In Irving ISD, our goal is to not only equip our students for success but their families as well. The Parent Education and Community Engagement (PEACE) department focuses on the empowerment of parents through educational classes and involvement opportunities to help foster relationships on campuses and with their students while at home.
“Class topics vary from online safety to social emotional learning (SEL) to college and career readiness and technology,” says Parent Education and Community Engagement Strategist Liesl Payne. “We also want to inform parents of the many opportunities in the community as well as the wide range of programs offered by Irving ISD.”
Each campus is equipped with a parent liaison who acts as a resource to keep parents connected and educated. They also provide volunteer opportunities on campus through the parent centers, varying from making copies for teachers to decorating classroom doors and hallways for the holidays. Irving ISD parent Blanca Govea is one of many who have taken advantage of these offerings.
Govea, mother of two Irving ISD students, has been involved with the PEACE program for seven years and has loved every minute.
“I love to know everything when it comes to my children and their education,” Govea says. “It’s so important.”
She says her children beam with pride when they see her volunteering on their campuses and that makes her feel good as a parent.
Just recently, Govea and a group of parent volunteers at Travis Middle School decorated classroom doors for the holidays, which is one of her favorite things to do.
“I enjoy being able to create pretty things for the students and teachers to look at while walking through the hallways,” she added.
When parents aren’t decking the halls, they’re attending classes like ‘Path to College and Careers’ which teaches parents how to advocate for their students after graduation and guides them through the college and career process. Parents like Mayra Green, mother of a sophomore student, benefit greatly from these courses.
“The guidance we get as parents is incredible,” says Green, who is also an Irving ISD employee at Thomas Haley Elementary.
Throughout the school year, parents are provided the opportunity to attend in-person and virtual tours of various colleges and universities such as Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Arlington. This gives them a chance to get to learn more information about the schools and their offerings to better guide their students during the application process.
“Being a part of a minority group, there’s a lot of information that parents don’t know and the Parent Education and Community Engagement department makes sure no parent is left in the dark,” adds Green. “Even if they don’t speak English.”
If you’d like to learn more about upcoming events, visit IrvingISD.net/ParentInvolvement to view the English and Español parent newsletters or call 972.600.6110.
