Landmark Parent Academy to preview, launch with August events

MIAMI—Parents waiting to glimpse The Parent Academy, the Miami-Dade school district’s landmark venture to engage and equip parents for meaningful involvement in their children’s education, can sneak a peek Saturday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with preview events at Barnes & Noble bookstores in Aventura and Kendall.

Children will be treated to face-painting, story time, and arts and crafts while their parents learn how to make the most of a parent-teacher conference during a sample workshop at Barnes & Noble stores at 18711 N.E. Biscayne Blvd. and 12405 N. Kendall Drive.

Barnes & Noble is one of 60 partners to join with Miami-Dade County Public Schools in offering The Parent Academy, which will bring Miami-Dade parents more than 175 courses at more than 80 sites—including schools, businesses, colleges and houses of worship—starting this fall.

A week after the preview, The Parent Academy will officially launch, on Saturday, Aug. 20, with 10 a.m.-2 p.m. events at 13 spots across town.

The sites for the kick-off events, featuring entertainment for children and a mini-workshop, course catalogs and registration for parents, will be at the following:

Barnes & Noble’s Coral Gables store, 152 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables;
Miami-Dade County’s Main Library, 101 W. Flagler St.;
Coral Reef Library, 9211 Coral Reef Drive;
Doral Library, 10785 N.W. 58 St.;
Lemon City Library, 430 N.E. 61 St.;
Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22 St., Miami Beach;
Miami Lakes/Palm Springs North Library, 6699 Windmill Gate Road;
Naranja Library, 27060 S. Dixie Highway;
West Dade Regional Library, 9445 Coral Way;
West Kendall Regional Library, 10201 Hammocks Blvd.;
Nova Southeastern University’s North Miami Beach Parent Resource Center, 1750 N.E. 167 St., Room 166-B;
Nova Southeastern University’s Kendall Parent Resource Center, 8585 S.W. 124 Ave., Room 420; and
Biscayne Park, 9700 S.W. 328 St.

The Aug. 20 events will launch a two-week registration drive for parents to sign up for such classes as Miami-Dade County Public Schools 101, Homework Tips, and Child Development offered in The Parent Academy’s first, August-through-December trimester.

The course catalog, in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole and including more than 500 offerings, will be available on the Internet at dadeschools.net starting Aug. 13 and in print through Miami-Dade public schools and select Parent Academy partners starting late August.

Those seeking more information or looking to register may call 305-995-2680 or visit theparentacademy.net.