Parents Step Ahead Finalizes Year Long Program

The final Parent Program of 2014 for Parents Step Ahead (PSA) concluded at Lamar Middle School (Lamar) in Irving ISD this past Thursday, October 23rd 2014. Lamar was the 5th school to hold a Parent Program in 2014. Previous schools in 2014 included Centerville Elementary School (Garland ISD), Urban Park Elementary School (Dallas ISD), Apollo Middle School (Richardson ISD) and Timberline Elementary School (Grapevine ISD).

The program featured a dinner provided by McDonald’s, two seminar topics, a keynote speech, a resource fair and a raffle which included a brand new computer provided by Pinnacle. The Lamar Orchestra provided entertainment for the night, and the Choir sang between sessions.

International motivational speaker and PSA board member, Raul Magdaleno gave the keynote presentation, setting the tone for the night’s program with his passionate story of how he achieved success despite economic hardship. Magdaleno’s mother also made a surprise appearance.IMG_0321

Seminar topics included “Love and Logic” presented by Gloria Garcia of Mountain View College and “The Importance of Higher Education” presented by Irving ISD’s Maurice Walker. With over twenty different community organizations represented at the resource fair following the last seminar, the night ended with the highly anticipate raffle where Otis Brown Middle School parent Maria Maldonado won a free computer.

IMG_0335This being my third year, we’ve worked really hard in parental involvement. With the help of Parents Step Ahead tonight we’ve been able to do more from the community perspective, from the family perspective and from the school perspective” said Lamar Middle School Principal Joe Moreno on the night’s conference.

The Parent Programs have concluded for 2014, and 2015 PSA Parent Programs planning in DFW school districts are in progress. PSA will end the year in review with the 9th annual “Parent of the Year” awards gala December 5th 2014 at the Wyndham Dallas Love Field Hotel. Showcasing the year-long work of its programs and commemorating the parents in the community who go the extra mile in the development and well-being of their children.

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