Parish Link
At Parish, we appreciate that students learn differently and, at times may require an additional academic resource to help with the process.
Parish Episcopal School can assist parents in finding an academic coach for their student. Support services are available to any student experiencing academic difficulty, before or after the school day. If a student has a current Individualized Academic Plan (IAP) on file and receives accommodations, this allows for more availability in the student’s schedule for them to meet with a coach during the school day. Otherwise, coaches and students can meet before the school day (beginning at 7 am), after the school day (until 6 pm), and during Free Block or Study Hall for Upper School students. Parish Link coaches can assist parents with scheduling, they are aware of designated session times according to a student’s division.
Parish Link assists families by connecting parents and students to qualified fully screened academic coaches.
The Parish Link team works together with each student, his or her family, the academic coach, and the Parish faculty to ensure that a communication link exists to fully support student progress and success.
Process
1. Referrals
A parent may contact Rob Kelton, Director of Parish Lab, and request referrals, at which time subject-specific Parish Link profiles of existing academic coaches who have been cleared to work on the Parish campus, will be sent to them.
2. Parent Waiver
Parents will need to agree to and sign the Parent’s Hold Harmless Waiver before academic coaching can occur on campus.
3. Schedule
Parents and coach will discuss the student’s availability, within the limitations of the child’s schedule. Once a plan has been confirmed, Rob Kelton will arrange a space for the coach and student to meet. Eight tutor rooms are equipped with whiteboards and materials to help make the support sessions efficient for all.
Parish Link FAQs
How does payment work?
Session fees and payments are arranged and maintained between the coach and the parent, independent of Parish Episcopal School.
Is there any communication?
Coaches are required to email subject-specific teachers as well as parents at the beginning of each trimester as a means of making themselves available to teachers and to ascertain the needs of the student. Teachers will contact coaches, when necessary, throughout the trimester to discuss areas of concern, collaborating for the benefit of the student.
To learn more or start the enrollment process, please contact Rob Kelton, Director of Parish Lab.
What if I want my child to work with a new coach?
If a parent has a coach in mind who is not yet affiliated with Parish, the academic coach must complete a process that includes a background check, Presidium online training and then schedule an appointment for a mini-orientation with Rob Kelton, Director of Parish Lab, to familiarize themselves with the Parish Link program and the Academic Coach Guidelines. Coaches must also have a Parish picture ID badge identifying them as academic coaches, which they will wear at all times while on the Parish campus.
Director of Parish Lab and Parish Link
Rob Kelton
Rob is the Director of Parish Lab and Link and is starting his 4th year with the program. He oversees the Learning Lab program, Language Foundations (Dyslexia) program, and Parish Link. He has over 25 years of experience, teaching and testing children, early childhood-12th grade, with learning differences diagnosed with Reading Disorders, ADHD, Receptive/Expressive Language Disorders, and other related disorders. He serves as a Board Member on the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) since January of 2020. Rob holds a B.A. in Leadership from Bellevue University and certifications in two reading therapy programs, and Montessori Training.