2023–24 Parent Ed Takeaways

During summer 2022, the division directors met to discuss the calendar and parent education events for 2022–23. Parent education is a staple in Montessori schools, and we aim to provide experiences that are relevant for everyone. As Post Oak serves families with children as young as 14 months and those about to leave for college, this is no small task! As we looked at the calendar, we made sure that each month had a “touchpoint” between the parent and the school. Classroom orientations and conferences were ones that were already scheduled and so our task was to identify the other pieces throughout the year.

Rather than having an insular conversation about what we (the educators) wanted to educate you (the parents) about, we began with this question: “What do we think is at the forefront of their minds? What kind of parenting support is needed? What is keeping parents up at night?” We had some helpful resources available to us in the form of the teachers and advisors in YCC through High School. Mining the many conversations teachers have had with parents in the course of a couple of years, a few themes came up: 

• Revisiting Montessori theory and practice, especially post-pandemic, and how it remains relevant and prepares students for the world they are to inherit
• Understanding the transitions from one level to the next here at Post Oak
• Advice for navigating the digital world for our children and teens
• Mental health, including anxiety and risky behavior

Many of you came out in September for our Montessori Journey experiences on both campuses. These events were packed with parent participants from all program levels, as there is no substitute for getting your hands on the Montessori materials and seeing the progression of the curriculum from one level to the next. Consistently parents share that this event opens their eyes wide to the joy their children must feel as they get to explore and discover on their own, at their pace, and with such engagement and enthusiasm. Later in the year, at the Bissonnet Campus, parents were invited to sit with their children during parent-child events and watch their students engage with the material. We extended the Montessori learning at our POPA Parent Work Day and Coffee Chats, where our division directors were on hand in an informal way to answer questions as parents worked on materials for the classrooms. 

This year we made a point of making sure that there was an opportunity for parents at each level to better understand the transition to the next stop of their child’s Montessori journey. Our five transition meetings—YCC transition to Primary, Intro to Elementary, Lower to Upper Elementary transition, Middle School Experience, and High School Upper Level Info Night—helped families prepare to navigate the imminent change on the horizon. As our children change and grow, the Post Oak environments adjust to their needs and teachers tweak their approach to capture what motivates them. 

We brought in two experts this year to address some of the more challenging questions and concerns from families. Boston-based psychologist Sharon Maxwell was here in February to help faculty and staff, students, and parents think about the effects of the digital world today. I had heard from a number of parents this year their eager desire for guidance in this area, and clearly we hit a sensitive spot, as close to 100 people attended the event. (Watch the recording here—login required)  Dr. Maxwell painted a worrisome picture of how social media and extensive amounts of time spent online affect the brain and the social-emotional life of children and teens. She shared helpful strategies for families to lean into their values when approaching phone, computer, and video game use. Houston’s own researcher and therapist, Crystal Collier, brought her experience working with adults and adolescents with mental illnesses, behavior problems, and substance use disorders to campus in April. Dr. Collier engaged parents and staff in a conversation about the brain’s relationship with dopamine and how different substances affect the brain and brain development. She shared the many resources from her new book to center family values in talking to children about risky behaviors and how to prevent them.

The apex of our parent ed opportunities is the same every year. The investment you make in a Post Oak education is significant and the payoff comes many years into the future. That is why the most talked about event we hold each year is our Alumni Voices panel. Listening to the incredible stories of the bold pathways our alums take after they leave Post Oak is always inspiring. It is clear to see the skills they learn from their time in our community carry them into the future. These skills—collaboration, cooperation, creativity, problem-solving, empathy, resilience, and critical thinking, to name a few—are what will help them face the challenges and opportunities before them. 

Planning for next year’s parent ed events starts over the summer. From insightful speakers to engaging workshops, we look forward to bringing more opportunities for learning and growth to our entire school community in the coming year.