She’s someone we need to know
By Busta Brown
“Parents and teachers should talk to each other about their expectations, so that there is a clear understanding of the role each has to play to make sure our students get the support they need to succeed.”
Those are the words of Sharon D. Frazier, a name educators, parents and students in Forsyth County schools know very well. She’s an Educator and Child-Family Advocate and the District and Title I Parent Involvement Coordinator for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
Frazier has a program called “Parent Power,” which is held quarterly at local community centers in Winston-Salem. The program is designed to provide parents with all the information needed to support their children education. She invites educators and other Child-Family advocates to come speak with the parents and their children. Sharon said, “It’s going to take a real partnership with the communities, schools, churches, and local businesses.”
Sharon also does the “Parent Academy.” Parents can take classes to learn a job skill. Parents and teachers are provided with relevant and specific information to help children deal with “Social-Emotional” development (EC Students).
“Social-Emotional Development affects children learning abilities, which makes it hard on both parents and teachers. Neither schools or the parents can do it alone,” she said.
During the summer, Sharon does “The Amazing Summer Escape.” “It’s a fun way to keep our students learning during the summer.” It also provides parents with information needed to prepare their children for the coming semester.
One year Sharon invited me to emcee “The Amazing Summer Escape,” and it was absolutely amazing. The first floor of Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem was packed with youth and their parents. There were lots of fun and excited entertainment and live performances from local youth talent as well. It was amazing!
“I do all of this because it’s important to listen to the concerns and needs of parents and teachers, and Winston-Salem is moving in the right direction to make that happen. ‘E-F-E-C-T (Effective Family Engagement Collaborative Teams) is just one of the many programs that are in place. E-F-E-C-T is an innovative model for helping parents, families, communities, and schools leverage their mutual goals, resources, and skills to provide the best possible educational environments and opportunities for students, to continuously improve educational outcomes for high student achievement, for all students. Each E-F-E-C-T consists of one or more schools (parent/family engagement coordinators) from each level (elementary, middle and high). “Instead of one school, if six schools come together, more people will participate.”
Sharon D. Frazier served as home-school coordinator at Forest Park Elementary for 19 years and as general music/chorus teacher at Mineral Springs Middle School for two years. Sharon is passionate about advocating for and supporting students and their families. She is a graduate of Hampton University, attended graduate school at N.C. A& T State University. Sharon also studied abroad, and has toured as a singer and actress throughout the U.S. and Europe. She served for 32 years with the North Carolina Black Repertory Company and The National Black Theatre Festival as charter board member, performer and youth talent director/consultant. She continues to use artistic expression as motivation to connect and direct aspiring youth.
She has received several awards and honors, including the Winston-Salem Chronicle Community Service Award as a Curator of the Arts, the Women’s Leadership Award, National Black Theatre Festival and Winston-Salem Foundation Echo Award and National Black Theatre 30/30 Award.
