Parents Step Ahead Program in Its Second Year

Filed in archive Latin News on March 24, 2007

El Hispano News' "Parents Step Ahead" program will return to selected schools within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). The program is a community outreach initiative with the mission of educating, enabling and empowering parents, to take a proactive role in the educational and personal development of their children.

Arcadia Park Elementary School will kick off the program by hosting the first event at their school on Saturday, April 21; followed by William L. Cabel Elementary on Saturday, May 5 and in the fall, the program will be brought to Fort Worth and to Garland Independent School Districts.

"El Hispano News and 'Parents Step Ahead provide a very valuable service to many parents of Dallas ISD students. These Saturday morning informational workshops enable parents to learn more about what their children do in school and how they can play an active role in their child's education and future. 'Parents Step Ahead' and El Hispano News are fully supporting the desire of parents to make a difference in their children's future," said Dr. Michael Ralston, Director of Parent and Family Involvement for DISD.

Each school will host a series of seminars aimed at educating parents on the importance of their involvement, and the positive impact their guidance has in a child's life. Seminar topics will include:

- Internet Safety and the Dangers of Online Child Predators
- Developing Test Taking Skills
- Parenting with Love and Logic
- Understanding the Influence of Gangs and Drugs on Children
- Underage Drinking: How Does It Affect Me?

At the conclusion of all school events, selected parents will be chosen as El Hispano News' "Parents Step Ahead" Parent of the Year and be recognized with an award and a grand prize package. Parents will be selected on seminar attendance and participation. "Last year we educated, enabled and empowered parents through this initiative and thanks to our local and national supporters, we were able to award various prizes including home computer systems to parents desiring to be a step ahead'", said Lupita Colmenero, publisher of El Hispano News and founder of "Parents Step Ahead".