THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410190184
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 120 lines
DAVID GOODRICH, a teacher at Smithfield Middle School, has 1,059,639 students this year. As president of the Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers, Goodrich, 43, is trying to look out for the needs of every child enrolled in the state's public school system.
``If we don't speak up for the children, who will?'' says Goodrich, who lives in the Chuckatuck section of Suffolk. ``The PTA is the voice for the children.''
Goodrich's voice can be heard from beyond his Isle of Wight classroom, where he teaches eighth-grade English, as he speaks out on behalf of children across the state.
And apparently, people are listening to what the educator is saying. Largely because of lobbying by the PTA and the Virginia Department of Education, the General Assembly last year allocated $50,000 to study parental involvement in education, a key issue targeted for attention by the PTA.
``Research shows that children achieve more and are better students when parents are involved in their education,'' Goodrich said in a recent interview. ``Increasing parent involvement was a goal I set when I went into office.''
Last month, a group of 100 parents, educators and business people from across Virginia came together in Richmond for the Educational Summit on Parent and Community Involvement. Participants examined trends and identified ways to increase this involvement in Virginia's schools.
``This summit would have happened anyway,'' Goodrich said. But without the $50,000 grant, ``It just would have been smaller and would have taken some creative financing.'' He hopes the summit will become an annual event.
The task force's results are being compiled and are to be presented to the General Assembly next year, Goodrich said. The report will include prioritized strategies and suggestions for action by both the General Assembly and the Education Department for increasing parent involvement.
``I think the strategies will result in achievable goals,'' Goodrich said. ``If everybody does what they are supposed to, I think we will see increased involvement by parents.''
For the first time in more than a decade, the PTA's 60-member board of directors has created a long-range plan under Goodrich's administration. Expected to be adopted at November's annual convention, the plan calls for the board's size to be trimmed.
It also would give established committees more narrowly defined functions, thus eliminating overlapping responsibilities, and it calls for increased communication among different PTA levels, Goodrich said.
Goodrich has invested more than 20 years in Virginia's PTA, joining the organization in 1973 when he began his teaching career at the now-closed John Yeates High School in Suffolk.
He grew up in Franklin and attended Isle of Wight schools, moving to Suffolk in 1973, where he and his wife, Eva, have raised their family.
Goodrich hasn't been exclusively a school teacher, however.
After teaching for six or seven years in Suffolk schools, he became a probation officer for the state Corrections Department. After several years, he moved to the Suffolk Sheriff's Department, where he did community relations and taught drug-awareness programs in the schools.
That's when he realized he wanted to get back into the classroom, and he began teaching again last year in Isle of Wight.
He had remained active in the PTA at the state level for several years, gradually working his way up the ladder to the presidency.
When his term ends in November 1995 and after a two-year stint on the board as immediate past president, Goodrich says he intends to step down from the PTA's administrative level.
``I believe in public education, . . . and I think one person can make a difference. If you volunteer just one time and you affect one thing that child does, then you have made a difference.
``I wanted the job and I looked forward to it. I don't intend to stay because it doesn't leave room for the organization to grow. . . . And I want to pursue other goals.''
Goodrich spends about 40 hours a week holed up in his home office, equipped with a fax machine and computer, returning PTA messages and corresponding with other board members throughout the state.
``Somehow all my school, PTA and family obligations seem to get met,'' he said.
Goodrich and his wife, who teaches Latin in Suffolk schools, have three children: Jon, 17; Emily, 14; and Chris, 12. They go to Suffolk public schools, and the family attends Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Chuckatuck.
``He's gone away a lot, and I kind of miss him when he's gone for a long time,'' Chris said. But, ``He's doing a lot of good things and making lots of corrections in our schools.''
``It does take a lot of time away from home,'' Eva Goodrich said. ``David's mother calls me a PTA widow. But I know he enjoys it, and that's why I let him do it,'' she laughed.
Support from Isle of Wight school administrators has been vital to his service as PTA president, Goodrich says.
``We are extremely proud that one of our teachers is president of the state PTA,'' said Dr. Jane York, superintendent of Isle of Wight public schools. ``I think he represents what PTA is all about, . . . and what he brings back to the school system from his endeavors makes his participation an asset.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover
David Goodrich
Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
David Goodrich, at left, who teaches at Smithfield Middle School,
responds to a question at the Educational Summit on Parent and
Community Involvement at the Hyatt House in Richmond, attended by
100 parents, educators and business people from across Virginia.
Participants examined trends and identified ways to increase
involvement in Virginia's schools. At right, Goodrich and Sue Glasco
listen to a discussion among teacher planners.
Goodrich confers with Margaret Roderts, director of community
relations for the Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers, at the
Richmond meeting.
Educators offer suggestions regarding guidelines for parental
involvement in their children's schooling during the educational
summit.
by CNB