Parent representatives from each district school recently completed a six-month immersion program. Volunteer Instructional Leadership Learning Academy (VILLA) is a program developed by the Georgia School Board Association to expose parents and community volunteers to many of the operational areas of a school district. The parents are invited to participate by their child's school principal. Superintendent Dan Chappuis and other district administrators lead the program.
Superintendent Chappuis shared, “The VILLA program is a powerful way for our district to connect with our community, parents, and families. The Colquitt County School District is founded on relationships, and the VILLA program allows us to foster positive relationships with our families. We are able to educate our parents on the operations of our school district while creating space for meaningful dialogue and feedback. The feedback we receive from our families helps us grow stronger and continue striving to be the best district we can be.”
The parents attended five lunch sessions, during which they were presented with different school and district governance topics. These topics included school board governance, teaching and learning, human resource management, facilities, budgets, school safety, and student services. The school district department heads presented the monthly topics and gave parents insight into how those areas impact and support classroom instruction.
During one of the monthly lunch meetings, parents boarded a school bus to visit some of the current ESPLOST facilities projects. The group toured the new 9th-grade addition at the high school and did a driving tour of the new canning plant, agriculture facility, and the Willie J. Williams cafeteria expansion and new wing addition. At C.A. Gray Junior High, they could see which buildings would be removed in the coming year and discuss the plans to redevelop the campus landscaping and outdoor spaces.
"I truly value this experience, both as a parent to children in the district and as a former public educator," said VILLA parent Krysta Porteus. "Each session was very informative, and district leaders provided transparent information, allowing VILLA parents to see the many facets of running a school district. This program is designed to empower parents by facilitating open and honest conversations with district leadership about topics such as school safety, communication amongst district stakeholders, instruction and curriculum resources, services provided for learners with special needs, how financial decisions are made, and the upcoming school additions at several sites. As I finish the program, I walk away feeling very confident in our school district leadership, knowing they are planning what is best for students and maximizing every available resource.
The 2024-2025 VILLA participants included Amanda Rojo Dominguez (Cox Elementary), Chad Walden (Doerun Elementary), Lichina Hill (Funston Elementary), Lisa Marie Stephens (Hamilton Elementary), Leanne Chafin (Norman Park Elementary), Emma Esparza (Odom Elementary), Davida Foard (Okapilco Elementary), Jose Rodriguez (Stringfellow Elementary), Corey Shiver (Sunset Elementary), Natalie Davis (R.B. Wright Elementary), Krysta Porteus (Williams Middle School), Sitarra Thomas (C.A. Gray Junior High), Ross Dekle (Colquitt County High School), Brad Lofton (GEAR).
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