Well, maybe luck isn't the right word. Fortunate might be better. I've sang her praises before, but after watching Trise Moore, family advocate for the Federal Way Family Partnership Office, in action, I walked away thinking how fortunate Federal Way parents are to have a great leader like Trise in their corner.

Earlier this week, I observed what Trise calls the "Parent Leadership Institute" -- a workshop series where she trains parents to train other parents on how to effectively advocate for their child. The parents trained by Trise are called "parent partners." The group I observed were six eager and intelligent mothers who care deeply about their children, their schools and their community.

Sitting around a table in a small room, the "parent partners" spent three hours role-playing parent/teacher conversations and learning key tips on how to be effective communicators. From the right way to prepare for such meetings to invaluable communication strategies, the workshop offered a clear step-by-step framework to help ensure student success.

The workshop also focused on helping parents better understand their children's learning. Most interesting to me was the conversation about a student's "multiple intelligences" and learning styles (visual, auditory, tactical, etc.). In the ed community, we know that each child learns differently, but it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint exactly what that means. Worksheets from sites such as this learning style chart  help parents connect with their child and communicate better with their child's teacher.

A smart model taught by a visionary like Trise is what makes Federal Way parents so fortunate. But even better, at the end of the workshop Federal Way parents weren't just lucky, they were empowered.

For more information on the Parent Leadership Institute, visit the Family Partnership Office.