P.I.E

I am a Family Engagement Specialist for Minneapolis Public Schools. I have 5 granddaughters and 3 of the 5 are enrolled in Minneapolis Public Schools. I have worked in North Minneapolis in the community for the last 30 years and 16 have actually been for the district.

I met Dina Payne at the 2009 Parents United Summit.  I've served in parent leadership roles in the Minneapolis Public Schools for the past thirteen years.  My two children are both MPS students.  I have provided leadership with teacher development for The Miniapple Montessori, the MN State Board of Vocational Technical Education, and Great River School, a public charter that opened in 2004.  

In 2001, I created the Marcy Family Network, a team of parent leaders to foster parent education, and I have consulted with the MPS on exemplary practices for parent engagement.   It is important to me to engage parents from our communities of color in our parent leadership work.  As part of my efforts, I've brought a group of parents to the YWCA's Annual Time to Talk Dialogue about Race and persuaded our district to organize a Minneapolis Education Summit, “The Power of Engagement,” held September 2006.  I also co-led the "Family Affair Parenting Committee" with parents in North Minneapolis.

For the past three years, I've served in leadership on our district's Parent Advisory Council, a grassroots effort to foster parent leadership throughout our district.  I serve as the Community Lead for an effort to join teachers and parents in developing inner-district options for site-based leadership.

I am a 38 year old single mom from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  I moved to Minneapolis in 1997 due to my job transfer.  I work as a Supervisor in a Customer Service Dept for a freight line.  I went to Marquette University  for Electrical Engineering for 3 years and dropped out for my current job.  My biggest regret was not getting my degree.  I plan to now step up to the plate and pursue it and in doing so being a positive influence on my 13 year old son, who, actually,  is the one preaching to me about attaining it.  I like to think education is the key to any success in todays time and knowledge is power.  So the young men and young ladies I have had the chance to meet need encouragement and support from myself and all parents.  I hope to help uplift our children and teach the need to learn and excel and leading by example!