This is a press release from Parents Invincible Executive Director Shirley Irizarry. The non-profit helps Camden parents make the best school choice for their children,regardless of school type.

The beginning of this year was a deja vu moment for parents and students as most returned to remote learning due to a rise in Covid-19 cases. Parents Invincible was able to also work remotely and continued to engage with parents via phone calls and virtual meetings.

During this time, conversations between parents and Community Outreach Organizers focused on students’ mental health as well special education resources and IEP implementation. It comes as no surprise as these are issues students were already experiencing and are now compounded due to the pandemic. Parents Invincible feels it is imperative that we strengthen our partnerships with schools, service providers, and community organizations to ensure students are receiving the proper support.

We’re also committed to providing spaces and opportunities for parents to voice their concerns, as well as their success stories by continuing to host monthly United Parents Council meetings. The UPC is made up of parents from across all school types and learning environments and welcomes stakeholders, community members and leaders to a seat at the table to enable positive engagement.

Another space created for parents is the launch of the Camden Homeschooling Cohort, for parents who have opted to take charge of their children’s education by teaching them at home. Parents in this cohort will meet to discuss ideas and share resources regarding curriculum, socializing activities and be a support system for each other.

Parents Invincible also continues to encourage parents to voice their concerns during School Board Meetings and we work daily to help parents resolve issues or concerns at their children’s schools by providing one-on-one case management. Please follow us on our social media platforms if you would like to partner with us, become more involved in your child’s school, or just want to be kept informed.

Here is a breakdown of case types through the course of the school year our organizers have worked to resolve.