Kansas City resident George Vega has been awarded Parent Educator of the Year by Parents as Teachers, the largest evidence-based early childhood home visiting model in the US.
Parent educators with the organization support caregivers as their child’s first and best teacher, providing coaching and goal-setting tools, developmental tips, resource connections, and community engagement. Home visiting professionals earn the Parent Educator of the Year distinction for their outstanding service in areas like engaging and retaining families, cultural competency and respect, leadership and team spirit, community impact, and professional development. Applicants are nominated by a colleague or supervisor, and a committee of Parents as Teachers staff from various departments reviews the applications to select the winners.
“I am proud to be a representative for Parents as Teachers, especially to represent my culture, and to also break the barriers of being a male home visitor,” Vega said. “I find it rewarding when parents become confident in their parenting skills, and I get to see them grow as a family. … It is an honor to be recognized and appreciated for my continued commitment to my families.”
A bilingual educator for USD 202 Turner Parents as Teachers, Vega’s seven years partnering with parents and caregivers have developed a deep sense of trust and support in the community where he serves, according to supervisor Ashley Copple, who nominated Vega. His leadership and initiative ensure the highest quality of care for families, she said.
“When our program launched four bilingual parent classes focused on Conscious Discipline, George quickly stepped up to lead,” Copple wrote as an example. “Despite discovering that no translated materials existed in Spanish, he developed and delivered each session from scratch—creating presentations, sourcing videos, and preparing handouts to ensure accessibility for all families.”
Vega will receive the award alongside two other parent educators at the 2025 Parents as Teachers International Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday, October 16, 2025. One of the largest early childhood home visiting conferences in the US, the event gathers educators and leaders in the field from across the US and around the world for four days of professional development and networking. Over 1,400 attendees, both in-person and virtual, are registered to attend.
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, 138 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 8,600 professionals and partners with 2,200 organizations, including school systems, social service nonprofits, health departments, tribal organizations, and military installations.