February is Parent Recognition Month. Strengthening Families Washington, of the Department of Early Learning for Washington State, believes there is no better way to recognize a parent, grandparent, foster or adoptive parent than by acknowledging the numerous and impressive things they do to strengthen their family and those around them in their community.
Seattle's Child is proud to sponsor the Washington Unsung Hero Awards, recognizing our everyday heroes and honoring the important role caregivers play in children's lives. There are 28 nominees for the 28 days of February, and Seattle's Child will highlight each and every one.
Congratulations to the Unsung Hero for February 25
Mayra Vargas – Seattle
I'm excited to nominate Mayra Vargas for her skill in utilizing resources (her Family Service Specialist, her child's teachers, parents of her child's classmates) to build social connections which support her family and others. She is a Spanish-speaking parent who participates fully in her son Saul's education. She has shared her strengths in advocacy as a representative to our school's Policy Council, and is a reliable presence in the Denise Louie Education Center community. She welcomes newcomers, assists in Saul's classroom, attends parenting presentations, never misses a conference, and models consistent attendance for her child, using public transportation to arrive and depart on time. She has increased her fluency in English while promoting bilingualism for her children.
She is tenacious in seeking answers and obtaining solutions to her concerns. She had questions about her child's speech development and became his primary advocate for months until he was assessed. When he was found ineligible for services at school, she went on to look for strategies to help him at home. She epitomizes a lifelong learner, and shares her enthusiasm for thinking and discovery with all of us.
Nominator: Jeri Bellinger
