On Sept. 23rd, Oxford Academy held an informational meeting about its new Parent Ambassador Program. The new program is designed to address the evolving needs of Oxford’s community by fostering a collaborative environment between parents and school staff. The initiative aims to enhance family involvement, improve parent presence, and build a robust support network within the school by offering guidance on supporting their children’s academic and extracurricular pursuits.
Oxford is not the first school in AUHSD to establish this program. Savanna High School, which launched its Parent Ambassador Program in 2014, attended the informational meeting to celebrate its 10 year anniversary. When they first started the program, Savanna High School only had 4 parents participating but recently, they have around 64 parents. These parents have presented at the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), the Anaheim Collaborative Parent Summit at Fullerton College, and many more.
After witnessing the success of the program in Savanna, Oxford’s Family and Community Engagement Specialist (FACES) Karen Ortega decided to take the initiative.
“I see so many parents who are so interested in just being involved and giving their time, I thought, why not create something more organized on campus for them to have the information given to them?” Ortega said, “All that I’m looking for and all that is needed is someone who is passionate and determined to support our school.”
“I love the idea of this program because I think after elementary school, parent engagement drops off a lot,” Oxford Academy principal Amber Houston said, “I think our vision of our district and our individual school is to make sure we are engaging and empowering the parents in their student’s educational journey as well.”
With education undergoing constant changes over recent years, it is difficult for parents to engage in their student’s education, as it contrasts so much with what they had. In response, the Parent Ambassador program aims to help bridge the gap between parents and the ever-changing educational landscape.
“My hope for this program is for it to be a rewarding experience for our families. I want to empower parents with their unique skill sets, their own perspectives and experiences, as well as just their personalities,” Ortega said.
In addition to connecting parents with their children’s academic life, the program offers other various personal and Oxford-specific benefits. Parents will be able to develop leadership skills and network with other parents by participating in school and district events. Active members can also enjoy perks such as preferred parking, priority registration during summer registration, and extra tickets and VIP seating at graduation ceremonies.
This program is significant in showcasing the influence and support of parents throughout the years of their children’s academic lives. For any inquiries, parents may contact Oxford’s FACES, Karen Ortega, at [email protected] or 714-220-3078.
