Spring 2024 Parental Involvement/Family and Community Engagement Class

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DATES

Are you aware that every Nevada licensed educator hired since 2015 is required to take a three-credit Family and Community Engagement Course?

In partnership with Southern Utah University (SUU), you are invited to REGISTER for NASA's FUN, CONVENIENT, FLEXIBLE AND AFFORDABLE

Spring 2024 Parental Involvement/Family and Community Engagement Class

Spring 2024 Cohort

April 9 - May 9, 2023

Due to Washoe County School District (WCSD) salary advancement requirements, WCSD participants will be asked to submit a brief written summation of how this professional learning event will transfer learning into practice before a certificate is issued. WCSD participants: please use the link provided on the Guidance/Link sheet for each event to submit. Lastly, when completing events that are (1) or more credits, please submit your tracker to the PGS Department in Washoe and to ahendersonnasa@gmail.com

ALL CLASS MEETINGS ARE HELD VIRTUALLY!

REGISTER NOW AS SEATS ARE LIMITED AND WILL FILL UP!!!

PARTICIPANTS EARN:

• The required three (3) credits (that's 45 hours) to satisfy the Family and Community Engagement provision OR count for license renewal through SUU!
• AND ALSO, participants that complete the course successfully and fulfill the time requirements, WILL receive a 45 hour NASA certificate, which is 15 CUs in CCSD for non-administrators!
• Salary advancement hours/credits that count in Clark and most Nevada Counties.
• A transcript from Southern Utah University after the course's completion for NDE license renewal OR removal of provision from your license for this course.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• A $22 book is of benefit to those enrolled in this course. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE BOOK, which is available on Amazon.
• Participants will also need to pay their own SUU application fee of $69. SUU will be contacting you prior to the classes start to process your application there. However, we will set aside time on the fist night of class to complete this task too should you have trouble.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Your two instructors are outstanding educators – Dr. Beverly Mathis and Dr. Vincent Richardson, both of whom have served in multiple positions in their service to diversity, equity, inclusion, and advocacy for students and their families (their biographies are below). Collectively, Dr. Mathis and Richardson have over 55 years of experience and knowledge in regard to this most critical topic.

Dr. Beverly S. Mathis

Vice President of Early Learning, Literacy and Family Engagement at The Public Education Foundation

&

Former Elementary School Principal

Dr. Beverly Sue Mathis, The Public Education Foundation’s Vice President of Teacher Engagement and Early Learning bring a wealth of knowledge and experience with her.  Upon her arrival in Nevada in 1976, Beverly taught 17 years in the classroom, served three years as assistant principal, and, from 1994/95 school year to 2011/2012, she served as the principal at Kermit Roosevelt Booker Sr. Elementary School, a post she held until her retirement from Clark County School District. Dr. Mathis’ career began as a first grade teacher (2 years/Bradford School) in her home state of Tennessee prior to coming to Nevada.  Beverly has served as an Adjunct Professor, teaching graduate classes at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Southern Utah University and presently the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  Among many recognitions of her commitment to excellence, Dr. Mathis was honored by receiving a number of prestigious awards for her leadership in education.  She was the recipient of the 2000 Milken Family Foundation National Education Award; 2010 selected as School Administrator of the Year by the Nevada Association of School Boards, and inducted into Clark County School District’s Excellence in Education Hall of Fame.  2015 Dr.  Beverly Mathis received the Lifetime Education Achievement Award from the Public Education Foundation.  Dr. Mathis has been named to many boards and committees.  One noted is an appointment in 2015, by former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval to Nevada’s Spending and Government Efficiency Commission for K-12 Public Education.  With much gratitude, February, 2022, Dr. Mathis was named as a 2022 Westside Legacy Park Inductee by the City of Las Vegas.  Also in February 2022, Dr. Mathis was appointed to the City of North Las Vegas Education Advisory Committee. Dr. Mathis is the proud namesake of the Dr. Beverly Sue Mathis Elementary School – Home of the Mathis Mustangs, established, August 2017.

