For many parents and guardians, volunteering at school can feel intimidating. Oak Grove Elementary wanted to change that.

This last year, the school launched the Panther PAL Program, which stands for Parents Assisting Learning, as a way to create approachable opportunities for parents/guardians to get involved inside the building.

The goal of the program is not just to increase volunteers, but to help families feel more connected, comfortable, and included in their child’s school experience.

Research has consistently shown that students benefit when families are involved in their education. Students are more likely to feel connected to school, attend regularly, and succeed academically when schools and families work together.

Oak Grove staff members say one of the biggest benefits of the program is the message it sends to students when they see parents/guardians involved in the building.

“It’s great for students to see parents in the building just so that they know that parents value education just as much as they should value their education,” said fifth grade teacher Jillian Daniel.

The Panther PAL Program first started in the fall with volunteers helping in common areas throughout the building. That first step gave families a chance to become familiar with the school environment while allowing staff to begin building routines and procedures for the program.

As the program continued to grow, opportunities expanded into classrooms. Parents/guardians began volunteering as guest readers, helping with classroom activities, assisting students with learning assignments, and doing office tasks like laminating and organizing materials.

Third grade teacher Marisa Snook said creating a welcoming environment for families is an important part of the school culture at Oak Grove. “We want them here. We want them to feel welcomed and safe and that they are truly a part of their child's learning.”

The program also intentionally involved students in the volunteer process itself. Students helped greet volunteers, guide them to classrooms, hand out schedules and name tags, and assist throughout the day. “We decided to involve students so that they also saw the importance of schools and families working together,” explained Cara Pack, Oak Grove Principal.

Staff members say the program has helped strengthen the connection between home and school while also giving families a better understanding of the school day.

“It can be nerve-racking to come into an experience that you're not used to, but I think the parents have so much fun and they get to see what their child does all day every day,” Daniel shared.

Parents who participated in the program said the experience gave them a chance to better understand both their child’s day and the work teachers do. “I think it’s a very neat experience for every parent just to come and see their kids, interact during classes, volunteer with other teachers and see how the teachers put so much effort into our kids’ education,” said parent Brenda Salcedo.

For parent Josh Foster, the experience was also about building relationships. “Honestly, it's a good opportunity to kind of touch base with the people that are in your child's life,” he shared. “I would encourage anyone who's thinking about it to give it a shot. Absolutely.”

Pack says the initiative goes beyond additional help around the school. “When parents are here, they gain a better understanding of the school day and that builds trust. It also sends a powerful message to students that their families and their school are working together to support them. That sense of connection really strengthens school culture.”

“You send your kids off to school every day and you hope it’s great. And so it’s so great to come and see all the different classes interact and just kind of see what they see every single day and then also help out the teachers and students at the same time," said Paige Fickbohm, Oak Grove Elementary Parent.