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200 Youngstown parents form bonds with educators at conference
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
About 200 city school parents learned how to work better with school personnel to be active in their children’s education.
The occasion was the sixth annual Title I Parents Empowering Parents Conference with the theme, “It Takes a Village” on Friday at Stambaugh Auditorium.
“Parents need inspiration to feel connected with the district,” said Karen Green, assistant superintendent for human resources who handles Title I for the district. “The singular goal is student success.”
Title I is a federal program aimed at improving the academic achievement of disadvantaged students.
Linda Hoey, parent liaison for the schools, said the conference brings together parents, teachers, community members and other school personnel to establish a relationship.
“It’s about everybody working together,” she said.
The speakers were Pierre and Takeisha Moranza of McKinney, Texas. He is the founder and president of Kingdom Mercy Ministries International who has addressed audiences around the world.
She has been a teacher for more than six years.
Teachers need to realize, Takeisha said, that when a child is acting out in school, it’s often because they’re “crying out for help, not judgment.”
“I have a twofold goal,” she said. “For parents to see that your involvement in your child’s education can catapult them to their destiny. And for teachers to see that what you do really does make a difference.”
Even though the end of the school year is approaching, Takeisha said it’s not too late for teachers to connect with students and parents or for parents to connect with teachers and school administrators.
Pierre Moranza, who stays home with his children, age 2 and 4, said parents have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get involved with their children’s education.
Green said the district provides transportation to the annual conference for parents who need it.
The idea for the district’s Parent Pathways program came from one of the conferences. The program is staffed by employees and parent volunteers who work to inform parents about happenings in the district and direct them to needed resources.