Mom Congress

OLYMPIA MOM WINS TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO REPRESENT WASHINGTON

AT PARENTING MAGAZINE’S

MOM CONGRESS ON EDUCATION AND LEARNING® CONFERENCE

RENEE BERRY TO JOIN PARENTING, U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

ARNE DUNCAN, AND ONE OUTSTANDING MOM EDUCATION ADVOCATE FROM EVERY STATE AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY APRIL 10-13, 2011

Olympia, WA March 2, 2011 – Parenting magazine today announced that Renee Berry of Olympia has been selected to represent Washington State at the second-annual Mom Congress on Education and Learning® conference at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. this April 10th through 13th.  Renee Berry was chosen for her outstanding contributions and dedication to improving local schools. A total of fifty-one moms, representing each state and the District of Columbia, have been selected by Parenting as Mom Congress delegates.

For the second year in a row, Parenting selected each delegate from applications submitted through Parenting.com.  Each will receive round-trip airfare, a three-night hotel stay, and the opportunity to connect with other moms from across the country to share success stories, challenges, and concerns as they work to improve our nation’s schools.

“I am honored to represent the beautiful state of Washington and share its many accomplishments in education.  As Director of Evergreen Christian Preschool, I see the importance of early education in a child’s success in school. Early education’s goal is equipping children with the tools for confidence and laying a solid the foundation of learning,”   says Renee Berry of her excitement to be a part of Mom Congress.  “I am looking forward to listening to the other 50 voices of Moms from other states with the same goal in mind….bettering our children’s education.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan headlines the roster of education and advocacy leaders scheduled to address the delegates at the conference. On Tuesday, April 12th, Secretary Duncan will speak to attendees about the crucial role that parents play in helping implement the national agenda for improving the country’s school system and the educational opportunities available to our nation’s children.  Other organizations scheduled to appear include First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, StudentsFirst.org, Reach Out and Read, the National PTA, National Education Association, Headstart, PBS, and NBC Learn.

Throughout their time at the conference, the Mom Congress delegates will work closely with Parenting editors to shape the magazine’s editorial coverage to better inform and empower parents nationwide to get involved in their children’s education.  Faculty members from Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies – the Mom Congress educational provider – will also lead sessions during the event, and will offer scholarships for Mom Congress courses to 10 outstanding mom advocates per semester.

KinderCare, as a sponsor of the 2011 Mom Congress conference, will help raise the awareness of the critical role early childhood education plays in preparing young children for success in school through a panel discussion of leading experts and a breakout session with delegates led by Dr. Elanna Yalow, Mom Congress Advisory Board Member and Executive Vice President at Knowledge Universe, the parent company of KinderCare. During the event, KinderCare will also highlight the importance of early literacy by making a donation of 20 books for each delegate to a national reading organization while also providing its “Today I Will Read a Book” guide to reading to all Mom Congress attendees.