From staff reports
Debra Washington of the Beaufort County School District (BCSD) Office of Early Childhood Parents as Teachers program, received the National Parent Educator of the Year Award this fall for her work in early childhood development, strengthening families, and preparing children to enter kindergarten.
Washington recently accepted the award, distinguished by the outstanding contributions parent educators make to children and families served by Parents as Teachers, at the organization’s annual conference in New Orleans, La., where about 1,400 home visiting experts gathered to discuss the latest trends in promoting child and maternal health, preventing child abuse and neglect, and preparing young children for their first-time school entry.
“I am truly humbled and thrilled to receive this honor from such an esteemed organization that has the proven ability to impact our families of Beaufort County,” Washington said in a news release. “Being a Parent Educator allows me to apply my years of experience collaborating with parents and children to truly make a difference.”
Providing parents with home visitation services and connections to community resources for their children from birth to Kindergarten, the ultimate purpose of the BCSD’s Parents as Teachers program is to share information about parenting and child development, prevent child abuse and neglect, identify developmental delays and health issues, and boost school readiness. Parents as Teachers educators work closely with parents helping them become their child’s first and most important teacher.
The Parents as Teachers program has been serving families in Beaufort County for more than 25 years.
“The work that Debra and all of our parent educators do in helping with children’s early language and cognition is directly associated with later school performance and success in life,” BCSD Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said in a news release. “Debra is deserving of this award because of the hard work and countless hours she puts in helping children reach their full potential, and for her commitment to our mission. We look forward to her continued service to Parents as Teachers.”
Washington has been a certified parent educator with the Beaufort County School District for the past 23 years. Serving on the district’s Traveling Preschool Bus team, Sheldon Township Forum, and the Universal Staffing Coalition, Washington was a 2018 Staff Member of the Year recipient and received a degree in Early Childhood Education, all while working as a parent educator.
