Parent Mentors are parents who work within GCPS' special education department, providing information and support to other families who have children served in special education. The mentors have first-hand knowledge of raising a child with special needs as they both have a child who has been served or is being served in GCPS. Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend upcoming informational sessions hosted by Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair in collaboration with GCPS' Special Education Department staff and community leaders and organizations.
“Navigating the Stages of Family Development”
(Tuesday, Sept. 11, 9:30-11 a.m.)
Families adapt and change over time in order to survive and flourish. Tom Owen, GCPS director of Psychological Services, will share the life cycle of the family unit during this workshop, part of a monthly learning series for families of students with special needs of all ages. Participants will leave the session with tips and strategies on how to journey through these transitional phases. To RSVP for the meeting, contact Ms. McNair by phone at (678) 301-7149 or by email at Jackie_McNair@gwinnett.k12.ga.us by Sept. 10. The session will be held in Building 200 at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (ISC) located at 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, in Suwanee. For more information regarding the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership, go to www.parentmentors.org.
“Parents Engaging in Early Childhood Education”
(Four sessions— Sept. 20, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Nov. 15— 10 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Parents of children with disabilities (Pre-K to grade 5) are invited to participate in this four-session workshop, designed to nurture and develop engaged parents, helping them to positively support their child’s academic success, with an emphasis on increasing literacy skills. Participants will learn how to be a team member in their child’s individual education program (IEP), creative ways to make learning fun and engaging for their child, and ways to support their child’s early literacy development. Parents are encouraged to attend all four sessions to receive the most benefit from the workshop. Sessions are scheduled for four Thursday this fall— Sept. 20, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, and Nov. 15— from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Space is limited for the workshop, so please respond no later than Sept. 14. To RSVP, contact Ms. Albanese by phone at (678) 301-7212 or by email at dawn_albanese@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.