At Grassroots, we believe that families are at the heart of student success. We’ve seen time and time again how powerful it is when parents step into leadership roles at their schools. This spring, we celebrated a beautiful milestone: the graduation of three dedicated parents from the first year of our Parent University program.
Parent University is about more than workshops or education. It’s a space where parents grow together, build confidence, and strengthen their ability to support, not just their own children, but their families as well. Over the past year, these three parents showed up consistently, asked great questions, learned alongside one another, and took up the challenge of becoming lifelong learners and an extension of their student’s education.
At the graduation dinner, we got to slow down and celebrate their journey. We shared a meal, offered words of encouragement, and highlighted the strengths we’ve seen in each parent throughout the year. What made the evening even more meaningful was hearing the parents reflect on their own journeys this year. The evening created a space to reflect on meaningful moments throughout the year, ideas on how to continue the work, and learning about the ways each parent became more confident in speaking up, sharing ideas, and getting involved at their students’ schools.
The graduation was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when families are supported in stepping into leadership. Across Waco, we’re seeing parents who are invested, informed, and ready to lead in ways that make a lasting impact on their children’s education. Parent University is just one example of how families are shaping brighter futures—not just for their own kids, but for entire school communities.
We’re proud of these graduates and excited to continue this journey with more parents in the future. Because when families lead, students, schools, and communities thrive.
