Since its inception in 2008, the Parents Supporting Educational Excellence (Parents SEE) program has empowered over 1,000 parents and caregivers across Connecticut to become advocates and leaders in their children’s education. Developed by The Center for School Change (now PEL) in partnership with the CT Commission on Children (now the CT Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity) and co-written by Elaine Zimmerman and Patrice Nelson, this program offers a transformative curriculum designed to provide parents and caregivers with the tools and understanding to partner with educators and champion systemic improvement.
A New Era of Parental Involvement
Patrice Nelson, program coordinator at PEL
Traditional educational reforms often focus on students, teachers, and administrators, leaving parents on the sidelines. However, research by experts like Anne Henderson and Karen Mapp underscores the critical role engaged parents play in student success. Patrice Nelson, who coordinates Parents SEE as part of her work at Partners, stresses the need for schools to shift from blaming or excluding parents to empowering them. “Programs like Parents SEE bridge this gap,” Nelson explains. “They equip families with the skills to address inequities and advocate for better outcomes.”
Fellicia Ayers, Race and Equity Advocate in Manchester schools and a Parents SEE facilitator since 2012, has seen firsthand how Parents SEE helps families engage with schools and complex organizations. “Parents SEE gives family members the tools to navigate systems and speak confidently in spaces they might have previously avoided,” Ayers shares.
Districts like Stratford have embraced the program for over a decade, thanks to leaders such as Assistant Superintendent Diana DiIorio. She highlights the importance of providing parents with the tools to participate effectively and says Parents SEE helps parents understand how school systems work, how towns work with the school systems, and how funding impacts everything.
How the Program Works
Parents SEE facilitators work with districts and community sponsors to engage small cohorts of parents in a 13-session curriculum focusing on five key themes: Equity, Leadership, Partnering, Change, and Educational Policies and Practices. Participants analyze data, explore case studies, and engage with district leaders, learning about school budgets, district operations, and how the board of education functions.
Parents SEE participants engage in activity
As Ayers puts it, “Parents get to see the system from the inside out.”
A cornerstone of the program is its emphasis on equity. Participants explore how policies and practices affect students from diverse backgrounds and learn strategies to foster inclusivity. This understanding helps family members collaborate with educators and advocate for equitable opportunities for the children they love.
“Parents SEE teaches parents how schools work and how to engage constructively,” says DiIorio. “It equips them to influence policies, address disparities, and strengthen their civic responsibilities. Family members increase their skills in speaking, leadership, and community connections,” DiIorio says. “This creates a ripple effect; they end up advocating for all children, not just their own.”
A Vision for the Future
Parents SEE participants with graduation certificates
Graduates use their skills and knowledge in different ways; many emerge as community leaders, joining PTAs, school boards, or advocacy groups. Andrea Corcoran, a preschool teacher and member of Stratford’s first cohort, credits Parents SEE for her election to the Stratford Board of Education. “The program was truly life-altering,” she says. “I didn’t have to be a passive participant. I could create change for my community.”
Parents SEE continues to evolve, with plans to expand into more communities and to offer the program in Spanish in order to reach a broader audience. Nelson asserts, “When parents have the chance to lead and partner, school systems are better equipped to meet their goals. When families are engaged, everyone wins.”
For more information about bringing Parents SEE to your district, contact Patrice Nelson.
