Don Parker - Building Bridges: Engaging Students at Risk Through the Power of Relationships (Building Trust and Positive Student-Teacher Relationships)

Building Bridges

Engaging Students at Risk Through the Power of Relationships

Don Parker

Foreword by Robert Jackson

Copyright 2019 by Solution Tree Press

Materials appearing here are copyrighted. With one exception, all rights are reserved. Readers may reproduce only those pages marked Reproducible. Otherwise, no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the publisher.

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Visit go.SolutionTree.com/behavior to download the free reproducibles in this book.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Parker, Don, 1975- author.

Title: Building bridges : engaging students at risk through the power of relationships / Don Parker.

Description: Bloomington, IN : Solution Tree Press, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018048545 | ISBN 9781947604353 (perfect bound)

Subjects: LCSH: Students with social disabilities--United States. | Students with disabilities--United States. | Affective education--United States. | Social skills in children--Study and teaching. | Teacher-student relationships--United States. | Classroom management--United States.

Classification: LCC LC4091 .P356 2019 | DDC 371.826/94--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018048545

Solution Tree

Jeffrey C. Jones, CEO

Edmund M. Ackerman, President

Solution Tree Press

President and Publisher: Douglas M. Rife

Associate Publisher: Sarah Payne-Mills

Art Director: Rian Anderson

Managing Production Editor: Kendra Slayton

Senior Production Editor: Christine Hood

Senior Editor: Amy Rubenstein

Copy Editor: Kendra Slayton

Proofreader: Elisabeth Abrams

Text and Cover Designer: Abigail Bowen

Editorial Assistant: Sarah Ludwig

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge my parents, Donald Parker Sr. and Mary Parker, who have made many sacrifices for me and have taught me how to persevere. I acknowledge the love of my life, my talented wife Claudia Parker, who is my loudest cheerleader. She uses her many skills to support my dreams, and we aspire to greatness together. I acknowledge my daughters Donae and Rhonda-Rene who are the sunshine to my days and have taught me compassion and bring out the best in me.

To the administrator who desires to offer your students and staff the resources and support needed to strive, and to build bridges between students and teachers, this is for you. To the dedicated and committed teacher who desires to have a positive impact on all of your students, this is for you.

Finally, to the student who feels undervalued and misunderstood and yearns for positive adult relationships, this book is for you.

Solution Tree Press would like to thank the following reviewers:

John Ash

Principal

Central Magnet School

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Loretta Booker

Principal

Ramirez Thomas Elementary School

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Rachel Jones

Principal

Gurney Elementary School

Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Cara Kimball

Principal

Lincoln Elementary School

Hastings, Nebraska

Ronald Perry

Principal

East Syracuse Elementary School

Syracuse, New York

Bill Powers

Principal

Kickapoo High School

Springfield, Missouri

Diana Romito

Principal

Marc T. Atkinson Middle School

Phoenix, Arizona

Luke Spielman

Principal

Park View Middle School

Mukwonago, Wisconsin

Visit go.SolutionTree.com/behavior to download the free reproducibles in this book.

Table of Contents

by Robert Jackson

About the Author

D on Parker, EdD, is the principal of Posen Intermediate School in Posen-Robbins School District 143.5 in Posen, Illinois. Previously, he was the principal of Lincoln Avenue School, a K8 school in Dolton, Illinois, where he improved the culture, implemented a resilience program, managed the implementation of restorative justice, and increased attendance and student achievement. Dr. Parker has been an educator since 1997 with a background as a teacher, dean of students, assistant principal of student life, assistant principal for curriculum and instruction, and assistant principal for activities and athletics.

His experience in education includes working in the inner-city Chicago Public Schools district and predominantly low-income, minority suburban schools. Dr. Parker was also an adjunct professor and taught graduate courses to a cohort of students seeking their masters degrees in curriculum and instruction at National Louis University in Bolingbrook, Illinois. His diverse background in education has provided him with the knowledge of how to best apply evidence-based methods and student interventions to improve student behavior and increase student achievement.

Dr. Parker has a strong belief in creating a school climate in which the entire staff goes above and beyond to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of all students. He has presented throughout the United States at the top education conferences, including the Every Student Succeeds Act Conference, Staff Development for Educators, and the National Principals Conference. Dr. Parker is a professional development provider and conducts workshops titled The Power of Building Trusting Relationships With Students at Risk and Implementing a Resilience Program for Students at Risk.

Dr. Parker received a bachelors degree in physical education and health from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa; a masters degree in educational administration from Governors State University in University Park, Illinois; and a doctorate in educational leadership from Argosy University in Chicago, Illinois.

To learn more about Dr. Parkers work, go to www.bestpathwaytosuccess.com or follow @BestPathway on Twitter.

To book Don Parker for professional development, contact .

Foreword

By Robert Jackson

I have been involved in education in some capacity since 1995. I have authored five books for educators, parents, and students, and I speak across the United States at educational conferences and schools. I understand the importance of building positive relationships with students and how these are key to educators success with their students in the classroom. Many educators are lacking in this area, causing our students, especially those coming from tough circumstances, to continue to fail miserably.

Don Parker knows something about building strong, healthy relationships with students. He has successfully done so as a teacher, school administrator, and principal in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs since 1997. His research and experience have led him to write this book.