ERIC Number: ED647603
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 195
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3514-1806-3
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
School-Community Partnerships with an Elementary School in the USA, 2011-2021
Yvette F. Clark
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Pepperdine University
This descriptive 10-year case study examined the school-community partnerships in a South Carolina, USA, elementary school from August 2011 to June 2021. The study used a qualitative interview approach with a quantitative description of the school and community-school activities. Data was gathered from the Observer's Field Notes and school documents. Analyses noted 19-23 types of community-partnership events across the years with mentoring, educational presentations, STEAM activities, and Veteran's Day. The researcher used a self-created and pilot-tested long interview to gain detailed responses from 11 School Staff, 10 Parent Members, and 13 Community Members from August 2020 to April 2021. The transcribed interviews were coded by trained coders. Three significant themes emerged from the responses of the interview across the three groups: the primary theme was limited communication; the second theme was purpose of involvement; and the third theme, the importance of school and education with the community, highlighted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The school fostered close ties to businesses within the community. The study's findings led to six significant conclusions for school staff, parent members, and community members. School staff, parents, and members of the community expressed positive comments regarding community involvement and identified areas for additional community involvement. All three groups felt a strong sense of purpose in their involvement. School staff, parents, and community members expressed a desire to continue community involvement after the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, limited communication exists among the school staff, parent members, and the community members. Recommendations from the interviewees included that school staff should create more opportunities for the community to visit the school site. The school staff and parents in PTA should continually reach out to all parents to support and encourage attendance at school events. Community members should routinely be invited to attend events and programs hosted by the school. School staff should provide a list of its community partners on the school's website and links to the businesses to support their efforts. Every school should designate specific school staff members as liaisons for the community program. Parent members and/or PTA representatives should regularly meet with school administrators regarding school planning. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Elementary Schools, Community Involvement, School Community Relationship, Stakeholders, Partnerships in Education, Community Role, COVID-19, Pandemics, Organizational Communication
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A