Parent Outreach Assistants (POAs) are full‐time Reading School District (RSD) employees who are bilingual/bicultural; they are very knowledgeable of the community, the families we serve, and the educational system in PA. These skills and knowledge give them the utmost expertise to support student achievement by building relationships with parents so that parents can engage in real partnerships with the school system. Their main job goal is to assist the school principal to engage families in the educational process of their children. Research supports the POA’s role as a conduit for family engagement.

There are currently 19 Parent Outreach Assistants in the RSD:

• Elementary Schools: 13 POAs
  
  
• Middle Schools: 4 POAs
  
  
• High Schools: 2 POAs

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to the following fundamental duties:

1. Help the school develop a family-friendly school climate.

2. Develop programs and activities designed to engage families in improving student achievement.

3. Help teachers and other staff members develop strong partnerships with families and enhance communication between parents and families and the school staff.

4. Develop and implement effective family involvement strategies and activities to empower students and their families.

5. Take part in opportunities for professional development.

6. Participate in and support school and district activities and programs for families.

7. Help to recruit community partners to become part of the school and district’s family involvement program.

8. Make home visits and telephone calls to parents as deemed necessary by building administrator.

9. Perform other parent involvement activities as assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

1. All parents have dreams for their children & want the best for them

2. All parents have the capacity to support their children’s learning

3. Parents and school staff should be equal partners

4. The responsibility for building partnerships between school & home rests primarily with school staff, especially school leaders.