At ONE Northside, we have a longstanding commitment to education justice. We believe that teachers of color add value in the classroom through continuity and cultural competency, which is why we partner with the Grow Your Own Teachers program.
We believe in parent leadership and participation. We believe the public education system should be well-funded allowing teachers, parents and children to receive the respect and support they deserve. To accomplish this vision of education justice in our North Side communities, we participate in the Parent Mentors program with the Parent Engagement Institute.
Through this partnership, we have recruited and trained parents, mostly Black and Latina mothers, from six neighborhood elementary schools to assist teachers two hours every day. Each cohort of Parent Mentors includes 6-8 parents per school, and a coordinator who helps them with their training and their work. Parents are assigned to a classroom (not their own child's) where they work one-on-one or in small groups with children. After reaching 100 volunteer hours, Parent Mentors receive a small stipend. One day per week, Parent Mentors receive extra training around academic instruction, professional development, community engagement and leadership skills.
Watch this video produced by Parent Engagement Institute, featuring ONE Northside's own
Director of Educational Initiatives, Ebony DeBerry!
