West Columbia, SC – Emelda Bautista has been recognized as a Parent Educator of the Year by Parents as Teachers National Center for her work supporting vulnerable families in the region.
As a bilingual parent educator with Lexington School District Two/STAR Family Partnership, Bautista supports families in building confidence and advocacy skills, partnering with them as they navigate significant barriers. She has also been instrumental in families achieving education and economic goals, including learning English, receiving a GED, enrolling in adult education programs, and starting a business.
“Emelda works closely with families to identify these challenges, set meaningful goals, and create practical plans to achieve them,” her supervisor Sheri Stewart wrote in her application. “She then provides consistent support and guidance to help them overcome obstacles and move forward with confidence.”
Parents as Teachers National Center is the most widely implemented evidence-based early childhood home visiting model in the US. Parent educators support caregivers as their child’s first and best teacher through personalized coaching and goal setting, developmental insights and health screenings, connections to local resources, and community engagement.
Educators from across the globe are nominated by their colleagues or supervisors, with applications evaluated by a team at Parents as Teachers National Center. The award emphasizes cultural competency, leadership, community impact, and professional development, highlighting the importance of effective guidance and measurable outcomes in partnership with the families they serve.
“I am incredibly proud of the strong bonds of trust and empathy I have established with families during my time as a parent educator,” Bautista said. “These values are the bridge that connects us; once that connection is established, I can truly collaborate to meet the family’s needs, support them through their unique challenges, and celebrate their victories together.”
Bautista will receive the award alongside two other parent educators at the 2026 Parents as Teachers International Conference in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, October 5, 2026. The largest conference dedicated to early childhood home visitors in the US, it will bring together over 2,500 professionals and leaders in child development and family support for four days of professional development and networking.
About Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers creates strong communities, thriving families, and children who are healthy, safe, and learning by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals for regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years, from pregnancy through kindergarten. With over 188,000 families served in all 50 U.S. states, 127 Tribal organizations, and six other countries, the Parents as Teachers evidence-based home visiting model is backed by over 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. Annually, Parents as Teachers National Center supports over 10,000 professionals and partners with more than 2,000 organizations, including school systems, social service nonprofits, health departments, tribal organizations, and military installations.