June 4, 2013
JACKSON, Miss. – Roberta Weeks, an assistant director and teacher at a Columbus preschool, was named the 2013 Parent of the Year.
Weeks, a mother of four, has two children in the Lowndes County School District and has been actively involved in the New Hope Elementary and Middle Schools. The Congressional District 1 honoree was nominated by the Lowndes County School District. In particular, Weeks’ volunteer activities to assist a non-English speaking student and family garnered praise from school administrators and teachers.
“Ms. Weeks, who is bilingual, learned we were in need of someone to work with this student so she volunteered not only to work with our middle school student, but also with his two brothers who were in the high school and elementary. Ms. Weeks worked with the family to help them get set up with medical and dental care,” said Sam Allison, principal of New Hope Middle School. “Through her work, she makes our community and schools better places.”
Research has repeatedly shown that parental involvement is a critical factor determining the academic success of students. As part of the annual Parent of the Year program, the Mississippi Department of Education asks each district to select an outstanding parent who has made a significant impact on school improvement efforts in the school district.
A committee of educators review the applications submitted by the districts. As a result, the committee selects a Parent of the Year from each congressional district, and from those four, names the 2013 State Parent of the Year.
Parent of the Year Finalists
The Congressional District 2 finalist is Netty Seard, who was nominated by Greenville Public School District for her commitment to supporting public education. Her daughter is a student at Susie Trigg Elementary School.
The Congressional District 3 finalist is Kathy Bourgeois, who was nominated by the Pearl Public School District for her keen sense of student needs and community relations. She has an 8th grade son at Pearl Junior High School.
The Congressional District 4 finalist is Eloria James, who was nominated by the Laurel School District for her unwavering support of school and district functions. She has an 11th grade son at Laurel High School.
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519