The Virgin Islands Department of Education and the USVI Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) collaborated for the common goal of student success in a one-day workshop held at the St. Croix Curriculum Center.
Lorraine B. Benjamin-Matthew, St. Croix district director of school community relations and Richard Muhammad, USVI PTSA president elect, opened the workshop. Benjamin-Matthew welcomed the participants comprising of parents, teachers and students, and stressed the importance of the two school-related organizations bonding together to facilitate academic success for all students.
“The workshop was an exciting opportunity to hear directly from the stakeholders at the Department of Education as goals and strategies were shared to enhance student academic performance, and social and emotional growth,” Benjamin-Matthew said after the session. “It is vital that the Department of Education and the PTSA work cohesively to increase parental involvement in the schools and empower parents to become more effective partners with the schools by working together for school improvement and improved student achievement.”
Muhammad presented along with Yvette Browne, USVI Secretary on 1) Effective Organizing of Local Units, 2) How to Register as a Local PTSA, 3) Standards of Affiliation and 4) Benefits of the PTSA, followed by an intense discussion on Parliamentary Procedures by John Abramson.
The function of the Division of Curriculum and Instruction (C & I) was announced by Maria A. Encarnacion, C & I director. Other presenters included Eddie Parrilla, supervisor of vocational special education on the Role and Function of IDEA, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Coaches Aisha Williams, Ruth Richardson and Yolande Greene on What is PBIS?. Dr. Saul Santiago, district director of data and assessment, spoke on the importance of test-taking and evaluation before Benjamin-Matthew wrapped up the workshop session.
