During National Charter Schools Week, we celebrate achievements in the school house and the state house. These achievements could not have been possible without the commitment of teachers, leaders, parents and advocates from all parts of the country. We asked some of these individuals to tell us why they are a part of the charter schools movement. As a mom of two boys, I see the distinct differences in their personalities and learning styles. I began looking for schools that could meet both their academic needs while respecting their differences. I found my solution in the charter school philosophy.
Being a supporter of the charter school movement is very important to me. I believe that charter schools are a vehicle to educational reform. Charter schools are very unique in looking at a child’s academic and social needs, and then meeting those needs through a rigorous curriculum and a diverse set of programs and activities. Educating parents on the benefits of charter schools is now a personal goal. I feel that parents are a child’s first and most important advocate. Empowering parents with the tools they need to make an informed decision on which path is best for their child is essential to the charter school movement. Charter schools are an option for parents that enhance and challenge a child’s educational experience. Through my work as the Parent Liaison Coordinator with Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, I am able to provide new ways for parents to become more actively engaged in their children’s education. In order for parents to truly exercise parental school choice and become stronger advocates for their children, they must understand how the school system works. Also, being on the NC Public Charter School Advisory Council, which is a 15-member council that recommends to the State Board of Education public charter school policies, approval, rejection, or revocations of public charters, I have the opportunity to serve the parents and children of North Carolina.
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