Youngstown schools honor parents who guide, support their kids success

YOUNGSTOWN

When it comes to ensuring that Jalayla Kelly receives the best education, her mother has adopted a holistic approach that extends beyond merely insisting that the East High School 10th-grader maintains good grades.

“I always try to go to the teacher-parent conferences,” Merinda Kelly said. “I have a close relationship with some of her teachers, and I keep up with her IEP [individual education plan].”

Merinda said she also occasionally visits her daughter’s classroom and keeps her active in extracurricular activities.

For that level of proactivity regarding Jalayla’s education, Merinda is one of close to 300 parent advocates representing 13 city schools who were honored during Youngstown City Schools’ ninth annual Title I conference today at Stambaugh Auditorium.

Kelly was among those caught off guard at the event when Superintendent Connie Hathorn announced his resignation, effective June 30, after five years of leading the district of about 5,100 students.

The three-hour awards program, themed “Parents Empowering Parents,” recognized and honored Kelly and the other Star Parents for their commitment to improving and enriching their children’s education. Counselors, teachers and parent liaisons nominated them.

Other parents who spoke were Tanisha McMullen and Tessia Day, advocates at Taft Elementary School and Chaney High School, respectively.

Day stressed what she sees as the need for stepped-up efforts on the part of parents to volunteer in their youngsters’ schools. Doing so will increase the students’ ability to prosper and find success, she said.

Guest speakers were former Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and his wife, Sonja, parents of a 4-year-old son, Ethan.

Read his and other remarks in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.