Building Parent Leadership, One Family at a Time
When Elsa Hernandez first connected with Mission Graduates’ Parent Partner Program at Bryant Elementary, she sought ways to be more involved in her youngest son Matthew’s education. After taking a break from work to focus on family, she began attending school events and parent meetings, where she met Julieta, a Mission Graduates Promotora who recognized her initiative and invited her to become a Madre Líder (Parent Leader).
What started as parent engagement has evolved into community leadership. Now a Promotora at both Bryant and Alvarado Elementary Schools, Elsa helps other families navigate their children’s education, particularly those new to the U.S. school system. “Many terms and concepts don’t exist in their home countries, and parent engagement looks very different there,” Elsa explains. “We help families with everything from setting up email accounts to understanding how to support their students.”
The key to success? Meeting parents where they are—literally. Elsa and her team coordinate morning and afternoon outreach during school drop-off and pick-up times. As Vice President of Bryant’s English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC), she ensures that parents of English learners have a voice in their children’s education.
“Don’t be afraid to try new things,” Elsa advises parents starting their journey with Mission Graduates. “Being nervous is natural—it’s part of learning.” Her growth from Madre Líder to Promotora Principal at Alvarado demonstrates the program’s impact on parent leadership development.
For Elsa, the work is deeply personal. Her youngest son, Matthew, benefits from Bryant’s after-school program, while her eldest, Dylan, participates in Mission Graduates’ College Connect as he prepares for college. “My biggest dream is for Dylan to become the first in our family to graduate college,” she shares, “and for Matthew to follow the same path.”
Elsa’s journey exemplifies how parent engagement can transform not just individual families but entire school communities.
