In May, AAFS was proud to celebrate 39 parents who participated in the Parent Mentor Program at five different schools! The community-building program provides professional training for parents, and provides a long-term volunteer placement at their child’s school. The AAFS graduation ceremony was attended by the parent mentors and their families, as well as school teachers, principals, and our support manager from the Parent Engagement Institute, the organization which sponsors the program.
Fida Ihmoud, who has been a parent mentor for two years at Sorrick Elementary School said that the program has “given me a great opportunity to get involved in the school district and with the community. It also opened up an amazing opportunity to get a paraprofessional license.” Ihmoud now has a job in school district 117, and “would recommend everyone to participate in the program.”
Noura Alayli, who just finished her first year as a parent mentor at Lieb Elementary School, said that the program allowed her to obtain her student teacher license. “The program enhanced my self-confidence,” Alayli said. “It made me challenge myself to achieve more. It was a great opportunity to discover my capabilities and potential.”
