Home Works! Opens Doors to Student Success and Achievement
Home Works!, the program that coordinates dynamic home visits between parents, teachers and former educators, recently hosted more than 40 families at the first of two family dinners at University City High School for this year’s freshman class.
Karen Kalish, founder and CEO of Home Works! explained, “Throughout the year, our teams create opportunities for meaningful outreach and engagement between parents, students and teachers through scheduled home visits. At the Family Dinners, we celebrate our families’ successes, share information and bring new students and parents into the program.”
Home Works! is presently serving several school districts and thousands of students across the St. Louis region. The University City program is geared specifically toward ninth graders and their families as they learn to navigate the transitional period from middle to high school.
Superintendent Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, who addressed the families at the event, said, “We are excited to partner with Karen and the Home Works! team as we work to increase parental engagement.” She added, “As a parent, I realize that conflicting work schedules may not allow every family to engage in the same ways. Home Works! is a very effective process in which our teachers can personalize each family interaction and build bridges that keep parents connected and students focused on success.”
Founded in 2006, Home Works! has expanded to include a vast network of educators, a Community Advisory Board of more than 20 members along with many sponsors, friends and partners.
For more information, visit teacherhomevisit.org. Parents of UCHS freshmen are encouraged to reach out to their ninth grader’s teachers for help in scheduling a first home visit or to attend the next family dinner this spring.
More than 40 ninth-grade families were represented when “Home Works!” hosted the first of two family dinners at University City High School.