Super Parent Honored For Family Organizing

The following writeup was submitted by Elm City Montessori School to celebrate Thursday’s recognition of statewide parental involvement awardee LaToya Howard.

Elm City Montessori School parent and former NHPS T.A.P.S award winner LaToya Howard was honored at the Connecticut Family & Community Engagement Conference in Rocky Hill on Thursday as one of five recipients of this year’s State Education Resource Center (SERC) Parental Involvement Recognition Award.

LaToya is a powerhouse parent of a 5th grader named Corinne. She served as the Family Teacher Organization’s pandemic president. She’s launched the school’s Family Resource Center as well as the mutual aid Ujima Collective. She currently serves as a family organizer, part of the school’s unique approach to family engagement.

LaToya and Magnet Resource Teacher Dave Weinreb facilitated a workshop at the conference called ​“Building the Base: Using the Organizing Model to Cultivate Parent Power,” helping attendees to understand community organizing as a tool for building family associations, see families as asset-rich partners, and practice using tools for engagement. If interested in learning more about the school’s approach to family organizing, email [email protected].

The award required four letters of recommendation, one of which was written by her daughter Corinne (see below). 

Her lead nominator Dave wrote: ​“LaToya continues to build her base, motivating families to step up and lead. She radiates what we all know, that families are essential, families are powerful, families are brilliant, and families enrich our collective work. She has expanded our school’s vision, she has inspired the recent launch of our student union, she continues to serve as a beacon of EFFORT for all of us. We are so fortunate to have her in our state. And she represents what we believe all families can build with schools — solidarity, collaboration, and aligned purpose.”

Letter Of Recommendation For LaToya Howard, by Corinne Scott

Hi, thank you for reading my letter of recommendation.

My name is Corinne but more importantly my mom’s name is LaToya Howard. That’s who I am writing about for this award, that is who I am recommending.

This is why my mom should be selected for this award. First she does so many things in my and other communities. For example, at my school event Winter Sing before my mom joined FTO (FTO stands for Family Teacher Organization). It was just each class room singing while everyone else held some candles. Then my mom joined and there were microphones, a backdrop, snacks, hot chocolate, candles still and more light. 

Other things she has done for other communities is for example my dance studio CR&CO. She helps out with a lot of things such as doing everyone’s makeup to having hands on when we need new ideas. That’s why this year she is the team mom for the dance group (the team mom gives information to the other moms and leads the other moms). She has done things also so she knows she can be a better leader herself. She has been listening to more sermons because she believes in God. She has grounded herself to help her leadership skills.

Last but not least she is the best mom ever. She cares for me and lets me pursue my dreams and does everything possible to make it happen. She sacrifices for me and every organization she is a part of. That is what every leader must do. Thank you for listening.