Luis Hernandez to Join Parents as Teachers Board

Luis Hernandez

Luis Hernandez will join the Board of Directors of the Parents as Teachers National Center in the Fall of 2010.  “This is a real honor and a wonderful opportunity,” Hernandez said.  “I am really looking forward to joining in the great work being done by this incredible group and its many affiliates.” 

The Parents as Teachers National Center is the organizational vehicle for supporting the Parents as Teachers program philosophy which provides child development training and parenting support to the families of young children.  Adopting the vision “All children will learn, grow and develop to realize their full potential,” the Center has adopted four major program goals:

Hernandez, who serves as an Early Childhood Education Specialist for T/TAS at Western Kentucky University, has a wide range of early childhood education and professional development experiences and is an active in a number of other organizations that support children and family interests, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership, and the United Way's Center for Excellence in Early Childhood.  Hernandez is also working to advance the goals of the World Forum on Early Care and Education.

“I am very interested in the growth and development of young children,” said Hernandez,   “When you look at what Parents as Teachers is doing and the concepts that guide their work, you begin to see the positive impact that work is having for children and families.  I’m glad I can play some small part in that success.”

The mission-based programs of Parents as Teachers are implemented through a network of organizations and individuals with a common mission – “To provide the information, support, and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.”  This partnership of organizations and people allows the National Center to have the greatest and broadest impact.

The National Center promotes the Parents as Teachers philosophy through four program areas: Born to Learn, Professional Development, Meld, and Advocacy.  Born to Learn uses parent educators to deliver its mission-based program to parents, while Professional Development programs are delivered directly to child development professionals.  Meld is a facilitated group model that draws on and encourages peer support.  Advocacy works through both public and private sectors to promote positive policies for young families.  Each of these program areas operate through a strong network of state leaders and partners.

The Center recognizes that the early years of a child's life are critical to development and provide the foundation for later success, and that parents are their children's first and most influential teachers.  The Center upholds the maxim that current and emerging research should be the foundation of parent education and family support curricula, training, materials, and services.  The Center also believes that all young children and their families deserve the same opportunities to succeed, regardless of any demographic, geographic, or economic considerations, and that an understanding and appreciation of the history and traditions of diverse cultures is essential in serving families.
To learn more about the Parents as Teachers National Center, please visit their web site at www.parentsasteachers.org/site/pp.asp?c=ekIRLcMZJxE&b=272091