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DC Family Education Expo to Be Held Saturday, September 13

Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Expo Offers Parents Information, Resources, and Tools for pre-K through Postsecondary Education

Media Contacts:
Maria Ibañez, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, (202) 727-7436
Kim Jones, Advocates for Justice & Education, (202) 678-8060
Lillian Perdomo, DC Parent Information Resource Center, (202) 238-9355

(Washington, DC) All DC residents -- parents, students, educators, and community groups -- are invited to attend the DC Family Education Expo Saturday, September 13.  The Expo will be held at McKinley Technology Senior High School located at 151 T Street, NE, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. The theme of the Expo is “Education Excellence: All Students, All Parents, All Families.”

The DC Family Education Expo is a citywide community event for all parents, guardians, caregivers, and the education community to learn about educational programs, services, and resources for students of all ages.  The DC Family Education Expo is a collaborative effort put on by local community-based organizations and District government agencies.

“The expo will offer opportunities and resources for families that are committed to helping their children succeed in school,” said State Superintendent of Education Deborah A. Gist.

The goal of the DC Family Education Expo is to offer parents and families the opportunity to receive information and learn about educational resources and tools that will help them and their children succeed in school.  The themes and topics of the expo’s exhibits were developed from ideas and suggestions that parents shared during a series of parent focus groups held earlier in the spring.  The sessions will cover the gamut of topics from pre-k to postsecondary and will focus on literacy, lifelong learning, special education, and higher education financial resources. Translation and interpretation will be available to participants with limited English language skills.

“This is a great start and an important first step to building and enhancing a relationship between community groups, the District, parents, and students,” said Kim Jones, Executive Director of Advocates for Justice and Education.

“Now, at the beginning of this promising new school year, the DC Family Education Expo will be an important first step to help parents develop the confidence, skills, and knowledge to say ‘my child and my child’s school will be okay, because they have me as their best advocate,’” said Lillian Perdomo, Executive Director of Multicultural Community Service and a DCPS parent.

Presenters and speakers include:

  • Warlene Gary, former Chief Executive Officer, National Parent Teacher Association (retired)
  • Baba-C, a prolific and engaging professional storyteller
  • Oni Lasana, a poet, storyteller, performance and teaching artist, will “The Music of Poetry,” an interactive workshop that focuses on reading and performing poetry with children
  • Shanika L. Hope, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, and Michelle Pierre-Farid, Principal, Friendship Public Charter School - Southeast Campus, will lead a session that will help parents understand the performance of their children’s schools based on the District’s comprehensive assessment (DC-CAS) tests 
  • Dinorah Olmos, Senior Program Manager, John Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth Programs, will lead a session titled “How to Become a Well-Rounded Student and Create a Road to College”

McKinley Principal David Pinder and city leaders including DC State Board of Education Vice President Lisa Raymond, Ward 5 DC Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr., and Tonya Kinlow, the Ombudsman for Public Education, will also be among the speakers. 

In addition to the workshops, an exhibit hall will host community groups, nonprofit organizations, and D.C. government agencies that will share information about the education programs and services available to parents and families. A children’s pavilion and childcare will be available.  The expo also will offer a light breakfast and lunch to participants.

The DC Family Education Expo is accessible by Metro on the Red Line to the New York Avenue/Florida Avenue/Gallaudet University station.

The DC Family Education Expo collaborating partners include:  Advocates for Justice & Education, Inc., CentroNía Edgewood/Brookland Collaborative, Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Collaborative, DC Association of Chartered Public Schools, DC College Success Foundation, DC Department of Parks & Recreation, DC Education Compact, DC Federation of Civic Associations, Inc., DC Office of Cable & Television, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, DC Parent Information Resource Center, DC Public Charter School Board, DC Public Schools, DC Voice, Double the Numbers, Fight for Children, FOCUS, Multicultural Community Service, Office on African Affairs, Office on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs, Office on Latino Affairs, Reach for College!, Turning the Page.

The public can call (202) 478-8060, (202) 727-6436, or visit www.osse.dc.gov for more information about the Expo.  Participants can register online or at the event.