On April 23, 2014, the Los Nietos School District administration met at the Los Nietos Middle School to celebrate the graduation of 25 Los Nietos parents from the PROedu (Power Responsibility and Organization) Parent Leader program. The graduation event was a heartfelt ceremony that was attended and celebrated by the Los Nietos School District administration, and Los Nietos School Board Trustee, Marisa B. Hernandez. Prior to the graduation ceremony family members and staff were invited to a luncheon in honor of the dedication and achievement displayed by the parent graduates. Staff members who had made a presentation at a PROedu class during the year or helped support the program (Jeanne Gehle, Marla Duncan, Octavio Perez, Monica Quiroz, Christina Varela, Kurt Chou) were thanked and honored with a certificate of recognition.
In addition to members of the Los Nietos School District administrative team and family members, the graduation also included representatives of the California State Senate and the California State Assembly. Graduates and Superintendent Vasquez received special recognitions from both California legislative houses.
Superintendent Vasquez thanked the parents for the dedication they showed to their children’s future by attending the classes and learning how to better prepare their children for college. He reminded the parents that he and his administrative team work for them, and are dedicated to providing quality opportunities for all Los Nietos children to experience academic success.
Parent speakers moved the audience immensely with their stories of how the PROedu classes have been transformative in their lives, and how many felt like they were “awaken” for the first time with a newfound sense of knowledge, pride, and self-esteem. Parents thanked Superintendent Vasquez and the Los Nietos School Board for their support of parent education classes in the district, and asked passionately that they continue to fund the classes next year so more parents can experience the power of education.
Student speakers spoke about how the classes changed not only the lives of their parents, but their lives as well. Students reported that their parents were happier, that they positively communicated with them more often, and that they now talk about being able to attend a college or university when they graduate high school. One student speaker broke down in tears as he talked about his experience visiting the UCLA campus with his mother. He said he wanted to attend UCLA to make his mother proud of him.
At the conclusion of the event PROedu Program Director, Maria Rosales, thanked the staff, parents, and families for attending the graduation ceremony. She also led the PROedu graduates in reciting the following quote from civil rights activist, Cesar Chavez:
“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed.
You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read.
You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride.
You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.
We have seen the future, and the future is ours.
Yes We Can!”
In June of 2013, the Los Nietos School Board voted to approve a contract to provide free parent education classes to the Los Nietos parents. On October 9, 2013, Los Nietos parents attended the first class that was provided by the PROedu program, and concluded their last class on Monday, April 21, 2014. The classes, which were held primarily in Spanish, were held every Wednesday at the Los Nietos School District Office beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 10:30 a.m.
PROedu is a project that began in 2002 as a result of parent participation in MALDEF’s (Mexican American Legal Defense Educational Fund) Parent School Partnership Program (PSP). The PROedu curriculum in based on the PSP curriculum and has been used extensively in the Whittier area to help promote parent involvement and empowerment. Graduates of the PROedu classes tend to serve on school committees and councils (PTA, School Site Council, English Language Learner Advisory Council), learn skills and strategies to help advocate for their children, and learn the necessary requirements their children need to possess in order to graduate high school and gain entrance into college.
Please click on the links below to view copies of the PROedu Parent Leader Graduation Program.
In addition to members of the Los Nietos School District administrative team and family members, the graduation also included representatives of the California State Senate and the California State Assembly. Graduates and Superintendent Vasquez received special recognitions from both California legislative houses.
Superintendent Vasquez thanked the parents for the dedication they showed to their children’s future by attending the classes and learning how to better prepare their children for college. He reminded the parents that he and his administrative team work for them, and are dedicated to providing quality opportunities for all Los Nietos children to experience academic success.
Parent speakers moved the audience immensely with their stories of how the PROedu classes have been transformative in their lives, and how many felt like they were “awaken” for the first time with a newfound sense of knowledge, pride, and self-esteem. Parents thanked Superintendent Vasquez and the Los Nietos School Board for their support of parent education classes in the district, and asked passionately that they continue to fund the classes next year so more parents can experience the power of education.
Student speakers spoke about how the classes changed not only the lives of their parents, but their lives as well. Students reported that their parents were happier, that they positively communicated with them more often, and that they now talk about being able to attend a college or university when they graduate high school. One student speaker broke down in tears as he talked about his experience visiting the UCLA campus with his mother. He said he wanted to attend UCLA to make his mother proud of him.
At the conclusion of the event PROedu Program Director, Maria Rosales, thanked the staff, parents, and families for attending the graduation ceremony. She also led the PROedu graduates in reciting the following quote from civil rights activist, Cesar Chavez:
“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed.
You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read.
You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride.
You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.
We have seen the future, and the future is ours.
Yes We Can!”
In June of 2013, the Los Nietos School Board voted to approve a contract to provide free parent education classes to the Los Nietos parents. On October 9, 2013, Los Nietos parents attended the first class that was provided by the PROedu program, and concluded their last class on Monday, April 21, 2014. The classes, which were held primarily in Spanish, were held every Wednesday at the Los Nietos School District Office beginning at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 10:30 a.m.
PROedu is a project that began in 2002 as a result of parent participation in MALDEF’s (Mexican American Legal Defense Educational Fund) Parent School Partnership Program (PSP). The PROedu curriculum in based on the PSP curriculum and has been used extensively in the Whittier area to help promote parent involvement and empowerment. Graduates of the PROedu classes tend to serve on school committees and councils (PTA, School Site Council, English Language Learner Advisory Council), learn skills and strategies to help advocate for their children, and learn the necessary requirements their children need to possess in order to graduate high school and gain entrance into college.
Please click on the links below to view copies of the PROedu Parent Leader Graduation Program.