Family Teacher Interview Report

The person of choice, for the interview I conducted, was Kristen Hicks, of Cumberland Road Elementary. Currently, Mrs. Hicks owns the title of a library and media specialist. However, prior to receiving the position as a media specialist, Mrs. Hicks has engaged predominantly in teaching kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms. Overall, Mrs. Hicks has been apart of the Hamilton Southeastern School District for the last fifteen consecutive years. Majority of this duration, has partake at Cumberland Road Elementary. For Mrs. Hicks, the deciding factor, for choosing the teaching profession, comprises of the passion to work with children. Whether in the field of teaching, or a different career path, Mrs. Hicks reveals the ultimate goal was …show more content…
Hicks, the family-teacher partnership is optimally developed through open communication. Mrs. Hicks reports communication with parents, should involve either through an email or a professional phone number. This approach is feasible, because while communication is available, unnecessary issues dealing with difficult parents can be avoided. Eliminating a personal phone takes away chances for parents to verbal attack a teacher in inappropriate hours. When developing partnerships with a family of a different cultural background, Mrs. Hicks insists on not differentiating approaches. While this philosophy might sound fair in theory, I do not believe this would beneficial to a family, unfamiliar to American customs. The role of communication with parent is important, but should be limited to professional forms, in order to provide support to the family of students, when appropriate. When asked about the role diversity played within Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation, Mrs. Hicks reports the school district is very accepting of the incoming diversity in the student body. Throughout the career of Mrs. Hicks, the demographic of the Hamilton Southeastern School District has become increasing diverse. While still a predominantly Caucasian student body, the Hamilton Southeastern School District includes many Asian, Hispanic, African-American, and Muslims students. (Second Language student accord …show more content…
Hicks presented to me seemed reasonable, my main criticisms was the preference of not differentiating the approach, when dealing with parents of different cultures. Even though the students are ingrained in the American culture, it would inaccurate to assume, students and parents of foreign cultures, would understand American social norms. For instance, a student in America, who refuses to look an authority figure in the eye, is often consider to be disobedient. However, growing up with a Filipino mother, I know engaging eye contact is disrespectful in certain Asian cultures. Therefore, since different cultures have unique behavior norms, a teacher cannot assume, a parent of a foreign student, to have equal common sense of American behavior norms, as an American parent. An educator must become sensitivity to the belief and values of other cultures, when approaching the parents of a different culture. (Maybe fix last sentence—and