“It’s where dreams come true.”
On Thursday, January 8, Sward Elementary School hosted State Representatives Mary Gill and Rick Ryan as well as Fran Hurley from Senator Bill Cunningham's office to learn more about the Parent Mentor Program, an initiative made possible through the school’s partnership with Arab American Family Services (AAFS).
The Parent Mentor Coordinator at Sward, Jessica Valenzuela, described the program as an opportunity where dreams come true. This sentiment is demonstrated through the stories of current and former parent mentors, as well as students who the program has positively impacted.
“When parents are involved, empowered, and valued as partners, learning becomes deeper, relationships become stronger, and our entire school community thrives. The Parent Mentor Program empowers parents and allows them to gain professional knowledge. Many of our parent mentors continue to grow and move on in other capacities after the program. It's an excellent foundation for growth for the mentors and allows schools to have a higher adult-to-student ratio, resulting in positive student outcomes.” - Suzanne Amra, Sward Elementary School Principal.
Highlighting Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123’s commitment to strong partnerships between our families and schools, the Parent Mentor Program invites families to be an active part of the classroom and help lead students to success. Parent Mentors act as another set of hands in the classroom, offering support to the teacher, similar to a paraprofessional.
During the classroom tour with State Representatives, Rick Ryan was impressed with the level of engagement he saw when a small group of students worked with a parent mentor during their What I Need (WIN) time.
After the tour, representatives heard from three students who credit the mentor in their classroom for helping them succeed in the areas of reading and math, giving them confidence to reach their goals.
In many cases, the Parent Mentor Program allows community members to be involved in their child’s and other students’ education, while also serving as a stepping stone in achieving their career goals. Those who have participated in the program have gone on to work in education through obtaining their paraprofessional license. Over the past few years, Sward School has hired parent mentors to join their staff, including Blanca Rodriguez, a teacher aide, and Maria Pontarelli, Sward’s office aide.
“The Parent Mentor Program has truly been life‑changing for me. It has helped me learn so much about myself and my community, and it has opened my eyes to how much I love being in the school environment. Working closely with the students and staff made me fall in love with the school, and that passion inspired me to take the next step toward earning my paraprofessional license. This program has motivated me to grow not only as a person but also as a future educator.” - Maria Pontarelli, Sward School Office Aide.
At Sward, the Parent Mentor Program has impacted over 300 students, 24 parents, and several families in the community over the last three years. Currently, Sward has seven parent mentors working in four classrooms with two-hour shifts in the morning and afternoon.
