[Note: A version of the following interview appeared in The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Miss.) newspaper on November 22, 2009.]

What's the mission of Parents for Public Schools?

Parents for Public Schools (PPS) is a national organization of community-based chapters working with public school parents and other supporters to improve and strengthen local public schools. Our mission is to bring together parents from diverse backgrounds to work together for all children. We believe that parents play an indispensible role in the common goal of building quality schools and that strong public schools are essential to a strong American democracy. Our work is supporting and promoting our public schools and advocating for their continual improvement and reform.

What's the story behind the establishment of PPS?

PPS was formed in 1989 by a group of parents in Jackson, Mississippi, to recruit families to support local public schools. There were many families who volunteered countless hours, including our long-time board member Dick Molpus. Within less than two years, 800 families had organized and helped to pass a $35 million bond issue, the first in more than two decades.

After this early success, a national organization was established in 1991. Today, we have 17 chapters in eleven states. PPS parents are organized across neighborhoods and committed to building leadership skills to broaden the work done by traditional volunteer parent organizations. The national office provides strategic planning, training, fundraising and technical assistance to assist the chapters.

Tell us about your path to leading PPS. What's your background?

I grew up in Kosciusko, Mississippi, and received a public education that has served me well. My father was an elected County Superintendent in Attala County, and my mother was a public school teacher. I grew up with a thorough understanding of the importance of public education. I saw my parents treat everyone with dignity and respect, as well as with a belief that everyone should be at the table and have a chance for a better quality of life through education. I graduated from Mississippi University for Women and later moved with my husband, John, to Richardson, Texas, where I had a career in residential real estate. I founded an organization of Realtors who support public education. Our sons received a high quality public education in a diverse public school setting, and I served as a school board trustee for Richardson school district for nine years, with seven years as president. I also worked as Executive Director of Raise Your Hand Texas, an advocacy organization of business leaders in Texas. I am delighted to have the chance to work with Parents for Public Schools.

Many school districts are facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis. What impact do you fear that will have on public education?

Certainly, everyone should be concerned about the impact of drastic budget cuts on education. While we are not a political organization (PPS does not employ a lobbyist, endorse or grade candidates, or make campaign contributions) our parents are concerned about how state budget decisions affect the quality of education children receive in the classroom. Our mission is to work with parents at the local level to make schools better. This includes raising awareness of local, state, and federal issues, and, especially, working for change with teachers and administrators. There will always be ways to improve student achievement that don’t involve money.

What do you see as the greatest challenge to public education in keeping with the PPS concept?

PPS believes that parents should have a seat at the table when decisions are made that impact their children – in the local governance of their schools. There are many appropriate ways for this to happen – on school boards, local school and advisory councils, and through hands-on involvement. We see many parents who do not understand their right to be engaged in the process of raising student achievement in their school. Many of these parents may not have had positive experiences in school themselves, and some did not graduate. They now have children, and they need training and encouragement in order to be a positive force. PPS offers leadership training that helps parents understand school districts and how they can become involved. In addition, our parents undertake school improvement projects that involve other parents and impact student achievement. We believe that having large numbers of unengaged parents is a major challenge to quality public schools, and we are trying to improve schools by changing that.

How can interested parents affiliate with PPS?

You can first look to see if there is a PPS chapter where you live. If not, you can also sign up to receive emails and news from PPS. For more information on how to join our contact list or reach a PPS parent advocate, please visit our website, parents4publicschools.org, or call 800-880-1222. If you want to work, we need your help!

What are your goals as the leader of PPS?

My goals as the leader of national PPS are to strengthen our chapters, add new chapters, build our national presence in the dialogue about public education and parent engagement, and continue to build our Schoolhouse to Statehouse program in Mississippi into an effective program that can be used a model in other states.

[Note: A version of the following interview appeared in The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Miss.) newspaper on November 22, 2009.]