Crystal Lake District 47 to launch Parent Leadership Academy

Crystal Lake Elementary District 47 will launch its third annual Parent Leadership Academy on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

The four-month program is geared toward native Spanish-speaking parents whose children attend a district Title I school.

Funded by the federal Title I program, the academy is designed to educate, connect and guide parents to resources to help them become leaders in their schools and community.

Roughly 20 parents across all four District 47 Title I schools have registered for this year's academy. The program consists of five, 2.5-hour workshops comprising three main components: education, presentation and assignment/homework.

Participants will learn about various topics, from technology use and communication to navigating the school system and learning about community organizations.

At each session, participants will hear from a local community leader, who will share how their organization supports District 47 families.

Guest speakers include, Rafael Arellano, a McHenry County business owner and motivational speaker who also is a former ESL student and college athlete, a representative from Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, a Crystal Lake police officer, and representatives from the Crystal Lake Public Library, park district and Sage YMCA.

In between meetings, participants will engage in activities, take a field trip or complete an assignment related to the previous month's topic.

In May, graduates will be recognized at a District 47 school board meeting and invited to attend the 14th annual Bilingual Parents Summit on May 11 in Oakbrook.

"We are so excited to be connecting our District 47 families with community resources that will support and encourage their involvement in Crystal Lake," said Marilyn Massart, District 47 bilingual parent liaison leading the academy.

U-46 invites applicants for Superintendent scholarships:

Elgin Area School District U-46 is seeking applicants for its eighth annual Superintendent's Scholarship program.

More than 180 U-46 graduates have been awarded $1,000 scholarships since the program's inception in 2012 through donations to the U-46 Educational Foundation.

The program is open to students whose parents did not graduate from a trade school, community college or four-year institution.

"We're proud of how the Superintendent's Scholarship program has grown each year," U-46 CEO Tony Sanders said. "We're especially grateful to every donor who recognizes the life-changing step these students are taking and rallies behind them with financial support and encouragement."

The scholarship has helped students like Emily Renteria, who graduated from Larkin High School in 2018 and is studying educational leadership at Illinois State University.

This year's Superintendent's Scholarship reception and awards ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. April 24 in the library at Streamwood High School, 701 W. Schaumburg Road.

Scholarship recipients are urged to practice their networking skills as they visit with donors and district administrators.

Interested candidates can apply online at u-46.org. Deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22.