CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) released the following statement regarding the 2022 Parent Mentor Graduating Class with more than 1,300 Parent Mentors and more than 200 Parent Mentor coordinators and organizers from 40 community organizations and 200 schools in 39 school districts across the state of Illinois.

“It is an honor for me to provide some thoughtful words to the amazing Parent Mentors of this year’s class. They help fill a systemic gap in our education system by volunteering their time a couple hours a day to assist our teachers in instruction and organizing. They help our young students dream big and chart their course toward success, both in and out of the classroom.

“This program helps create stronger classrooms, stronger families, and stronger communities. This program works so well that many Parent Mentors go on to serve in faculty and staff roles for their schools.

“I am proud to have helped appropriate the necessary funds to not only continue, but expand, the Parent Mentor program.”