The Lawrence Journal World – Micki Chestnut
“When the teachers at the Ballard Center tell their 1- to 5-year-old students to “catch a bubble,” they aren’t urging the kids to scramble after soap bubbles floating in the air. They are instructing them to sit quietly and listen. Like most schools, Ballard has unique vocabulary and procedures for its students. But when you are a parent who is not privy to the lingo or the expectations set for your child, you can feel like an outsider, making it difficult for you to connect with the school and provide your child with the support he or she needs to continue learning at home. Enter Shawn Hough, Ballard’s family connections coordinator, a position funded by the United Way of Douglas County to engage Ballard parents in their children’s early education experience. Hough’s mission is to ensure the children’s transition between school and home is seamless, so they have the family support they need to succeed throughout their educational career.”(more)