Engagement comes in many forms, according to Perdomo. “Everyone here at OKCPS can contribute, whether that’s time, talent or resources, so we have something for everyone,” she said. “We want to make sure that our families and community can offer support in whatever way they feel comfortable.” Fundraisers with a purpose Alesha Leemaster is executive director of the Norman Public Schools Foundation, which raises money to enhance educational experiences for teachers and students. The foundation awards more than $150,000 annually in teacher grants
that “will bring a lesson to life,” she said. One way the community can support public education in Norman is by purchasing tickets to Gingerbread Jingle and decorating preassembled gingerbread houses with high- end gourmet candy, Leemaster said. “Santa’s there and you can write letters to the North Pole,” she said of the foundation’s December fundraiser. “It’s a great way for us to create awareness for what we do with young families.” The Norman PTA Council hosts one annual fundraiser, the Norman Chocolate Festival, organized by the Firehouse Arts Center. “One hundred percent of what we raise besides the cost of the event goes right back into individual PTA units,” she said. “We gave away four $1,000 grants to units in Norman, and we gave away a $1,000 scholarship to a Norman High graduate.” One size doesn't fit all
PARENT AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT SCHOOLS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING SPECIAL EVENTS AND FIELD TRIPS.
Not all school districts rely on PTAs to increase parent involvement. Millwood Public Schools doesn’t have a PTA, but parents serve on committees, participate in the school’s foundation or volunteer as coaches, according to Superintendent Cecilia Robinson Woods. “It definitely is an outdated idea in my school district,” she said of PTA. “I have had parents
she said. “I feel like this picture of parental involvement, community involvement, it’s an unachievable task in a space that doesn’t have a large majority of parents who stay home. “We’re also at a time where both parents have to work. The amount of time they have to give to be present is really limited.” Whether through PTA, school foundations or simply showing up for a field trip, parents and community members are finding new ways to connect with schools. The methods may look different from district to district, but the message remains the same — family engagement matters. As schools work to rebuild those relationships, the result is more than successful events or fundraisers. It’s classrooms where students feel supported, teachers feel empowered and families feel like an essential part of their child’s education. Editor’s note: This article is the final part of a year-long series called What’s Right with Our Schools , highlighting the innovative and inspiring programs shaping public education in the Oklahoma City metro. Each installment explores a different theme, showcasing how educators, administrators and communities are coming together to create meaningful opportunities for students. Read the full series at metrofamilymagazine.com/whats-right-with-our-schools.
who have tried to get it back going again.
We just haven’t been successful.” Robinson Woods views the idea of engagement differently than most. “Whenever people talk to me about engagement, I always
want to understand their definition of engagement,”
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2025 17
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