Parents Who Lead - Jacksonville, FL

09/23/2026

Parent leadership looks different for everyone. Whether you speak up, volunteer, stay informed, or simply encourage another parent, your leadership matters.

Here are a few ways you can show up for your students, yourself, and your community.

Please share one way you demonstrate parent leadership!

09/22/2026

It’s Parents Who Lead Month and though we celebrate the parent voice and leadership everyday make sure to do so this month.

Today, we do so by proudly introducing you to Cohort III!

We honor these incredible parent leaders for their continued commitment to using their voices, strengthening their communities, and creating meaningful change for children and families.

Cohort III, today we celebrate you and the impact you continue to make beyond the 20 weeks! 💙💛



Cohort III:

Vanessa Davis
Karen Demuth
Shatavia Eady
Mahak Gupta
Andre Higgins
Jill Hill
Kamlesh C. Jethwani
Safa Mahjoub
Danita Matthews
Marcus Smothers

09/18/2026

Saturday, we officially kicked off Cohort VIII of Parents Who Lead with an inspiring, action-packed, daylong retreat!

We am excited about the next 20 weeks of learning, growth, transformation, and leadership.

A heartfelt thank-you to the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, Kids Hope Alliance, Duval County Public Schools, and the National Parent Leadership Institute for your continued partnership and support. Together, we are developing strong parent leaders who are ready to create meaningful change in their schools and communities!

Let the journey begin! 💙

Cohort VIII:
1. Andrea Barlak
2. Cassandra Barlow
3. Amy Blackmon-Bell
4. Ahkelis Brunson
5. Eddie Bush
6. Komuni Campbell
7. Lizzie Debrough
8. Imani Freeman
9. Angela Lamar
10. Chelsea Lewis
11. Priscilla Mcallister
12. Deborah McCleod-Baumbach
13. Shanta Merrell
14. Ann Miles
15. Angela Moten
16. Mozella Raines
17. Shabrina Thomas
18. Desiree Lashay Williams
19. Latina Willis

09/09/2026

Today, we celebrate Cohort II, our largest graduating Parents Who Lead cohort to date!

Their journey is especially meaningful because they began during the challenges and uncertainty of COVID-19. At a time when families, schools, and communities were navigating so much change, these parents still made the commitment to learn, grow, lead, and use their voices.

They showed up. They stayed engaged. And they completed the journey.

Their graduation was more than the completion of a program, it was a testament to resilience, commitment, and the power of parent leadership.

We celebrate Cohort II and the impact they continue to make in their homes, schools, and communities. 💙

You don’t have to wait for the perfect time to lead. Sometimes leadership is choosing to show up even during the hardest times.

Cohort II:

Nyesha Anderson
Kewal Bhardwaj
Amy M Boyle
Shanna Monique Carter
Hind Chahed
Manjula Chandran
Dominic R. Cummings
Myisha De Nose
Nina Frank
Jullian Gishler
Monika Gupta
April Lloyd
Maria Lowney
Carla Mercer
Courtney Taylor
Latoya Taylor-White
Monique N. Tookes
Cyrus Tookes
Fuada Velic

09/08/2026

PARENT LEADERSHIP AFFIRMATION

You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to know everything.
You don’t have to have all the right words.
You don’t have to have a title or a seat at the table yet.

You just have to SHOW UP.

Show up with your questions.
Show up with your experiences.
Show up willing to learn.
Show up willing to speak.
Show up because your perspective matters.

Parent leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room or having all the answers. It’s about being willing to use your voice, take your seat, and advocate for what matters.

You don’t have to be perfect to lead. You just have to be willing.

09/03/2026

Let's celebrate our cohorts!

The Inagural Parents Who Lead Cohort I. When cohort becomes family.

Eight graduates of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund’s inaugural Parents Who Lead program celebrated the completion of their 20-week journey on Friday, March 22, 2019, at the Jessie Ball duPont Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

The program equipped parents with a stronger understanding of civics, leadership, public systems and how to use their voices to improve outcomes for children. As the first Parents Who Lead cohort, these eight parents helped lay the foundation for a growing network of parent leaders who would go on to serve, advocate and lead throughout Jacksonville in their schools, neighborhoods and across the community.

What began with eight parents in a classroom became the start of something much bigger: parents recognizing that their voices belong not only at the table, but anywhere decisions affecting children and families are being made.

[Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union]

Cohort 1 Graduates:
Richa Batra Jethwani
Latrice Carmichael
Tiffany Clark
Cathy Guiler
Samet Kul
Sandra McDonald
Whitney Touchton
Anita Turner

09/02/2026

https://youtu.be/YCPdGkJ6pyY?is=2pmRTtMg01Oi3Rqk

Parents Who Lead is creating real change across Duval County by emp...

09/02/2026

Parent Leaders are currently serving the community in many capacities.

📣 Parent Leaders comment below how you are making an impact and sitting a tables for the benefit of all students.

Duval County Public Schools
City Government

09/02/2026

Parent Leaders NOW (yes, we are still here) using their voice during School Board public hearing portion.

Parents Who Lead Month!

09/02/2026

🎉 September is officially Parents Who Lead Month in Jacksonville!

Parents Who Lead launched in 2018 after a JPEF survey found that 93.8% of Duval County parents did not know who represented them on the School Board. In response, JPEF, Duval County Public Schools, the Jacksonville Public Library and the Kids Hope Alliance adopted the National Parent Leadership Institute’s nonpartisan program to build parents’ knowledge, confidence and leadership skills so they can understand public systems, engage decision-makers and turn community concerns into action.

Since then, seven cohorts have graduated, preparing nearly 100 parent leaders to participate more effectively in school, district and community decision-making. Alumni have taken OR created seats at decision-making tables, influencing policies, strengthening family engagement and helping address community needs.

Their leadership has expanded parent voice across homes, classrooms, schools and the broader community, demonstrating an impact that continues well beyond the 20-week program.

Throughout the month, we will recognize and highlight the many ways Parents Who Lead alumni are leading, serving and creating change across our community.

While we are celebrating, we are also issuing a challenge:

Parents, guardians, community members, TAKE A SEAT. 🪑

Decisions impacting our children are being made at tables all across our city in education, healthcare, public safety, neighborhoods, city government, and community initiatives.

YOUR voice belongs at those tables.

You don’t need a title.
You don’t have to be an expert.
You just have to be willing to show up, learn, engage, and advocate.

This September, find a table where decisions impacting children and families are being made and pull up a chair.

Because when parents take a seat, our communities are stronger.

💙 Parents Who Lead Month | September 2026