Pasadena ISD administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers visited homes of De Zavala Middle and Jackson Intermediate students during the first annual Path to College walk on Saturday, Oct. 12. Pictured here: Jackson Intermediate employee Maria Cortes and Associate Superintendent of Campus Development Steve Laymon.
The dismal weather did not dampen the spirits of volunteers who went door-to-door in the De Zavala and Jackson Intermediate community during the first annual Path to College walk.
Sponsored by Houston A+ Challenge, a local non-profit educational foundation, the School Path to College walk was part of an on-going Pasadena ISD initiative aimed at increasing parent engagement and expanding educational opportunities for students early on.
The event attracted over 200 Pasadena ISD administrators, faculty, staff, students, and community volunteers who flooded the cafeterias at Jackson Intermediate and De Zavala Middle bright and early Saturday morning, ready to meet parents in the neighborhood to talk about college opportunities available for students soon to be entering high school.
Teams of district representatives reached out to over 500 families - each completing parent surveys for every home visited. Volunteers also distributed information about college preparatory programs.
“The Path to College was a collaborative effort by Pasadena ISD and community members to build relationships and enhance school-to-parent communication so parents can be actively involved in their child’s education,” Gloria Gallegos, Pasadena ISD Associate Superintendent of special Programs said. “The walk gave us a unique opportunity to show parents the support available to them as they begin the process of getting their children college ready and college bound.”
Judging from the smiles on parent’s faces, it was obvious that Path to College volunteers brightened their day.
“This has been an exceptionally rewarding experience,” Steve Laymon, Associate Superintendent of Campus Development said. “I found that parents were very receptive. They really have an interest in helping their kids and they also appear to be grateful with the school and with the community for working together to help their kids prepare for college. Overall, it was a very profitable day.”
Gallegos said the Path to College initiative is "giving parents hope.”
“We met with parents and community members prior to the walk and learned a great deal about challenges parents face in getting engaged in their children’s schools and getting prepared for college,” Gallegos said. “Now that we are aware of those challenges, we want to connect parents with the schools so we can start guiding them toward preparing their children for college through parent workshops, school assemblies, and other community services.”
Gloria Gallegos, Pasadena ISD associate superintendent of special programs, prepares volunteers for the walk during the Path to College orientation.
