Nevada R-5 Parents As Teachers celebrates 25th birthday

Nevada Mayor Mike Hutchens presents a proclamation recognizing the 25th anniversary of Nevada's Parents as Teacher orgainzation during a recent City Council meeting. From left: Lynnete Foster, Crystal Burch, Mayor Mike Hutchens, Jenise Burch and Winter Kutina. --Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail

The Nevada R-5 Parents as Teachers Program is celebrating the 25th Birthday of the Parents as Teachers Program in the state of Missouri during the month of November.

The Nevada R-5 Parents as Teachers Program recognized this milestone by receiving a Proclamation from the Nevada City Council on Nov. 10. Other school activities the Nevada Parents as Teachers program participated in were a walking unit of PAT staff and families in the annual Homecoming Parade and the upcoming 25th Birthday Party. All children in the Nevada R-5 Parents as Teachers Program are invited to the PAT Center, 425 N. Elizabeth St., Nevada, on Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m., for this birthday party. There will be play time, craft activities and cupcakes for all participating. An RSVP to (417) 448-2061 would be appreciated but is not required.

Others invited to the activity are school administrators and past PAT Parent Educators.

The Parents as Teachers program began as a pilot program in Missouri through the leadership of Mildred Winter, Arthur Mallory and Christopher Bond. The PAT pilot program began in 1981 in four school districts: Farmington, Ferguson-Florissant, Frances Howell and Independence. As a result of the success of these programs, in 1984, the Missouri State Legislature passed the Early Childhood Development Act requiring all Missouri school districts to provide parent education and developmental screening from birth to kindergarten entry. Gov.

Bond made enactment of this legislation a priority of his second term in office. The Nevada School District implemented the Parents as Teachers program in the school year of 1985-'86 with Brenda Golden as the first parent educator. Since that time numerous parent educators have worked with families in this program including: Barbara Gordon, Jill Adams, Melody Feree, Jeanette Braden, Danette Day, Carrie Mendenhall Brown and Abby Fletchall. Currently the program is managed by Jenise Burch, Lynnette Foster, Crystal Burch and Winter Kutina.

The mission of Parents as Teachers is to provide the information, support and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.

These early years are critical and provide the foundation for success in school and in life.

Parents are their children's first and most influential teachers in providing children with this foundation.

Parents as Teachers is now an international early childhood parent education and family support program serving families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten. The program is designed to enhance child development and school achievement through parent education accessible to all families. This is done through personal visits, large and small group activities and developmental screenings. PAT also is a bridge to other community resources in the area. In Missouri, it is available to all families through their school district, free of charge.

For more information about the Nevada R-5 Parents as Teachers Program, contact the Parents as Teachers Center at (417) 448-2061.