Dedicated Dad Named ​“Parent Of The Year”

As Wexler-Grant fourth grader Destiny Cabral walked across Hillhouse’s stage to receive an award for her growth in reading this year, her dad Meron Cabral cheered her on just a few feet away — until he was called up on stage right after her for the surprise announcement that he had been recognized as Parent of the Year. 

The father-daughter Cabral duo were two of the hundreds of students, staff, and parents recognized Wednesday at New Haven’s 45th annual Florence Caldwell Academic Achievement Awards Ceremony. 

This year the celebration filled Hillhouse High School’s auditorium for several hours as elementary school students were recognized for growth in subjects like math and reading. 

School leaders and staff presented students with their recognition certificates alongside New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) Supt. Madeline Negrón, Board of Education member Andrea Downer, and NHPS Chief Financial Officer Linda Hannans, who took turns placing winning medals around each student’s neck. 

The first-through-fifth graders were also each gifted a McDonald’s meal voucher.

The awardees were from a wide range of city schools, including Barack Obama, King Robinson, Lincoln Bassett, Nathan Hale, Wexler Grant, Conte, East Rock, FAME, Ross Woodward, Barnard, Bishop Woods, Clinton, Clemente, Fair Haven, Edgewood, Hill Central, Troup, and Truman. 

An hour into Wednesday’s ceremony, Wexler-Grant fourth grader Destiny Cabral took the stage to accept her reading improvement award. She did not exit after receiving her medal and gifts like others, however, and instead was surprised with the opportunity to give the next person their award. 

That next award winner turned out to be Meron Cabral, Destiny’s father, who was already right up front and video-recording his daughter receiving her award, just as he did the year before for his daughter Janessa, who attends Clinton Avenue School. 

Destiny said Wednesday that while she doesn’t really enjoy reading, she’s happy she’s improving. She also said her father deserved Wednesday’s parent recognition award because he motivates her everyday to keep trying hard to improve in subjects like reading. 

Meron Cabral is not a new face to the district-wide parent advisory council (DWPAC), which hosts the annual ceremony and is chaired by Florence Caldwell.

“It’s important when you get a dad because moms are always there,” a Wexler staffer told the audience of hundreds while presenting Meron Cabral with a Parent of the Year plaque.

Even before moving to New Haven two years ago, Cabral has been very active with parent advisory councils, as he was involved when his daughters were enrolled in Bridgeport’s public school district. 

Cabral was surprised to hear his name called. He excitedly accepted his award Wednesday alongside his daughter. His said he hopes the recognition inspires other fathers to be more active in their kids’ schooling, as he’s seen his constant support for his daughters help develop their confidence and desire to learn.

Cabral also recalled growing up with parents who had to work two, three jobs and therefore couldn’t make it to his award ceremonies as a child. While he understood why, he has vowed to live up to a promise to himself that he will ​“always be there for mine, no matter what.” 

He hopes his participation in his kids’ schools grows their confidence and shows them they have a strong support system around them.

He added that school-related parent involvement shouldn’t continue to fall only on mothers. ​“It’s important to have both moms and dads, especially dads, because they haven’t been stepping up for so long,” he said.

He concluded that Wednesday’s recognition serves as a reminder to him to continue the work he’s been doing to get on a more positive path forward. Cabral hopes to also be recognized for the good he’s been doing on June 2 — when he expects to hear back about the results for a state pardon he recently applied for. 

“I just learned I’m going to be a grandfather. My baby got her award tonight and I’m being seen by my community for the good I’m doing. When I hear back for my pardon, June 2, I’ll really be able to show how far I’ve come,” he said. 

Destiny and Janessa’s mom, Yolanda Padilla, was the only one that knew in advance that Cabral would be surprised with an award Wednesday. She made sure to keep the secret to herself. It wasn’t hard to get the plan in motion because all she had to do was tell Cabral that Destiny was getting an award and he said he would attend the ceremony. 

“He’s been so supportive since day one,” Padilla said. ​“Everything with their school, he’s involved.”

She said she’s seen their daughters, who have autism and ADHD, improve academically because they know both of their parents regularly check in with the school. 

“He deserves this. He’ll drop anything when it comes to the kids,” Padilla concluded. ​“It makes him feel so good to help out and he does a lot. He loves his community and has been setting a good example for other male figures.”