Parent Engagement Awards

 

2011 Excellence in Parent Engagement Awards

 “Today, parent engagement is a critical strategy towards improving the performance of our schools. We congratulate all of our nominees for their contributions that ensure all our children receive the quality education they deserve to be successful citizens in our democratic society and global economy.”   – Oscar E. Cruz, President & CEO

This award recognizes the extraordinary achievement of community leaders who have successfully promoted and implemented policies or best practices that facilitate opportunities for underserved families to guide, monitor, and support their children’s education.

Families In Schools (FIS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the
2011 Excellence in Parent Engagement Award:

Goldie Buchanan, Project Manager
Parent Organization Network

Ryan Smith, Senior Director
Partnership for Los Angeles Schools

Catalina Urrutia, Parent Leader
Los Angeles Unifed School District

This year’s honorees were all selected as the top nominees for their demonstrated excellence in the field of parent engagement and education.  Families In Schools will host a reception on February 21st, 2012 to honor and highlight the work of these recipients and celebrate the work of all those nominated.

In every community there are extraordinary people who go above and beyond to help students achieve academic success through parent engagement. We know who these people are because they work tirelessly in pursuit of engaging parents in their children’s education. These “unsung heroes” take the time to foster relationships with families from different cultures and backgrounds. They lead by listening and truly understand that all parents want to see their children living a fulfilled life which can most easily be attained through education.

These honorees have demonstrated excellence in one of more of the four categories listed below:

  • Advocating for policies that foster parent involvement and parent engagement in education;
  • Implementing programs that help parents develop their knowledge and skills on how to support their children’s education at home and at school;
  • Implementing programs that help schools and nonprofit staff strengthen their knowledge and skills to effectively engage parents in supporting their children’s education;
  • Demonstrates overall excellence in parent engagement though leadership, innovation, and collaboration.

 

Please view the video below, produced by Youth Speak Collective,  which presents the names of the 2011 Excellence in Parent Engagement Awards nominees as well as portraits of the 2011 Excellence in Parent Engagement Award recipients: Goldie Buchanan, Ryan Smith, and Catalina Urrutia.

 

 

 

To view a brief message from  Yolie Flores, 2010 Excellence in Parent Engagement Award Recipient and former LAUSD Board Member, please view video below: