The Parents as Teachers program at Lumin Bachman Lake Community School (LBLCS) in Dallas has been awarded the esteemed Losos Prize for Innovation at the annual Parents as Teachers international conference in San Diego, CA.
This remarkable recognition was awarded in front of more than 2,000 professionals specializing in early child development, highlighting the program’s unwavering commitment to innovative service delivery and deep community and parent engagement.
Named after the distinguished educator Carolyn Losos, a founding board member of Parents as Teachers, this accolade honors those affiliates that excel in providing innovative parenting services that fortify families during the critical early years from birth to kindergarten.
Dionne Kirby, executive director of Lumin Education said: “I’m in awe of our team of Parent Educators and their dedication to the families we serve! We are so very grateful for this recognition and are proud to be among the organizations focused on providing stellar services in partnership with parents at such a critical stage for growth and development, starting with pregnancy.
Constance Gully, president and CEO of Parents as Teachers, noted the organization’s 40th anniversary and emphasized the importance of recognizing the LBLCS program. “We applaud the relentless effort and dedication shown by the Lumin Bachman Lake Community School members in furthering Parents as Teachers’ mission,” Gully stated. “This award is truly well-deserved.”
The Losos Prize for Innovation represents the highest honor given by Parents as Teachers to affiliates that have successfully enhanced their service delivery through creative approaches. It confirms that the honored affiliate ranks among the leading entities in the home visitation and parent education arena and has completed the quality endorsement and improvement process.
Selected from a highly competitive pool of affiliates, the LBLCS program’s exemplary efforts earned a $5,000 grant to further support their initiatives. They also received complimentary conference registration for one participant, roundtrip airfare, and accommodations for up to three nights at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina.
The four-day conference engaged attendees in discussions on vital topics such as home visiting trends, community engagement, partnerships, diversity, equity and inclusion, health and wellness, parenting, and child education, all under the theme “Born to Learn – Power of the Past – Building for the Future.”
Guided by the Montessori philosophy of education, Lumin Education embodies Dr. Maria Montessori’s belief that “children inherently have the same drive to develop cognitively as they do physically.”
Recognizing the link between a child’s success and the overall well-being of their family, Lumin has implemented supportive services, programming, and opportunities that extend beyond education. This holistic approach fosters a true sense of community within Bachman Lake.
Parents as Teachers similarly builds strong communities, empowers families, and ensures healthy, secure children by connecting parents and caregivers with trained professionals for regular, personalized home visits throughout a child’s earliest years, from pregnancy through kindergarten.
With nearly 180,000 families served across all 50 U.S. states and 115 tribal organizations, alongside service in six other countries and one U.S. territory, the evidence-based home visiting model backed by Parents as Teachers reflects 40 years of proven research outcomes for children and families.
The staff of the Lumin Bachman Lake Community School’s Parents as Teachers program poses for a picture upon receiving the Parents as Teachers Losos Prize for Innovation at the Parents as Teachers 2024 International Conference in San Diego, CA. Far right are Constance Gully, Parents as Teachers president and CEO, a Patricia Kempthorne, former at Parents as Teachers board chair. Photo by Mary Sue Gee.