Parents As Teachers in Southwest Region School District

Southwest Region School District was awarded a 3 year Alaska Native Home based Education for Preschool Children grant in June 2000.  The grant was written to empower parents and families of young children to become involved in their children's education at an early age.  The trained PAT (Parents as Teachers) Parent Educator in each of the 9 SWRSD villages will assist parents in planning developmentally appropriate activities with their children.  Implementing the Parents as Teachers Program will allow Southwest Region School District to collaborate, to expand, and to make accessible the many resources and programs that are available locally, regionally and state-wide.

Significance of the Project
The Southwest Region School District views the three year project as an investment in SWRSD children's future, not as a quick fix for a child's aches and pains.  Our goal is to build a partnership team that resembles an Alaskan sled dog team.  The parent being the lead dog that leads the other members of the team - SWRSD personnel, in collaboration with various local, regional and state agencies.  The child is the musher, when they are unsure of where to go next, the dog team will unite and lead the way.

Parents as Teachers Philosophy and Goals

Parents as Teachers (PAT) is an early childhood parent education and family support program designed to empower all parents to give their child the best possible start in life.  The program is designed to serve prenatal through age 5.

  • In the first year of the grant Southwest Region School District will implement the Born to Learn Curriculum.  It works with the prenatal to age three child.
  • In the second year of the grant the 3 - 5 Curriculum will be implemented.
  • In the third year SWRSD will implement several curriculums dealing with special needs children and their families.

    • This early prevention program is based on the beliefs that parents are the first and most influential teachers of their children and that the early years lay the foundation for children's success in school and in life.

    In the first three years of life, children learn more and at a much faster pace than at any other time in life. 

    Through PAT, parents acquire knowledge and skills to make the most of these crucial, early-learning years.  The program provides timely information on child development; involves parents in parent-child activities that encourage language development, intellectual growth, social development and motor skills; and strengthens parent-child relationships.

     
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    Jane Whaling
    Early Childhood Education Specialist
    Southwest Region School District
    P.O. Box 90
    Dillingham, AK 99576
    (907)842-5287
    FAX (907)842-5428
    jwhaling@dlg.swrsd.gcisa.net