Dear B.D. Lee Parents,

Welcome to B.D. Lee Elementary School! I am Kirby Velasquez; I am the Parent Coordinator here at B.D. Lee. It is with great honor and humility that I have the task of serving my community by assisting parents in the education of their children. My role as Parent Coordinator is to work closely with parents and school administration to create a welcoming environment and improve parent involvement here at B.D. lee. It is also to engage all parents and care-givers in their scholars education by bringing resources from the community into the school and developing partnerships with families, businesses, and community based organizations. Additionally, I will be implementing programs that will empower parents and equip them with tools they will need to guide their scholar(s) through elementary school. One of my main goals is to create a welcoming environment for parents. I also hope to create a place for parents where resources are readily available, where partnerships between home, school, and community based organizations can thrive. Your voice and participation as a parent are very important. I will work closely with you to ensure your concerns are addressed and needs met. Parent involvement is one of the key factors in your child's success.

My primary objectives for this year are to establish the following:

• To build trusting, welcoming, collaborative relationships among administration, teachers, families and community members.

• To recognize, respect and address families needs as well as cultural differences.

• To embrace a philosophy of partnership so that power and responsibility are shared.

• To assist parents in knowing how to support their childs learning.

• To develop and implement effective parent outreach strategies.

• To have a parent academy that will offer workshops that meet parents needs and concerns.

I am available to assist parents with issues and concerns related to their children and/or the school. My hours at the school are from 7:50am-3:15pm. If you need to meet at a time outside of this, please call me to set up an appointment. I can be reached at school at (864) 206-6432. If I am unavailable, I will return your call within 24 to 48 hours.

Remember, your participation is needed! Lets build a strong productive partnership!

Sincerely,

Kirby Velasquez

Title 1 Parent Coordinator