Parent Advisory Council

Assisting Migrant Families in North Franklin

October 10, 2024

By: Katherine Trowbridge

PAC Leaders - (l-r) Back row: Jaqueline Guzman, Yaretzi Valencia, Rocio Meraz.

Front row: Elvia Fuentes, Beatriz Villagomez, Juan M Garcia, Lucia Herera S, Antonia Aleman, and Maria Huerta.

The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is providing leadership and other support services to migrant families across the North Franklin School District making a difference for others.  

Initially, the group was elected by their peers and many have stayed because they enjoy what they do. 

Beatriz Villagomez stated, through her PAC leadership role, she learns more about the options students have and what happens at the school so that she can communicate that to other parents. Villagomez also invites new parents to come and learn so that they are aware of the opportunities the school provides. 

Jaqueline Guzman shared that she has seen how, “It helps a lot of parents out, to understand their kids better. Like in the PAC meetings they have people come and talk about things like mental illnesses and how the parents can help out their kids that are struggling with those things.” 

The group shared that many parents feel that it is the school’s responsibility that’s why they send them there. But PAC helps them understand that they need to be more involved to help their students get the services they need to learn and that these families have a voice. 

The PAC assists with a home to school connection, guides Marcie Cox in her role as Federal Programs Director, and helps to plan the parent/family night informational gatherings (general PAC meetings), and bridges the gap for families new to the area.

The group shared their own experiences in coming to America. Villagomez came with her husband as soon as she got married, 31 years ago. Antonia Aleman came 28 years ago to reunite with her husband. All work within the agricultural field. Aleman answered quickly why they came, “Yes, to make a better life for your families.”

Aleman added that for those migrants new to the area, “We represent them. We’re their voice. If we know of any resources available in the community we refer them - we help to get them to be informed.”

Last year, the PAC incorporated student representatives to their leadership group. Jaqueline Guzman and Yaretzi Valencia serve in this role, bridging the gap for students. While both have grown up here, they are learning and reaching out through this new role. Valencia stated her role within the PAC has given her new insight into new students coming in from Mexico. Before, she might not have even noticed them or given it a thought but now, “I feel like I’ve become more understanding of what they’re going through. I want to reach out and help and be more patient with them,” Valencia said. 

Lucia Herrera had a different story than many of the others in the group who had come with their spouses as adults. “I came to the United States because my parents brought me. I was nine years old when I got here,” she said, “I can see myself in a lot of those kids.” 

Herrera added that it's really hard to adapt to a new language sharing, “When I got here, I was placed in a classroom where there was no Spanish speaking teacher or other students. So, it was really hard to learn a second language, to adapt to a totally different new setting and environment. It was just, it was, you know, there was days I would go home and my parents would ask me, what did you learn at school? And I, I just, I would say, well, nothing, because I didn't understand anything.”

She continued, “It’s really important for me to be out there and to advocate for these families, because I've been there myself. So anything I know or anything that we learn when, for conferences, whenever we have the opportunity to, you know, be out there to recruit, let them know of services, anything that we can do.”

Herrera shared, “I feel that I can connect with them. That’s part of me and I’m never gonna stop.  I've been here for a few years, and I don't know who volunteered me, but I don't know whenever, whatever time I still serve. I want to keep doing that, because it's fulfilling at the end of the day to just connect with all our families. Know the background, their stories, and just like, Yaretzi  said, you know, just talk to them and work with them. Know a little bit more about them. And I think if you have that connection and that communication with families that are migrant, bilingual, or any of that just, it's, it's nice, it's, I feel that I'm doing something, you know, that we have a purpose.” 

Maria Huerta, who came to the interview from a long day of work, stated she was so tired yet she still serves after working these long days. She recently got to go to Mexico after not being there for twenty years. She enjoys attending meetings and the information given to parents. Her PAC group stated, “She makes a killer tamale.” 

When asked how they’ve seen their work impact change, Villagomez stated she had noticed more parent participation. Aleman said she noticed a change in the way they communicate with central office. The district used flyers before and now they are utilizing text messaging. She said, “That helps to remind and inform the parents in their language.” 

While their role is an important one, they are quite humble about admitting the difference they make for these families. 

The group shared how they conduct parent evaluations to figure out interest, taking those topics of interest to then plan the general PAC meetings where all migrant families are invited. They stated these general meetings include information, activities, fun, food, raffles/prizes, games, and daycare is provided. 

While they bridge the gap between home and school, the PAC leadership has a lot of fun doing it and brings that fun to the families they serve. 

The PAC wanted to be sure to invite everyone to their next family meeting on November 5 from 6 to 8 pm. While the meetings are held at Mesa Elementary, busing is provided to bring families from Connell and Basin City. 

Aleman added, “We encourage more parents to come.”