Parents get involved in Youngstown schools with PRIDE

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

More than 150 Youngstown City School District parents, guardians and grandparents are playing a greater role in their children’s education.

The parents are part of PRIDE — Parents Realizing Involvement Determines Education. The group meets monthly with school and district personnel.

“There’s a perception that Youngstown City School parents aren’t involved in their children’s education,” said distruct CEO Krish Mohip. “The number of parents in our new PRIDE group proves the opposite, and it’s heartening to see. Parents want to be involved in their children’s school, but they don’t always know how to get started. We’re attempting to address that with PRIDE.”

Since the group’s inception this fall, Linda Hoey, district parent liaison, said the number of parents involved keeps growing. Teachers and other school personnel are counted among PRIDE members, and Hoey said the group gives both parents and teachers the opportunity to get to know one another and to learn how they can work together for the betterment of their students.

The group kicked off with a two-day conference and retreat for district parents, teachers and administrators last September at Salt Fork Lodge in Cambridge. Attendees explored topics relevant to educating students including restorative justice and educational distractions.

The conference also offered parents an opportunity to express to school personnel the challenges they face and teachers explained to parents how they can help their children succeed in school, Hoey said.

PRIDE members also participated in school building planning sessions to identify objectives they want to pursue for their schools.

“We’re still in the early stages, but I’m confident this group of parents will continue to grow and thrive and take on an even more active role in the Youngstown City School District,” Mohip said.

The next PRIDE meeting is at 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at Taft Elementary School.