"You've got to be involved, especially in a big school, and if you're the parent of a child of color. It's how you find out key information — from opportunities and the good teachers, to problems. It's human nature that teachers, administrators and active parents share more when you're there and they know you care."

— Cece Beckwith, Rainier Valley parent of a middle-schooler and a recent high-school graduate

Speak up, nicely

"Teaching your child how to deal with adults is sometimes more important than whatever assignment they're having problems with. My eighth-grade daughter expressed repeated frustration with a group project that left a handful of students doing a lion's share of the work, while all would earn the same final grade. I told her that I would like to e-mail the teacher ...

I applied my business principles: That means getting resolution, it doesn't mean I get my way." (After the grading was revised) "my daughter learned that you as a student have an obligation to talk to your teacher and if you have difficulty, you need to find an adult advocate."

— Joan Oldfield, PTA activist, Richmond Beach

Life's got bumps

My son "had two bad years of instruction in middle school, but he survived and is in AP calculus, honors physics and AP German. Kids are resilient if you don't bemoan the fact of bad teachers or classes too much, or try to rescue them from any bump they come across. I always knew that it all began at home and we would just cope with whatever came along."

— Dana Sigley, Magnolia parent of a Garfield High junior and recent Bishop Blanchet High graduate