Guilford Parent Academy (GPA) hosted an end-of-year meeting Tuesday evening for parents who have been serving as Title I Parent Ambassadors at all Guilford County Schools (GCS) Title I schools.

At the event, parents, principals and district representatives reflected on how parents impacted the schools through various parent workshops, family events and through personal contact with other parents. Kenston Griffin, CEO of Dream Builders Communication, Inc., provided the keynote speech.

New this school year, the Title I Parent Ambassador program allows GPA and GCS to select a parent volunteer in each Title I school to assist with parent engagement priorities and opportunities. Throughout the year, GPA provides the parents with professional development opportunities on topics such as conflict resolution, the transitional years, recognizing academically giftedness and more. 

“Being a TIPA allowed me to be an information ‘go-to person’ for parents & students at my child’s school,” said DeAnne Auld, Title I parent ambassador at High School Ahead Academy. “It made me feel very connected to the school and GCS.”

The ambassadors serve as a liaison between parents and school officials to help other parents become more engaged in their child’s educational success and increase the positive school culture in an effort to strengthen the home-school partnership. Title I Parent Ambassadors can receive up to $150 monthly in cash rewards for completing certain parent involvement tasks. 

“At GCS, we know that when parents are engaged at the school level, students achieve at higher levels, have higher attendance rates and do better overall in school and in life,” said Lindsay Whitley, director of GPA. “That’s why the Title I Parent Ambassador program is so important. These parent leaders are finding ways to ensure all parents feel welcomed in our schools and have the tools they need to become full partners in their child’s education.”