Department of Defense Education Activity

Ft. Knox MHS: Get Involved


Parent Involvement

Research demonstrates that parent involvement is essential for student success. Although you may not become involved in all committees and support organizations in the school, we encourage the following activities for your parental support:

  • Join the school parent/teacher association (PTA) and participate in meetings and activities.
  • Have lunch at school with your child regularly.
  • Volunteer in your child's classroom.
  • Establish a daily study time at home (even when there's no homework).
  • Participate in the Continuous School Improvement (CSI) efforts at your child's school.
  • Keep informed of school events and activities by reading school newsletters and your child's classroom newsletter.
  • Communicate frequently with your child's teacher.
  • Prepare for and participate in parent-teacher conferences.
  • Ensure your child has a well-balanced breakfast and comes to school with completed homework, lunch money and school supplies.

Visitors

For the protection of students and staff, all visitors must report to the school’s front office immediately upon arriving at the school.  A visitor is any person (to include parents, sponsors, and legal guardians) not enrolled or assigned to the school requesting entry to the building.

Visitors must provide authorized identification to gain access to the DoDEA school.  The visitor will be issued a visitor badge that must be displayed above the waist while on DoDEA school property.  The school administrator has the final determination on visitors authorized to be at the school.  While on DoDEA school property, visitors may go only to the approved area indicated as their destination when signing in at the school’s front office. Any change to the designated location must be approved by the school’s front office before the visitor can access a different location within the school.  When leaving the school, visitors must sign out and return the visitor's badge to the school’s front office. 

Classroom Observations

Parents are welcome to visit the school and classrooms to observe the school’s programs for brief periods of time that do not interfere with instruction. Approval by the school administrator is required for this type of visitation.

Learn more about volunteering at your school's Get Involved page.

Partner-in-Education Program (PIE)

PIE is based on the concept that "human capital" is the most important resource a partner can provide. The greatest benefit to education is derived from the personal involvement of volunteers in schools.

Be a Volunteer!

Volunteers are always needed and are a part of the total school program. They assist in the classrooms, office, special subject and resource rooms, and educational support areas. If a parent is volunteering in a classroom, we ask that you please make alternative arrangements for siblings. They are not allowed in the room during the instructional day. We encourage active participation by parents in their child's education and while, younger children are precious, they may be distracting to students in the classroom. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your support. Check with you child's teacher for specific opportunities and to complete any necessary forms in addition to the ones below.

DoDEA Policy requires that prospective and current school volunteers shall be subject to a standardized application process that includes completion of an application form and standardized background checks. Volunteer applications are available in the school office or linked below. Please allow 5 business days for processing of all volunteer request forms. There are many volunteer opportunities for parents eager to get involved with their students education or for other interested community members. 

Thank You for Volunteering!

Before you do, please fill out the required forms and turn them in to your local volunteer office.

Background Check DD2981
To require each employee, DoD contractor, family child care provider, adult family member of a family child care provider, and specified volunteers of a DoD C&Y program to undergo a background check and to annually self-report changes to his or her criminal history.
 
DA 5018R Client Consent Statement
ADAPCP Client's Consent Statement for Release of Treatment Information
 
DD2793 Volunteer Agreement Form - Blank
Volunteer agreement fillable form and agreement.
 
Volunteers DoDEA Operational Guidance
DoDEA Operational Guidance for Volunteers - There are many volunteer opportunities for interested community members and/or parents to get involved with their students education through DoD sanctioned programs.

School Boards

DoDEA school administrators, in partnership with sponsors/family members, students, and military leaders, promote communication through the establishment of school boards to address issues (school initiatives, procedures and policies) locally. This is a system-wide way for parents to get involved in their child’s local school. Consult your child’s school to learn more about school boards.

Learn more about School Boards at your school's Get Involved page.

Related DoDEA Policies & Regulations

1342.25: School Boards for Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS)
1358.01: School Boards, Advisory Committees, and Dependents Education Council

DoDEA School Boards

Being a DoDEA school board member is a serious responsibility but one that offers significant rewards - the primary reward being the opportunity to actively participate in the process of educating our children.

