The scope of Delores Rock’s responsibilities seems unending, but the reason she’s in the job is simple: she’s here to “flip the script.”
Rock remembers a mother who thought her son’s special needs limited the possibilities for her future; when asked her biggest dream, she named an entry-level food service position. This encounter was a pivotal moment in Rock’s career, and she’s driven by a desire to broaden horizons for caregivers — in her words, “helping them see that the world is a huge place, and you can do and be anything.”
She’s positioned well for it. Studies show that caregivers involved in Parents as Teachers services are more likely to gain employment, pursue higher education, and improve family economic self-sufficiency, among other related achievements (Parents as Teachers, 2025).
The program’s emphasis on goal setting may be one contributing factor to this forward movement. For example, English proficiency often stands in the way of career opportunities. When a caregiver names English as a Second Language (ESL) courses as a goal – as some do – the parent educator then collaborates with the parent on SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals. These concrete, tailored steps contribute to the long-term vision and may include support for skills like time management and organization.
Tangible tools aren’t the only benefit parent educators may offer. Sometimes, caregivers need encouragement to prioritize their own momentum. Valuing caregivers’ investment in their goals both for themselves and for the benefit it can bring to their children and families falls well within the priorities of Parent as Teachers.
For Rock, it’s the motivation for her role. Encouraging families to dream big despite challenges and helping other parent educators do the same… “That keeps the flame going,” she said.
And fuel can’t hurt, because she has work to do. In her role as State Lead and Parenting Program Coordinator for Parents as Teachers in South Carolina, she supports the onboarding, accreditation, and ongoing operations for 43 affiliate programs. This includes implementation calls, evaluating data to determine points of need, personalized technical assistance, consultation on grant writing and other funding, advice for interviewing and coaching parent educators, encouraging advocacy with local and regional representatives, and more. And yet, somehow, it doesn’t feel like a job.
“I always say, ‘I get paid to do this?'” she said.
Even outside of her career, Rock organizes her time around service – though to hear her tell it, this, too, feels less like work than play. At the home that her sister directs for formerly incarcerated women, she volunteers as the “fun sister,” taking the residents on trips, playing board games, and working on puzzles together.
Many of the women are mothers, and she finds that her experience with Parents as Teachers also serves her in this volunteer capacity. “I’m imparting some of these same strategies there,” she said.
Her passion is clear and consistent. “I do what I do across the board,” she said, and spoke of a deep purpose for her work. “This is a part of my calling … to work with families.”
Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families and children who are healthy, safe, and learning, and wherever she goes, Delores Rock is well on board.
Parents as Teachers. (2025). Research and Results.
https://parentsasteachers.org/research-and-results/