Testimonials
T
hey are so instrumental.
Our parents need to know and understand that they are valued and that we need them. There is absolutely no way our school can be successful without a family partnership or some other outside connection to bring us back into a community. The Parent Mentor Program offers just that and that's something that honestly, I didn't feel when I got here. I didn't feel a sense of community. I felt that the parents thought that it was “us” and “them”... The Parent Mentors that we have here at our school are so instrumental. They only get paid for a couple hours a day but most of them are here all day.
Latrese Mathis
Principal
John Hays Elementary
I could see the change…
I was ready to go home, and on my way, I saw a student in the hallway struggling with a math problem. I stopped. He was very mad, very angry. I looked at the problem. I was not even sure if I going to solve that when I was just telling him, let's do it together. And he said, "Sure, yeah, let's do it together." Then I just shared a little bit of my knowledge with him. Whenever he knows and he starts refreshing that, remembering that, and both of us would resolve that problem. Then, when they turn to look at the students, he was full of happiness. He was so happy. Then I could see the change that me and students... we made. He was from sad, to happy.
Loubna Aittarhouzaft
Parent Coordinator
Moline Coal Valley Schools
You have that opportunity…
I was in the first-grade class with Ms. Wood. She first had me come in, had me grade papers. But the most important thing she had me do was give me experience with working hands on, one-on-one with a small group of children and reading to them. I really enjoyed that. Parents work so hard and work so much; mom and dad never get a chance to come in. So you have that opportunity to teach them how to read and ask them questions, and learn what the kids need to learn.
Anita Jones
Parent Mentor
Haines Elementary School