Nine words make up the mantra of college preparatory school, Peachtree Academy.

“Together we can make a difference in our school.”

For many schools, collaboration is vital to creating a flourishing environment. Whether it’s the teachers working together to craft their lesson plans or the administrative offices assisting one another to oversee academic performances, it takes a village to ensure a school is excelling. 

For those in Covington, it’s the emphasis of parent involvement that fosters an environment established on working together.

“Building a foundation and a teamwork between the parents and teachers is vital for any student,” said Peachtree Academy dean of academics Brittany Atha. “Because in order for a student to want to be successful and be motivated, they have to have a team working to support them.”

For Atha, parent involvement starts with the forming of relationships. 

She said that getting to teach a group of students for 14 years allows her to get to know their families. As a result, parents feel comfortable coming to the school’s administration if any concerns arise.

“We get to know these parents,” Atha said. “A lot of our kids are with us from pre-K all the way through 12th grade, which allows us to become a family and not just a school to educate their child.” 

This line of thinking is similar to that of Covington Academy, another preparatory school in Newton County. Administrator and athletic director Travis Price said establishing relationships with parents builds a level of trust between them and those working with their children. 

“By having that relationship built, they know us, and we’re able to have a quality conversation from the first step,” Price said. “It’s not a coming in and trying to decide who’s right, who’s wrong.”

Establishing trust between the parents and their childrens’ schools also showcases to the students that the faculty can be trusted. 

“They see the connection that their parents have with the teachers, and it allows the students to continue their respect with the teachers,” Atha said. “If you have a parent that’s not respecting the teacher and they’re not coming in and building that relationship, nine times out of 10 you’re not going to expect the student to respect the teacher.”

Once the relationships are established, parents start to get involved with the school. Especially with private schools, being involved allows parents to receive a first-hand look at what their child is learning in class. It also gives them an opportunity to directly affect what they are doing in school. 

Additionally, the benefits of parent involvement extend beyond the classroom. 

Getting involved allows parents to further bolster their relationships with their children, and it shows the students that their parents support them.

“Their parents’ involvement just shows them that their parents are there for them, “ Price said. “And their parents have their back.” 

Both schools rely on the help of its parents, who help put on numerous events. The willingness of Peachtree Academy and Covington Academy’s parents to volunteer was something that was forged within the relationships built between them and the faculty. 

“We use our parents as a resource,” Price said, “Whatever they bring to the table, and we use that opportunity to fit it into our kids and make it work.”