Parents Who Lead - Jacksonville, FL

08/20/2026

Check us out on First Coast Connect.

https://news.wjct.org/show/first-coast-connect/2026-08-18/on-wednes...

08/17/2026

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to be a part of Cohort VIII.

Apply today, here is the link: https://www.tfaforms.com/5230005

Deadline to apply is August 21.

08/17/2026

The impact of Parents Who Lead doesn’t end when the 20-week program ends, it is where it begins.

We often talk about parent leadership in terms of advocacy, navigating systems, using your voice, understanding policy, and creating change. But one of the most powerful things I’ve watched over the years is how Parents Who Lead transforms the parents themselves. Sometimes that transformation becomes very personal.

Jamesha Douglas and Keyanna Montague graduates from Cohort IV made the decision to leave corporate America and become TEACHERS. 🍎

Think about that.

They entered Parents Who Lead as parents wanting to become stronger leaders and advocates. Somewhere along that journey, something shifted. Their experiences, the knowledge they gained, the people they met and the deeper understanding they developed about education and our children helped inspire an entirely new direction for their lives.

Today, they aren’t only advocating for students from outside the classroom.
They are standing in front of classrooms teaching them.

That is IMPACT.

Parents Who Lead isn’t about creating one type of leader. It’s about helping people recognize the leader that was already inside of them and giving them the tools, confidence, knowledge and community to do something with it.

Sometimes that means changing a school.

Sometimes it means changing a community.

And sometimes…it means changing your own life.

That’s the power of parent leadership.

That’s the power of Parents Who Lead. Duval County Public Schools

08/14/2026

BEYOND THE 20!
Spotlight

KaTori Roussel from Cohort VI is passionate about education and ensuring that all kids receive the best education. Her community project "Marvelous Minds: Supporting the Whole Child" allows for help facilitate that.

A few months ago she hosted a workshop at the "Empowering Gifted Minds Conference" which was a huge success. Now they are getting ready to welcome families back for the next Empowering Gifted Minds Conference on Saturday, August 29 from 11 AM–3 PM at Richard L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy.

Families will rotate through interactive workshops, connect with community vendors and resources, participate in hands-on experiences, and leave with practical tools they can use at home, at school, and beyond.

If you’re raising, teaching, loving, or supporting a gifted child — especially one who is brilliant, intense, sensitive, curious, strong-willed, emotional, misunderstood, or wonderfully all of the above — this day was created with you in mind.

📅 Saturday, August 29
⏰ 11 AM–3 PM
📍 Richard L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy
🎟️ Registration is open now
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/empowering-gifted-minds-mini-conference-registration-1992794020560

08/13/2026

Our very own alumni and facilitator, Tiffany Clark had her first day of school today but this time, as a substitute teacher at a DCPS elementary school!

Talk about putting leadership into action! The work truly never ends. From advocating for our children and schools to stepping right into the classroom when there is a need, this is what showing up looks like. That is what being a Parent Who Lead looks like.

Congratulations, Tiffany! Keep leading, serving, and making an impact wherever you go. Drop her an apple in the comments.

The work never ends!

07/28/2026

EXCITING NEWS!

🚨 Applications for Parents Who Lead Cohort VIII are NOW OPEN! 🚨

Are you ready to take your advocacy and leadership skills to the next level?

Parents Who Lead is more than a program, it’s an initiative and an opportunity to grow as a leader, build meaningful connections, and gain the knowledge and confidence to create lasting change for your child, your school, and your community.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and ready to turn your voice into action, Cohort VIII is for you!

✔️Family style dinner every Thursday night
✔️Child Watch for children age 3-15
✔️Transportation is not provided

✨ Grow your leadership.
✨ Strengthen your advocacy.
✨ Build lifelong connections.
✨ Make an impact in your community.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity. Apply today, here is the link: https://www.tfaforms.com/5230005

Deadline to apply is August 20.

We collect information you voluntarily provide to us when you apply for the Parents Who Lead program. This may include your name, address, email address, phone number, date of birth, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and religious affiliation. Additionally, we track your attendance at Parents...

07/24/2026

07/22/2026

We are proud to spotlight our Parents Who Lead graduates who are leading and serving on the Duval County Council of PTAs (DCCPTA). DCCPTA is the local, county-wide governing body that unifies and supports the individual Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) units across public schools in Jacksonville, Florida.

This is what Parents Who Lead is all about, equipping and enhancing parents with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to take their leadership beyond the program and into spaces where they can help shape the future of public education for all students.

From Parents Who Lead graduates to District PTA leaders. They were already doing the work. Now, they are putting leadership into action and making sure parent voices are represented throughout our district.

Great work, parent leaders, great work! My word is INSPIRED!

Celita Wilson, President
Marcus Smothers, Parliamentarian
Kelly Sharkey, Advocacy Chair
Billie Alston, Awards Chair
Candece Downey, Registration Chair
Heidi Ashbaugh, Health and Safety Chair

07/16/2026

Today, we kick off our “Beyond the 20” series!

Over the coming weeks, we’ll take a closer look at how Parents Who Lead alumni are continuing to make a difference long after the 20-week program ends. Through their community projects, these parent leaders are creating meaningful change, strengthening families, and serving communities across Duval County.

Our first spotlight features Annie Gordon, a proud graduate of Cohort VI. Annie has transformed what she learned through Parents Who Lead into action by equipping parents with practical tools, fostering stronger families, and investing in her community.

07/14/2026

A key part of Parents Who Lead (PWL) is initiate a community project. Parent leaders are challenged to identify a gap, recognize a need, and take action. Through their projects, they create meaningful solutions that strengthen our schools, support our district, and make a lasting impact in our communities.

Starting on Thursday, we will spotlight some of these community projects and explore how they have continued to serve and impact Duval County.

When passion meets purpose with intentional planning, PWL parent leaders step up, fill the gaps, and lead change.

The 20 weeks may have ended, but the work, the leadership, and the impact continue. This is "Beyond the 20".