HARLINGEN — Samantha Rivas, a Harlingen mother of two children, says that becoming better educated with a child’s school life will only benefit parents and students across the board.
After all, she says, students spend just about as much time at school as at home.
That’s why Rivas attended the 22nd annual Parental Involvement Conference on Saturday.
“The more we know about the resources available to us and our children, the better off everyone will be,” she said.
About 1,000 parents and teachers attended the conference at Texas State Technical College. The event is hosted every year by the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District.
Parents had the chance to learn about the new STAAR testing, bilingual education, drugs, gangs and health and wellness.
Gifted and talented and college programs were also among the many informational sessions.
Dora D. Gomez, a legal guardian and grandmother of a 12-year-old Treasure Hills Elementary School student, said this was her first time attending the event.
“Any knowledge that you can get that will help out your child is helpful,” she said. “As parents, some of us have questions, and it seems that this event is here to answer most of those questions.”
In a well-attended informational session Jay Johnson, a drug and drug paraphernalia guest speaker, he warned teachers and parents of the dangers of alcohol and drug use.
Johnson even had drug paraphernalia like crack pipes and bongs to help them identify whether children are involved with drugs.
Jose Luis Cavazos, director of HCISD’s Parental Involvement Program, said the event has been successful for so many years because of parents’ willingness and eagerness to become more involved with their children’s education.
