Two Lafayette moms are leading a charge to increase parental involvement in local schools.
Heather Blanchard and Erin Ryan launched Parents Empowered, a group that is designed to strengthen communication between parents and schools, and organize involvement efforts.
Blanchard says one of the group's immediate goals is to share the different ways that parents can become involved with the school system. Some might prefer an advocacy role, where they talk with school board members and administrators about policies. Others like a hands-on approach, such as helping in the school office or classrooms.
This school year, Blanchard said Parents Empowered also wants to attract at least one representative from each Lafayette Parish school and to better understand the structure at each school.
Photo courtesy http://woodson.duvalschools.org/assets/imgs/parent_teacher.jpg