Linda Freeman took the stage with a powerful presence as she accepted the Parent Educator of the Year Award at the 2024 Parents as Teachers International Conference in San Diego. This award highlights her relentless commitment to empowering vulnerable families and driving their children’s early development.
As a Parents as Teachers parent educator in the Beaufort County School District (BCSD) – Family, Adult & Children’s Educational Services, Freeman stood before 2,000 early childhood development professionals, a clear testament to her impact in the field.
The annual conference is a critical platform for advancing discussions on parent engagement, early childhood education, and cutting-edge research that shapes the work of caregivers. The four-day conference served as a hub for tackling trends in home visiting, community engagement, collaborations and partnerships, diversity, equity and inclusion, health and wellness, parenting, and child education, all under the compelling theme “Born to Learn – Power of the Past – Building for the Future.”
As the award recipient, Freeman was granted complimentary registration, round-trip travel, and lodging at the conference. She seized this moment to express her profound gratitude, emphasizing that nothing fuels her passion more than witnessing parents gain confidence and enhance their abilities.
“I am truly honored and humbled by this recognition of the work that I am passionate about,” Freeman asserted. “Being a parent educator for the past 26 years is not merely a job; it’s a powerful way to serve others and create impactful change in our communities. I accept this award on behalf of the exceptional team I work with daily to strengthen families through Parents as Teachers.”
Superintendent Frank Rodriguez, commended Freeman’s unwavering dedication to transforming the lives of children and families throughout Beaufort County. In acknowledgment of her, Rodriguez articulated Freeman’s dedication with conviction. “Linda deserves this award for her tireless work and countless hours dedicated to helping children achieve their full potential,” Rodriguez emphasized. “As a parent educator, she focuses on serving others and making a meaningful difference in the world.”
Parents as Teachers is an influential international program that connects parents and caregivers with skilled professionals known as Parent Educators. These educators conduct regular home visits during a child’s formative years, providing essential support in early childhood education and parenting skills.
Constance Gully, president and CEO of Parents as Teachers, commended Freeman’s unwavering dedication to transforming the lives of children and families throughout Beaumont. In acknowledgment of her, Gully articulated Freeman’s dedication with conviction.
“Linda deserves this award for her tireless work and countless hours dedicated to helping children achieve their full potential,” Gully emphasized. “As a parent educator, she focuses on serving others and making a meaningful difference in the world.”
Freeman has been a certified parent educator with the BCSD Parents as Teachers program for 26 years and the school district for the past 28 years. She holds a degree in early childhood education. She said her love for all children inspired her to be a parent educator. It has been her life’s work to help families in her community build a solid foundation and support system to foster early childhood success.
“Linda empowers families to set and achieve goals to build upon best parenting practices,” said Dr. Rebecca Stempel, Coordinator of Early Childhood & Parent Education with the Beaufort County School District. “She provides high-quality early learning experiences to help children reach developmental milestones. Through her strong partnership with local agencies, Linda connects families to resources to help them thrive and overcome barriers to accessing those services.”
Freeman has completed all required Parents as Teachers training and actively participates in monthly professional development sessions and training offered by the BCSD Parents as Teachers Program. She seeks opportunities for personal growth by engaging in relevant trainings that enhance her practice. Additionally, she stays current with updated information by taking refresher courses and has consistently benefited from attending Parents as Teachers conferences.
Freeman is vital in supporting Beaufort County School District’s professional development initiatives. Recently, she assisted the district with the African American Heritage Education Conference, attended the First Steps Team Lowcountry Conference, and is actively involved in the district’s Summer Institute and Back to School Expo each year.
She also champions outreach efforts for children and families through Early Head Start/Head Start programming. Furthermore, Freeman has significantly contributed to the team through initiatives like the Traveling Preschool Bus, Child Find, and the Universal Staffing Coalition.
About Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families, and children that are healthy, safe, and learning by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals who make regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years in life, from pregnancy through kindergarten. The internationally recognized evidence-based home visiting model is backed by 40 years of research-proven outcomes for children and families. Parents as Teachers serves nearly 180,000 families in all 50 U.S. states, 115 Tribal organizations, six other countries, and one U.S. territory. Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
Linda Freeman accepts the Parent Educator of the Year Award alongside (from left) Parents as Teachers Adriann-Adams Gulley, vice president and chief financial officer; Mark Ginsberg, chair, board of directors, Constance Gully, president and CEO, Freeman, and board members Sean Doherty, vice president of Education at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and Wendy Schwalbe, Wisconsin Parents as Teachers State Leader at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.