Parents as Teachers

Our office phone number: 971-319-6947.
Qualification: No income requirements
Our Vision: All children will learn, grow and develop to realize their full potential.
Our Mission: To provide the information, support and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.
Our Values: The early years of a child’s life are critical for optimal development and provide the foundation for success in school and in life. Parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers. Established and emerging research should be the foundation of parent education and family support curricula, training, materials and services. All young children and their families deserve the same opportunities to succeed, regardless of any demographic, geographic or economic considerations. An understanding and appreciation of the history and traditions of diverse cultures is essential in serving families.
History: In 1981, Missouri pioneered the concept of helping parents embrace their important role as their child’s first and best teacher. Today, Parents as Teachers continues to equip early childhood organizations and professionals with information and tools that are relevant—and widely applicable—to today’s parents, families and children. The Parents as Teachers leadership team and Board of Directors is engaged in a three-year strategic plan, which positions the organization as a valued partner to support the organizations and professionals who serve families and children, especially those most vulnerable. The concept for Parents as Teachers was developed in the 1970s when Missouri educators noted that children were beginning kindergarten with varying levels of school readiness. Research showed that greater parent involvement is a critical link in the child’s development of learning skills, including reading and writing.