Below are the recipients of this award:

KaSandra Bradley, 37, is married and lives in Glenn Heights. She is the mother of four children ranging in age from 12-16. She is a volunteer at McCowan Middle School and DeSoto High School. Bradley believes that being involved in her children’s education is important because it allows her children to work harder and inspires them to want to better themselves.

Hernando Bautista, 48, lives in Haltom City with his wife Martha Mora. He has three children, and two grandchildren. Originally from Colombia, Bautista said he is happy to contribute his time to his children’s schools and attends the programs sponsored by Parents Step Ahead.

A resident of DeSoto, Gail Cook, 52, has been married for 34 years and has four children 13, 25, 29 and 33. In October, Cook retired from a project management position she held for 29 years at a company. Three days later, Cook learned her mother passed away. “God knew I would have a hard time,” Cook said, “But it meant that I would lead my family through it.”

Originally from Veracruz, Mexico, Zoila Hernández, 36, volunteers at Urban Park Elementary and Ann Richards Middle School. She arrived to the U.S. when she was 16 years old in Dallas.  The single-mother to four girls, Hernandez wants to leave her daughters a good legacy and often reminds her daughters of the importance of going to college.

Bernice & Richard Robledo have been married 30 years and they now take care of Bernice’s three great granddaughters: Destiny, Gabriela and Briana. Originally from Dallas, Bernice said she likes to attend Parent Step Ahead programs whenever possible. As far as being an involved parent, “You always have to have that bond with your children and grandchildren, you have to stay involved and pitch in when you are needed,” Bernice said.

About Parents Step Ahead

Since 2006, Parents Step Ahead, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, has devoted itself “to recognize, educate, enable and empower parents to take a proactive role in the educational and personal development of their children.” The organization works in partnership with school districts, corporations and community organizations to offer a series of school-based programs for parents of all backgrounds throughout the school calendar year. Educators, motivational speakers, community volunteers and parenting experts present seminars on topics such as gang awareness, drug use prevention, underage drinking, computer literacy, Internet safety, raising kids with love and logic, and health and financial issues.

For more information contact:   Karina Ramirez, Communications, 214-357-2186, karina@parentsstepahead.org or Lupita Colmenero, Founder, 214-357-2186, lupita@parentsstepahed.org.