NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Laurie Rivera

Laurie Rivera, Families Together in New York State

Laurie Rivera has served Families Together in New York State (FTNYS) for over 13 years. She is also a member of the NYSPEP Steering Committee and has volunteered to be the Announcer for the upcoming 2016 Strong Roots training institute in Latham, NY. 

In her current position as Program Manager with FTNYS, she manages the Family Peer Advocate Credential and the Parent Empowerment Program, in addition to the Information and Referral Line. She also co-coordinates the Legislative Awareness Day and Family Peer Support projects, and serves as staff liaison for the Board of Directors. 

Laurie brings a wealth of both lived and professional experience to her work with families and hopes that every struggling parent has a support person to lean on and empower them to be their own best advocate for their child. She was crowned “Mother of the Year” in 2016 at the Albany Tulip Festival and is the mother of four children. 

NYSPEP Member Spotlight: Gail Volk

Gail Volk, NYS Education Dept., Office of Early Learning

Gail Volk currently serves the Office of Early Learning at the New York State Education Department, where she is a member of the Upstate Review Team in the Office of Accountability. She also serves on the NYSPEP Steering Committee and is an active member of NYSPEP's Professional Development workgroup.

Previously, Gail helped to develop and implement health policies for the Western Suffolk BOCES school districts focusing on low-income areas. She also served as Executive Director of the Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks, which fostered physical and emotional wellness. She developed partnerships among five school boards, the Parent-Teacher Association, clergy, legislators, and parents, who played a large role in social norms.

Additionally, Gail is a past President of the Child Care Council of Nassau and Director of Scholarships and Development for the American Foreign Service Association. She earned her Master’s in Higher Education Administration at New York University and holds a N-6 Teaching Certificate.

As a mother of two, Gail understands that becoming a parent can be a huge adjustment. Reflecting back on her experience as a new mother, she recalled one day in February when she looked out the window only to realize she needed to dress her infant baby from head to toe just to walk to the mailbox! After her second child, Gail moved to Long Island. There, apart from family and friends, she sought-out the support of community- and parent-resources with the intention of becoming the best nurturing parent she could be.

Gail is pleased to announce the availability of a diagnostic tool to map family and community engagement at: www.p12.nysed.gov/accountability/diagnostic-tool-institute/home.html

Announcing NYSPEP Strong Roots Professional Development Training Institutes

NYSPEP "Strong Roots" Last a Lifetime professional development trainings provide high-quality content developed by experienced professionals. Topics focus on the realities families face and are associated with effectiveness in parenting education.

Many parents find it difficult to prepare their young children for school success, and can be baffled or even intimidated by the school culture. This one-day institute will share information about the social and emotional development of both parents and their children, provide new strategies that can assist in helping parents support their school-age children, and will reveal the "hidden rules" that govern school relationships with parents.

"Helping Parents Prepare Young Children for School Success" will be repeated in four locations to increase access to parenting educators, family service providers, and para-professionals who support parents / primary caregivers in their role of nurturing children:

• Garden City - Friday, November 04
• Rochester - Friday, November 04
• New York City - Tuesday, November 15
• Latham - Monday, December 05

Start off with a facilitated panelist forum, composed of a regional mix of invited experts including: Pyramid Model trainers, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support specialists, and NYSPEP Credentialed Parenting Educators.

In the afternoon, participants attend the afternoon workshop of their choice: Birth to Pre-K with a focus on school readiness -OR- Kindergarten to Grade-6 focused on helping parents support their child's learning. Each workshop will impart specific skills, tools and resources to use with parents and primary caregivers of children for the selected age group. Participants will also have opportunity to connect with others and share during process activities and breaks.

For more information and to register, please visit www.nyspep.org/strong-roots
Advance pre-registration is required.