On September 8th-12th 2015, Parents Step Ahead members along with seven teachers serving as Teacher Ambassadors from different schools in Texas traveled to Washington D.C. for its 5th annual leadership development experience.
The 2015 PSA Teacher Ambassadors recognized are:
April Richmond– Lamar Middle School, Irving ISD
Diana Mayberry– Timberline Elementary School, Grapevine Coppell ISD
Sarah Roberts– Lamar Middle School, Irving ISD
Humberto Godinez– Urban Park Elementary School, Dallas ISD
Kevin Vanlanham– Anson Jones Middle School, Northside ISD
Laura Butterfield– Cable Elementary School, Northside ISD
Alexandra Muňoz– Cable Elementary School, Northside ISD
The five-day trip commenced with the 12th Annual National LATINA Symposium (NLS), sponsored by Latina Style, Inc. on September 9th. Ambassadors were recognized as special guests and attended presentations on leadership, career development and STEM. This year they meet the Honorable Pete Sessions, Representative for Texas’s 32nd congressional district.
The remaining days of the trip proved to exceed more of the Teacher Ambassadors expectations through educational meetings with The Department of Defense and The Department of Education. During these meetings, the Ambassadors shared their experiences regarding the contributions made to increase the participation of parents in educational problems that are common in their schools and communities. Each agency explained the resources that they provide teachers to help make their experiences in the classroom more effective.
The Teacher Ambassadors r feeling appreciated and expressing gratitude for this wonderful leadership development opportunity and pledged to continue to help Parents Step Ahead empower parents and their children. “As an educator, there are not many days that I feel the amount of appreciation and respect that I was shown through Parent Step Ahead” shared Kevin Vanlanham, Teacher Ambassador from Anson Jones Middle School, Northside ISD.
Not only was the trip filled with meetings but the Teacher Ambassadors were able to explore Washington D.C.’s main attractions. Including Capitol Hill, Washington Monument, and Lincoln’s memorial, National Archives and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, to name a few.
Parents Step Ahead would like to personally thank this year’s Teacher Ambassadors for their continuous engagement in their programs and for actively participating in the educational discussions during the Washington D.C. Trip. Parents Step Ahead would also like to thank this year’s trip sponsors: ETS, LATINA Style Inc., El Hispano News, Southwest Airlines, Nissan, Noodles & Company and two members of the Parents Step Ahead Board: Susie Garcia and Frank Gomez for continuing to support the mission of Parents Step Ahead.