EdCal EdCal v48.13 11/20/17 | Page 7

November 20, 2017 EDCAL   7 Empowering parents to become academic leaders Since joining the Project 2-INSPIRE program, Lynwood Unified School District parent Patricia Laura Ramirez-Beltran has newfound confidence to serve as a mentor to other parents throughout the district as she actively participates within the school community and shares her motivation with others. Ramirez-Beltran is one of nine parents of Lynwood USD students to recently receive certification for becoming parent leaders and completing the Project 2-INSPIRE program, which aims to develop leadership skills and teaches parents to be actively engaged in their child’s education. Project 2-INSPIRE started at the district in 2013, with courses organized through the California Association for Bilingual Education, to teach parents how to create a positive learning environment at home and how to engage and motivate their chil- dren’s success at school. The program has helped empower parents to become leaders as they pave the way for other parents and strengthen the Lynwood community. “Parents are the biggest advocates for their children so they can help ensure their students receive the best education possible,” said Jasmine Muñoz-Velasco, the district’s Par