Dr. Beverly S. Mathis graduated from the University of Tennessee, Martin with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education (Early Learning focus).  She holds a Master’s in Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee, Martin, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Dr. Mathis is a wife (Raymond Mathis of 46 years); Mommy of two beautiful daughters, Tya Mathis-Coleman and Ashley Rae.  She is Grandma to Hunter Grace and Kennedy.  Dr. Beverly Sue Mathis’ hobbies include her love of reading, bowling and working diligently through family/community engagement to uplift lives of all families.

Dr. Vincent Richardson

High School Assistant Principal

Clark County School District

Dr. Vincent L. Richardson, a native of North Las Vegas, Nevada, and proud graduate of Cheyenne High School, is currently an assistant principal at Legacy High School, and he is an Education Psychology Instructor at the College of Southern Nevada. Prior to being an assistant principal, Dr. Richardson was the former coordinator for the Clark County School District’s Equity and Diversity Education Department and the Diversity Initiatives coordinator at the College of Southern Nevada. While working at the College of Southern Nevada, Dr. Richardson co-created the Nevada Promise Scholarship and a successful minority male mentoring program called BUMP UP, in which several male students of color completed college with a degree. Since 2004, he has been a highly qualified elementary and middle school teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dr. Richardson has spent much of his career teaching in at-risk schools teaching and serving the underprivileged community. Also, he is a former 6th grade English Language Arts teacher and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher. Preceding to teaching 6th grade, Dr. Richardson has always been the lead teacher at the schools in which he taught. He has sat on various school committees, such as grade level chair, school lead team member, School Organization Team chair, and Student Intervention Team member. Currently, Dr. Vincent Richardson sits on several community boards that influence students’ welfare and impact community engagement.

Dr. Vincent Richardson cherishes every opportunity to learn new innovative ways to teach and he also cherishes previous methods too. He is always looking for new ideas or opportunities to enhance students’ lives. For the 2007-2008 and 2011-2012 school years, Dr. Richardson received the Teacher of the Year award at his school. Dr. Richardson has also received many RAVE review certificates from various colleagues. During his tenure, he assisted his school to receive the 2012 Title I Distinguished School of the Year award for promoting student achievement.

Today, Dr. Vincent L. Richardson holds a Doctorate degree in Education and an Educational Specialist degree in Administration. Dr. Richardson also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts in teaching. He is also endorsed as a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) by Sierra Nevada College. In his free time, Dr. Richardson enjoys traveling throughout the United States and other countries, road and mountain bike cycling, and gardening in his backyard.

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Description:

In this education course, students will learn what family engagement is and why it matters for the success of students and schools.  Students will also learn the difference between involvement and engagement and how each can have positive effects on student learning.

Specifically, students will learn the importance of family engagement that describes what family members do at home, school and within the community.  Strategies and resources will be a main focus in this course.

Objectives/goals of course:

• Identify specific actions needed to sustain comprehensive family engagement Examine the core beliefs of the family role in partnering with schools
• Develop a communication plan to inform, engage and provide families and community with timely information and ways to support schools/students
• Define and develop strong advocacy among stakeholders
• Study and develop a comprehensive plan to support recruitment of family, community, and school personnel.

Evaluation measures:

Students will be required to be active participants as well as attend all classes, complete all written reflections, communicate with families, while developing a comprehensive plan to implement and improve engagement, involvement and support within their chosen school.

Other important inforamation:

This course will count to remove the Family and Community Engagement course provision for License approval. It will/can also count for recertification/renewal of license.  In CCSD this course counts for 15 CU's.

Support professionals can also take this course for college credit to learn strategies to work with students and families. This is especially beneficial to support professionals who work directly with students and parents, and also those that are moving toward a teaching license. This class will remove the provision from your future Nevada license so you won’t need to take the course later! Everyone taking the course will learn the best strategies to connect with students and families! All are welcome!