Gwinnett continues Parent Mentor series with summer program

Gwinnett County Public Schools continues the Parent Mentor series with a summer session for parents of special needs students. CONTRIBUTED

Gwinnett County Public Schools continues the Parent Mentor series with a summer session for parents of special needs students. CONTRIBUTED

The Gwinnett County Parent Mentors series isn’t taking a summer break. Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend an upcoming evening session.

This special summer session will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 12 at OneStop Centerville, 3025 Bethany Church Road in Snellville.

Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair will present “The Individual Education Plan Process: Summer Crash Course on IEP Basics.” This session is designed to help parents and guardians better understand the IEP process and how they can become a more effective team member.

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Topics will include the parent’s role in the IEP process, information included in the IEP, the purpose of the IEP in guiding support and services for a student with a disability, service delivery, transition planning, and tips for navigating the IEP process. Parent Mentors are parents who work within GCPS’ Special Education Department, providing information and support to other families who have children served in special education.

Albanese and McNair have first-hand knowledge of raising a child with special needs as they each have a child who has been served or is being served in GCPS’ Special Education programs. This learning series — presented monthly during the school year — is designed for families of children with disabilities, and presented by the parent mentors in collaboration with GCPS’ Special Education Department staff and community leaders and organizations.

To register for the meeting, contact McNair at (678) 301-7149 or  Jackie_McNair@gwinnett.k12.ga.us by June 11.

Information: www.parentmentors.org.