Texas school administrator explains the importance of nurturing the whole child

The Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TESPA) reported that schools are the frontlines when it comes to protecting students hygienically and on a mental health level. 

It's the school’s efforts that directly impact the community and its ability to thrive as a whole, TESPA reported. 

“As educators and leaders, we must equip existing employees with the knowledge, training, and skills necessary to assist students with their physical and social/emotional development,” Kendrick Thomas, school administrator, told TESPA.

What this translates to in the classroom is teachers and staff working together with the skills and resources they need to address all of the vital areas of students’ lives. These areas include nutrition, physical activity and emotional and social development.

Schools are ideally positioned to work with parents and create Family Engagement Programs — systems that deliver community support in areas of finances, verbal skills and literacy and then move on to build a Shared Decision Council in order to bring parents and businesses into the decision-making process. 

“This allows all stakeholders to be aware of school’s budgeting, hot issues, upcoming events, etc,” Thomas told TESPA. “As we look to strengthen the home school connection, we must embrace the fact that students look to teachers to be secondary parents, mentors and counselors.” 

Especially in the current state of events, the role of counselors is integral to the well-being and academic success of students and it is up to the schools community to ensure that students are able to cope with the chaos in everyday life. 

This involvement in the students’ lives should translate to an empowered community as a whole. 

“How do we build community engagement, make our community members feel safe and give them a voice where they live? We create events focused on building a healthy community and a healthy home/school environment,” Thomas told TESPA.