BY RILEY WILSON
Debbie Burchett is completely blown away by what Eudora Elementary is doing for its students.
The local artist was among about 30 community and business leaders who met with students and teachers for Principal for a Half Day last Friday. The event produced by the Eudora Schools Foundation is intended to build relationships between the school and community.
"As a person living in this community, I've just been given this huge boost of hope," Burchett said.
Community members assigned to tour the elementary school learned the teachers received training to more effectively teach students affected by trauma and poverty. The training also encouraged teachers to help students who lack social-emotional skills to build those skill sets.
Burchett is familiar with the style of training the elementary school now uses. Her son, now grown, has autism and Asperger’s syndrome and went through a similar program elsewhere as a child. She said the program made a huge difference in her and her son’s lives.
"Bringing that into the schools and then taking that back out into the community, to the parents, the police, the libraries, the fire departments – it's the answer for the entire future of the world,” Burchett said.
In addition to trauma-informed training, Eudora Elementary collaborates with community leaders to create programs that continue building students’ social-emotional skills, like the Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) program.
The program recognizes the importance of male presence in maintaining school security and deterring disasters. Local pastor and “watch dog” dad Jeremiah Holcomb said he got to know a student through the program and now that child gives him a hug every time he sees him.
"You see the impact. You see the ‘why’ pretty clearly,” Holcomb said.
Watch DOGS is just one of the many programs Eudora Elementary provides to support students who lack in social-emotional skills.
Other programs, such as Positive Pals and Cardinal Club, promote relationship building skills among students, older peers and teachers.
Eudora Baptist Church pastor Michael Abruzzo said he learned a lot from his day at the elementary school.
Abruzzo said he now has more insight on how he can serve the schools and said his church would love to host a drive for the school to provide underprivileged students with necessities.
"I, as a community member, can help out despite not having kids in the school," Abruzzo said.
Other activities during the event included touring the school and eating lunch together.
Shanda Hurla, executive director of the Eudora Schools Foundation, said she thinks Principal for a Half Day has mutually benefitted the school and community over the past three years.
She said when community members dedicate their time to students, it creates lasting memories for the children.
“I think when you think about the students, they're going to be the employers, the taxpayers, they're going to be the community leaders in the future,” Hurla said. “So, when they have people investing in them, they're going to invest in others in the future. They're going to remember that.”
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