Jacobs School of Music. She's been recognized as a "Star of Excellence" and was awarded the Chamber of Commerce's "2021 Teacher of the Year." She has two children, 4th and 6th grader, currently attending Fairview Elementary. |
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Brenda Whitaker
Brenda Whitaker began her career as an elementary classroom teacher in the intermediate grades and then served assistant principal of a K-6th grade school. She is currently principal of Edgewood Primary School in the Richland Bean Blossom Community School Corporation. |
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Markay L Winston
Dr. Markay L. Winston is a visionary, mission driven, and results oriented central office executive with twenty-nine years of public-school service, seventeen years at the cabinet and central office level. During her expansive career, she has a track record of successfully leading and managing strategic organizational initiatives. She has consistently been recognized at the local, state and national levels for her commitment to equity, social justice and academic excellence while ensuring that the needs of ALL students are prioritized. Dr. Winston has served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction for the Monroe County Community School Corporation since 2017. She began her career as an instructional school psychologist, and then served as Director of Student Services, Chief Officer for Diverse Learner Supports, Chief Academic Officer, and Assistant Superintendent. Dr. Winston’s wide-ranging oversight of key departments and offices has included working with federal and state grant programs; overseeing the supervision and support to elementary, middle and high school principals; administrative responsibilities for general education, special education, early childhood education, English learner supports, homeless education, and gifted and talented supports and services. Dr. Winston has established herself as a keen collaborator and routinely facilitates cross functional teams in an effort to ensure alignment and cohesiveness. Dr. Winston’s unparalleled commitment to excellence, equity, and opportunity resulted in distinctive shifts in district culture, language, focus and outcomes in each position she has held. |
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Co-moderated by Wendy Marencik and Peg Smith, board members
Wendy Marencik supports ICPE as life-long educator. She has served as a special educator, school psychologist, and clinical assistant professor with Indiana University’s School of Education. She believes that strong public schools are the foundation for a healthy democracy and pluralistic society. |
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Peg Smith is a career educator (BS in Elementary Education, Indiana University) who has taught in the Greater Chicago, Cleveland, Ohio, and Ann Arbor, Michigan areas. She completed her Masters in Educational Counseling from Wilmington University while she was teaching/mentoring critically ill children at the AI DuPont Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Peg and her husband moved to Bloomington in 2015. Together they have children Kelly (married to Zach Cunningham), and Kevin.
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