SVVSD to offer Parent University

District partners with Parent Engagement Network

The St. Vrain Valley School District is offering new parent education classes, with the first of four sessions planned for the spring scheduled for next week.

District leaders said they’re hoping to provide parents with additional skills, knowledge and resources, as well as giving them an opportunity to connect with each other and area experts. Topics could include safety, life skills, academic development and financial literacy.

St. Vrain created the new Parent University program in partnership with the Parent Engagement Network, or PEN. The 20-year-old nonprofit organization started as a grassroots group in the Boulder Valley School District and continues to provide parent education in the district’s communities.

“It’s an exciting development,” said Diane Lauer, St. Vrain’s assistant superintendent of priority programs.

She said the initial topics were suggested by parents in Leadership St. Vrain, the school district’s once-a-month parent and community member engagement program. The district also is looking to coordinate with multiple departments for future sessions, from literacy to student services to technology.

“We will really be able to bring a wide range of topics from across our district,” Lauer said.

PEN Executive Director Stacy Cornay said collaborating on the district’s Parent University is one of the first steps in the organization’s goal of expanding to St. Vrain Valley and its communities.

During the pandemic, she said, PEN struggled and almost shut down before coming up with a strategic plan that includes expansion. As a Longmont resident, she added, she focused on expanding to St. Vrain when she was hired in May.

“We’re very excited about this opportunity to work with the school district,” she said. “When parents do well, kids do well, and we all do well.”

She said one theme she’s hearing in requests from parents and schools wanting to learn more about topics that fall under the umbrella of resiliency.

“Coming out of COVID, so many parents are trying to help themselves and help their kids,” she said. “Kids are under pressures

we haven’t seen before.”

The first talk, “Helping Teens Navigate Peer Relationships,” is from 6 to 7:30

p.m. Tuesday at the Innovation Center in Longmont. Presented by counselor Ryan Dawson, the talk is expected to cover ways to support teens to cultivate and maintain healthy peer relationships, as well as to help teens resist peer pressure

to engage in harmful or risky behavior.

The next talk, “Building Resilience in You, Your Child and Your Family,” is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 1 at the Innovation Center and will be presented by Shelly Mahon, past executive

director of the Parent Engagement Network.

While the spring sessions will be held at the Innovation Center, the district is planning to host them in different areas in the future.

While the sessions are

free, parents are asked to register at svvsd.org/departments/professionaldevelopment/parent-university/.

Registration also includes the option of requesting child care and Spanish interpretation.