Grassroots group set on supporting Jasper teachers and staff

A grassroots effort to be more involved in creating and supporting a high-quality educational ecosystem is forming in Jasper.

The Parents Supporting Education–Jasper Facebook Page and Instagram were launched in late August to begin garnering support from the Greater Jasper Consolidated School Corporation’s constituents and build the group’s base.

Jasper resident Emily Klein — a mother of two — is the spokesperson for the group that she helped form with a small group of parents, teachers and staff. “There was not one specific catalyst for starting this group,” Klein explained.

She did point to the effects the pandemic had on local educators and students as a factor in the group’s formation. Among the things the pandemic revealed were the intrinsic role schools and teachers play in children’s lives, but also, the services school systems provide working parents and guardians and the local economy.

The pandemic also gave parents and guardians a front row seat to the skilled mediation and coaching techniques teachers employ daily to work with all types of students.

“As a parent, watching live Zoom classes during the height of the pandemic while my boys were home on quarantine was eye opening,” Klein said. “I had volunteered in their classrooms in the past, but watching a teacher coordinate 20-plus first graders in person plus the Zoom learners was truly something.”

“Now teachers are having to catch these kids up from the pandemic,” she added. “It’s a lot.” 

Right now, Parents Supporting Education–Jasper is in information-gathering mode to determine what needs and concerns need addressed. From now until the upcoming school board election the group is focusing on collecting opinions from educators and school staff on topics ranging from addressing the mental and emotional health needs of students and staff, bilingual learning programs, curriculum decisions, safety, standardized testing, pay, and more. Similar questions will be posed to both current school board members and candidates running for the open seats in Districts 1 and 3. The responses from school board members and candidates will be posted on the groups’ social media sites. 

“We publicized a teacher/staff questionnaire and the response has been great but we hope to have more surveys completed to guide our focus to the greatest areas of need,” Klein said.

The anonymous teacher/staff survey can be viewed here. A survey has also been sent directly to board members and candidates, and the group hopes to have a 100 percent response rate.

Even though the board seats are elected positions, the group isn’t taking a political stance.

“We are not endorsing any candidate nor are we political in any way,” Klein explained. “However, the starting of our group coinciding with the election does help us draw awareness to the function of the school board and perspectives of the members and candidates.” 

She reiterated the group’s goals are focused on teacher and staff support.

“While anything can be politicized these days, that is not our intent,” Klein added.

In a message to the school corporation the group stated its long-term goals include the following:

• Increasing the number of educator and school staff as well as increasing parent participation,
• Advocate for teachers and school staff through engagement with the school board, GJCS administration, and the community.
• Expand our capabilities to share resources, guidance, and support among educators and staff.
• Openly engage and communicate ideas and conversations about all things GJCS.
• Provide our local media with real teacher, staff, parent, and family voices throughout our corporation. 

“Ultimately we would like to see greater collaboration among parents, educators, administration, and the school board,” Klein said. “We want to support our teachers and staff and hopefully help to continue to cultivate an environment that retains and attracts bright, dedicated educators. We hope to do so through open, transparent communication and respectful dialogue among all parties involved.”