He is married to artist Jackie Kazarian and they have two adult children who are proud graduates of the Chicago Public Schools. from New York University Law School and a BA in Political Science from Columbia University. Previously, as Vice President of Policy, Dan helped build TNTP into “a leading voice on teacher quality” and co-authored TNTP’s acclaimed study on the failures of the nation’s teacher evaluation systems, The Widget Effect, which has helped to catalyze evaluation reforms in more than 30 states since 2009. I’m proud to be part of the National Parents Union and am excited to be on the most important and meaningful path I’ve ever walked; a path that is built on a solid foundation of love for our kids, parent voice and power, and education justice for all children. National Parents Union appears to be an umbrella for groups working in their states on privatization of public goods, primarily schools. Both women also lamented the falling academic standards across the United States and said they fear that America's children will not be prepared to compete in the global economy if proficiency continues to plummet. We envision the National Parents Union as being able to take on the unions in the national and regional media, and eventually on the ground in advocacy fights.” It is simply amazing that ed reform completely omits public school students and families when they smear public schools. Armed with this experience and success, Rodrigues has served as founder and Mom-in-Chief of Massachusetts Parents United, the largest parent advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, reaching more than 250,000 families across Massachusetts since 2016. When I started showing up at the parent committee meetings at their schools, I quickly realized I was one of the very few parents of color present despite our student population being extremely diverse. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Young premature twins added even more complications. Graduate of Gwynedd Mercy College BS Business Administration. ©2021 FOX News Network, LLC. Fox News reached out to The National Education Association (NEA) which represents 3 million members, to see if they will work with NPU going forward. She’s a community activist, completed collage as a drug and alcohol counselor, ordained pastor, and former task force member for CADRE, Community Asset Development Redefining Education based in Los Angeles, California. [email protected], Nehemiah D. Frank is the founding publisher and editor-in-chief of The Black Wall Street Times. "To me, that is a dismal failure. He has a background in conflict transformation, community organizing and United Nations peacekeeping. (May 2019) The National Parents Organization (NPO) is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charitable and educational organization in the United States that promotes shared parenting. His work is featured in TIME Magazine, Education Post, Tulsa People, Citizens Ed, Tulsa World, etc. I gained confidence in my voice, and I been fight ever since. Kelley’s actions were inspired to expand the educational and social opportunities for her children that the existing school could probably not provide. The National Parents Union is an independent, grassroots coalition. This is crap. Kelley Williams-Bolar born July 15, 1970 is a native of Akron, Ohio. Bernita Bradley is a social entrepreneur who advocates for and with families in Detroit, Michigan. The teacher unions currently have no countervailing force. "We’re going to be creating a national parent council and a board of advisers," Rodrigues explained. Colleen is the Director of Member Communications for the National Parents Union, a network of highly effective parent organizations and grassroots activists across the country that is united behind a set of common goals and principles to channel the power of parents, as well as a volunteer serving as President of the board for The National Coalition for Public School Options, a national alliance of parents that supports and defends parents’ rights to access the best public school options for their children. Marisol has formed and used her voice as an educational advocate for students, parents and our communities, while creating space and providing resources for staff, students, and parents to elevate theirs. Proving the opportunities now are greater than they’ve ever been; you should use your voice and start your generational success! I studied Accounting in Puerto Rico and a year ago I became a pre-k teacher in the state of Ohio. He is featured in The New York Times, NBC NEWS (print edition), Los Angeles Times, The 74, etc. She is committed to To contact Ms. Bolar, you can user her NPU email at; NPU unites these organizations behind a common set of principles that put children and families at the center of education politics and policy. Marquez said the main issue with teachers unions is they seek to enrich their members instead of arming students for the challenges of the real world. K eri Rodrigues is a parent activist in Massachusetts who co-founded the National Parents Union, which unites parents in disrupting traditional education policy discussions to better reflect the needs of families. Parents trust and expect that education is the great equalizer and school systems of every type must be held accountable for meeting the promise of education for all students — that each student has equitable access to opportunity to launch into a successful future. The National Parents Union is an independent, grassroots coalition. My work at the Cisneros Center allowed me to meet hardworking parents. Education project manager Lennie Jarratt invites Keri Rodrigues and Alma Marquez, co-founders of the National Parents Union (NPU), onto this edition of the School Reform News podcast. Bibb has served on the Boards of City Year New York and the Boys & Girls Club of Alexandria, VA and is an active board member with the New York City Leadership Academy. A Parents' Review School had been formed (later to be known as the Parents' Union School), at which the children were taught … Foundational to The Village success is understanding that youth and parent voices are key to all great community partnerships and works to be a fair and just liaison between families and institutions. Currently, I am the Founding Executive Director of RootED Northwest Arkansas, National Parents Union Council Member and Justice of the Peace for District #4 in Springdale, Arkansas. “It has become a political negotiation between teachers unions and superintendents and, frankly, parents want off the roller coaster,” said Keri Rodrigues, co-founder of … Bernita understands that successful community partnerships are authentic and must be built on fidelity. Today her crusade continues to bring awareness to the issues of inequality and injustices that affect lower socio-economic areas. "And those people should be ashamed of themselves. Chief Operating Officer at Parent Impact, an organization created by parents for parents dedicated to empowering, advocating, and connecting families to resources that support their family’s needs for greater outcomes in urban communities. That’s why the National Parents Union is so powerful and so important because we need to counterbalance the narrative. The National Parents Union is a network of parent organizations and grassroots activists across the country committed to improving the quality of life for children and families in the United States. | Photograph by Steve Kenny. Following her own difficult experience surviving the Massachusetts public school system and receiving her GED from Boston Public Schools, Rodrigues was not surprised when she struggled navigating the education system with her own children. NPU is set to meet in New Orleans on Jan. 16 to officially unionize and will begin appointing parents to leadership positions across the country. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. National PTA comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. He also led a team that provided labor support to NYCDOE’s 1,700 principals and implemented a number of high-stakes talent initiatives. Stern also warned Rodrigues and Marquez about going up against an opponent with vast financial resources and a lot to lose. Before TNTP, Dan served as Chief Executive of Labor Policy and Implementation for the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), the country’s largest public school system. Rodrigues began her career as an award-winning journalist and continued her career in advocacy as a long-time labor activist, communicator and organizer with the world’s largest local labor union, 1199SEIU, leading major campaigns across the country. National Parents Union Today at 6:24 PM Join our Director of Policy & Legislation, Christina Laster, for the ... third session of our Winter Advocacy Boot Camp, … Mason was co-founder of PNEU together with Emeline Petrie Steinthal. The superior school I attended was the private school of my city. NPU is helping bring together parents who alone and on their own are often the powerless, but by organizing their voices through the National Parents Union can become the powerful. A two-day leadership training event in Pittsburgh, PA for current elected officials, individuals seeking to run for public office, and community stakeholders. The NEW and unimproved National Parents Union is simply co-opting the existing organization’s name. The formation of a parents union is specifically designed to disrupt the state of K-12 politics, which is largely controlled by the two national teachers unions. Her story has also been featured on national news programs and talk shows hosted by Dr. Phil and Tom Joyner. With that being said, this sparked a new fire in Jada! We believe, there should be liberation, justice, and equity in education for all children. in Journalism from Columbia University and a B.A. After graduation, I served as a mathematics teacher at Springdale High School and Haas Hall Academy in Bentonville. "As parents, we are pitted politically against teachers unions," Rodrigues claimed. Tim Langan is Max and Dylan’s Dad and the Chief Operating Officer of the National Parents Union and Massachusetts Parents United where he focuses on supporting leadership development, delegates and members with the tools needed to advocate for the children and families across the nation from their neighborhoods to at the table with elected officials and policy makers. As a daughter of immigrant parents and as a single mother, I relied on the support of my Northwest Arkansas community to help me navigate educational systems. This is when My Child My Voice was created a parent organization established to educate, motivate and to guide and support parents, guardians, immigrant families, refugee families to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to be able to actively participate in the education of their children and have a voice on issues facing their community and serve as a resource to them. But it says a hell of a lot about the power of parents and the work we are doing. I hold a B.S. When I get mad I organize. As any parent knows, young boys can be a handful. And having twin boys with different levels of unique challenges adds even more difficulties. Fox News Flash top headlines for Jan. 10 are here. All rights reserved. It's time to put kids back at the center of our conversation about education. 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