However, unlike the school boards in the Local Education Authority (LEA), DoDEA school boards act purely in an advisory capacity, providing input to the Superintendent and administrators in the areas of fiscal, personnel and educational policies, procedures and programs. The DoDEA school district superintendent makes final decisions on matters affecting the school district.  

School Board Meetings

Board meetings are open to the public. For specific information on School Board agendas, please contact any member of your School Board. Please contact your local school or the District Superintendents Office to get contact information.

Fort Knox School Board

School board members are elected by and represent the parents and legal guardians of students enrolled in the Fort Knox schools. 

Current Members:

Jay Jones (President), Kingsolver ES
Brigette Gallagher (Vice President), Fort Knox MHS
Margaret (Morris) Landes, Fort Knox MHS
Tanisha Caldwell, Scott IS

Board meetings are scheduled during most months of the academic year.  The meetings are open to the community and public participation is encouraged.

Visit their Facebook Page

Frequently Asked Questions about DoDEA School Boards

Do DoDEA Americas school board members ever participate in deciding matters affecting employees or students? 

Employee relations and student conduct are almost always matters handled by the Superintendent, principals, and administrative staff. If, for some reason, school board participation is required, the Superintendent will explain the applicable rules.

Do DoDEA Americas school boards have the same authority as school boards for local education agencies? 

No, generally the school board for a local education agency (LEA) makes the policy and rules for schools in that particular school district; the Superintendent and staff implement the school board's policy. DoDEA Americas school boards act in an advisory capacity, providing input to the Superintendent and administrators in the areas of fiscal, personnel and educational policies, procedures and programs. The DoDEA Americas school district superintendent makes final decisions on matters affecting the school district.

Why can't DoDEA school boards make the rules which govern a particular DoDEA school district? 

The statute which authorizes DoDEA and the implementing DoD guidance define the roles of the DoDEA Americas school boards. Also, because DoDEA Americas school board members are not officers or employees of the United States as defined in the "appointments clause" of the Constitution, they may not exercise discretionary governmental authority such as: taking personnel actions, expending appropriated funds, or establishing governmental policies.

What happens if the school board disagrees with how the Superintendent wants to handle a particular issue? 

The Superintendent and the school board should always attempt to find common ground on all issues. However, DoDEA Superintendents are ultimately responsible for operation of the school district. In rare instances, a Superintendent may find it necessary to take an action with which the school board might not agree. The Superintendent should then provide the school board with the rationale for that action. If necessary, either the Superintendent or the school board may ask for the assistance of the DoDEA Americas Director.

Is training available for new school board members?

Yes, all school board members receive training so that they may better understand the rules which govern the operation of the school board.

Contact the FKCS School Board

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Parent Teacher Organization / Parent Teacher Association

The PTO/PTA is a group of parents and teachers working for a better school environment by providing both financial and volunteer support for our school programs. The PTO/PTA are able to sponsor a variety of activities that may include book fairs, school pictures, monthly birthday celebrations for all children, the sale of school t-shirts or many other events. The PTO/PTA consists of the following positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In addition, there are several committee coordinator positions such as volunteer, spirit week, membership and box tops. If you are interested in volunteering, serving on the executive board, or being a committee coordinator, please contact the PTO/PTA.

PTO/PTA Objectives

The PTO/PTA is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-sectarian organization. It cooperates with the school to support the improvement of education in ways that will not interfere with the education of students or the mission of the school and does not seek to control school policies. Specific objectives include:

  • Providing a medium for exchange of information among parents, teachers, and other interested groups.
  • Encouraging and developing programs and activities, which serve to enhance the quality of student education.
  • Identifying and promoting opportunities for students to secure the highest advantage in their academic, physical, and social growth.
  • Encouraging and maintaining a working dialogue between members, the local educational school system, the local government, and the community at-large on matters affecting the general welfare and education of students.

Membership is open to all parents and legal guardians of students attending the school as well as school staff. Contact the school for membership information.