Whole Child, Whole School

Applying Theory to Practice in a Community School

By (author) Eileen Santiago, JoAnne Ferrara, Jane Quinn

Not available to order

Publication date:

23 October 2012

Length of book:

140 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

ISBN-13: 9781610486088

This book provides a unique examination on the ways in which educating the whole child in the community school serves to ameliorate the conditions of poverty and obstacles to learning faced by students. Using a case study approach the book will highlight the successful journey of one school that transformed itself into a community school. Given the rise in poverty nation–wide and the unprecedented economic crisis, many school districts are looking for innovative ways to garner resources for their schools. The strategies outlined in this book will provide suggestions for using the resources of community partnerships as a framework for school renewal and improvement in student achievement. The authors share their first hand experiences building a community school from the ground up, as well as providing the national perspective on community schools. Given the power of the community school, this book concludes with a “call to action” for the dissemination of this model and its embrace of whole child education
In an environment of financial stress, high stakes testing, and students too often bearing the weight of poverty, hunger, and health problems along with their backpacks, it is critical that we expand our ideas of what prek-12 education means. At AFT, we recognize that our vision of education must address the needs of the whole child and engage the community beyond a school’s walls. Placing the community schools strategy at the heart of our Quality Education agenda is AFT’s effort to do just that.

Thomas Edison Elementary School is a shining example of this strategy. As a community school, Thomas Edison not only leverages resources from both the school and community, but offers targeted professional development for teachers and other school staff that pave the way for positive outcomes for students, families, and communities.

Thomas Edison is the type of public school that every community and family should have a right to expect for their children. Whole Child, Whole School: Applying Theory to Practice in Community Schools shows how to make it happen.